I, like many others, was surprised by the Canadian’s selection of the Austrian defender in the first round of the repechage. Could CH have traded fifth choice for Pierre-Luc Dubois as long as they didn’t bet on Russian striker Matvei Michkov?
• Also read: NHL Draft: Would you have picked the top 2 QMJHL players or Alex Newhook?
• Also read: Unhappy with the Canadian’s first choice? Give the runner a chance
• Also read: “On our list, the Reinbacher name was the most popular choice ahead of Matvei Michkov” – Martin Lapointe
The Jets had to be greedy to send the big Quebec center to Montreal; Dubois could have allowed the Habs to rejoin a victorious culture. Winnipeg wanted active players in the NHL, which the Manitoba club got from the Kings. Kent Hughes has his untouchables. Los Angeles hasn’t lost young players like Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Kirby Dach, Kaiden Guhle, Jordan Harris or Arber Xhekaj, or veterans in their late 20s like Mike Matheson.
Dubois’ new eight-year, $8.5m-a-season contract may have scared the CH general manager. The 25-year-old Quebecois would have been better paid than the captain (Suzuki receives $7.875 million) and Caufield ($7.85 million).
David Reinbacher met his new bosses, Geoff Molson and Kent Hughes. Photo Getty Images via AFP
The Briere circuit
I would have loved to have seen Hughes stand out with a bang. The Habs GM might have made it with Reinbacher, but we won’t know for a couple of years.
Like most pundits, I didn’t see the right-handed defender play. It is therefore difficult to assess. Even if we hear comparisons to Roman Josi, there are no guarantees. I just hope we don’t get to see Jarred Tinordi’s story again. The 1.80 meter tall and 110 kilogram full-back, who was selected by CH in the first round (22nd) in 2010, never lived up to expectations.
I thought Hughes would go for Ryan Leonard, an American forward with a passion like the Tkachuk brothers.
It was Daniel Brière who eventually hit a home run and placed Michkov in the Philadelphia Flyers first pick in seventh place.
Matvei Michkov poses with his new Flyers jersey. Photo Getty Images via AFP
The Vegas influence
On Wednesday night, the DGs targeted several hopefuls of imposing size, including several defenders. Reinbacher is already 6 feet, 2 inches tall and weighs 185 pounds. It’s probably the influence of the champions of Vegas, who triumphed on the blue line with the help of large and agile knights.
But where is the influence of the Memorial Cup champions? A QMJHL team has been crowned in the last four national tournaments, and yet no player was selected from the circle in the first round in Nashville.
Only one Quebec-born player, Gabriel Perreault, heard his name on Wednesday night as the New York Rangers put their trust in Yanic’s son, who plays in the United States.
Gabriel Perreault takes the stage to meet the Rangers executives who picked him. Photo Getty Images via AFP
In fact, only 12 skaters from the Cecchini circuit found buyers. Worst game in league history.
And not only are the QMJHL players being shunned, but the coaches as well. We saw it recently with Patrick Roy, then with Benoît Groulx, who rolled his belly in the American League without ever having had a chance in the NHL.
It’s always the same Putin and it’s frustrating.
Gauthier drafted a former Montreal pick
Organizations that depend on Quebec executives or local recruiters with decision-making power to put their fist on the table when the time comes have called on our court.
Such is the case with the Tampa Bay Lightning, who picked Ethan Gauthier (37th) with an earlier pick from CH…
Then Étienne Morin, Mathieu Cataford and Dylan MacKinnon were drafted in the second and third rounds by the Calgary Flames, Golden Knights and Nashville Predators.
Mathieu Cataford beamed in his Vegas Golden Knights jersey. Photo Getty Images via AFP
These young people have the future ahead of them and it is up to them to prove their worth and find their place. The amateur auction is just the first step and they now have a foot in the door. The models are numerous and Ethan can draw inspiration from his father, Denis Gauthier, who had a great career.
Some would say the Canadiens played their part by getting their hands on Montreal goalie Quentin Miller from the Quebec Remparts late in the fourth round.
But Hughes traded his late first-round pick and early second-round pick to bring in young forward Alex Newhook from the Colorado Avalanche. I like him Alex and we want him to slip into the blue, white and red uniform like Dach, but the CH could have fished out two Quebecers.
– Interview by Mylene Richard
I’m turning the page after nine years
You just read my latest columns in Le Journal de Montréal and Le Journal de Québec. So, after nine great years of working with these two dailies, nine great years of talking to you, I turn the page.
Many thanks to Luc Grenier, former Sports Director of the Journal de Québec, who approached me in 2014 to offer me a platform to share my opinions and memories.
Thank you to all the chefs who trusted me, from Dany Doucet to Denis Poissant to Jean-Nicolas Blanchet.
Many thanks to Kevin Dubé, Jessica Lapinski and Mylène Richard who were my main shadow authors. I entrusted them with my ideas and my moods, which they put on paper (or on the web) in a coherent and relevant way. You made me look good.
And a big thank you to you, dear readers and hockey fans, who have diligently followed me over the years. Several stopped me on the street to argue and sometimes persisted because they didn’t agree with me. It was always a pleasure to meet you.
At 77, I’m starting to think about retirement, but I’m not ready yet. I’m too afraid of boredom! So I will continue the adventure with TVA Sports next season.
Now I will enjoy the summer and look forward to seeing us on the golf course.
