The New York Rangers selected Alexis Lafreniere with the first pick in the NHLB次元官网网址檚 pandemic-delayed draft Tuesday.
The star winger from the Rimouski Oceanic of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League registered 35 goals and 112 points in 52 games before the 2019-20 season was cancelled because of COVID-19.
Just the second back-to-back recipient of the Canadian Hockey LeagueB次元官网网址檚 player of the year award, following in the footsteps of fellow Rimouski captain Sidney Crosby in 2004 and 2005, Lafreniere was NHL Central ScoutingB次元官网网址檚 top-ranked North American skater and long-viewed as the consensus choice at No. 1.
B次元官网网址淚t was an unreal feeling,B次元官网网址� Lafreniere, sporting his new teamB次元官网网址檚 hat and jersey, said on a video conference call from the family home in St-Eustache, Que., after having his name called first. B次元官网网址淭he New York Rangers are a great organization.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really, really honoured to join them.B次元官网网址�
The draft, which was originally scheduled for June 26 and 27 in Montreal, is being held remotely via video conference due to the pandemic. Rounds two through seven are scheduled for Wednesday before NHL free agency opens 48 hours later.
B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e been waiting for a long time so it was something really special for me and for my family,B次元官网网址� Lafreniere added. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e all really excited.B次元官网网址�
Lafreniere is the first Canadian to go No. 1 since the Edmonton Oilers selected Connor McDavid in 2015. The Oilers announced late Monday that McDavid had tested positive for COVID-19, is experiencing mild symptoms, and is quarantining at home.
Before the Lafreniere pick, commissioner Gary Bettman announced the league and players are now focused on starting the 2020-21 season on Jan. 1 after previously aiming to get things going Dec. 1. The 2019-20 campaign was suspended in mid-March due to the pandemic and completed late last month inside two tightly-controlled bubbles in Edmonton and Toronto without fans in attendance.
With the first pick in the 2020 NHL Draft
B次元官网网址� New York Rangers (@NYRangers)
the New York Rangers are proud to select
from Rimouski Oceanic
Alexis. Lafreni猫re.
The Los Angeles Kings had the second selection and chose six-foot-four centre Quinton Byfield of the Ontario Hockey LeagueB次元官网网址檚 Sudbury Wolves.
Byfield became the highest Black player picked in NHL draft history. Evander Kane (2009) and Seth Jones (2013) each went fourth overall.
B次元官网网址淭hatB次元官网网址檚 definitely means a lot to me, and thatB次元官网网址檚 something special,B次元官网网址� Byfield said. B次元官网网址淏eing in the record books for anything is super special, but that especially.B次元官网网址�
The Ottawa Senators used the No. 3 selection, which they acquired from the San Jose Sharks as part of the Erik Karlsson trade two years ago, to grab shifty German winger Tim Stuetzle. University of Ottawa alumni and B次元官网网址淛eopardy!B次元官网网址� host Alex Trebek announced the pick in a pre-taped appearance.
B次元官网网址淚 didnB次元官网网址檛 know like 100 per cent what was going on with (the No. 2 and 3) picks,B次元官网网址� said Stuetzle, who was sporting the SenatorsB次元官网网址� two-dimension centurion logo the team is bringing back next season. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 just a big honour to play for the capital of Canada.B次元官网网址�
The top-ranked European skater, Stuetzle spent this season with Adler Mannheim in his countryB次元官网网址檚 top professional league, where he was named rookie of the year. HeB次元官网网址檚 also the third German-trained player to be drafted in the top-6, matching 2020 Hart Trophy winner Leon DraisaitlB次元官网网址檚 selection at No. 3 by Edmonton six years ago.
B次元官网网址淚 want to win Cups in Ottawa, and I want to play in the NHL as fast as I can,B次元官网网址� added Stuetzle, who also admitted with a smile he doesnB次元官网网址檛 watch TrebekB次元官网网址檚 gameshow.
Last in the overall standings when the season was halted, the Detroit Red Wings dropped from No. 1 to No. 4 in the first phase of the NHLB次元官网网址檚 draft lottery in June, but still got Swedish winger Lucas Raymond with their pick.
Ottawa was back on the clock with its own selection at No. 5 and chose blue-liner Jake Sanderson from the U.S. under-18 program to become the first team since 2000 to make two picks in the top-5.
The son of former NHLer Geoff Sanderson took in the draft with his family from a suite at the University of North DakotaB次元官网网址檚 home arena where he started his first semester this fall.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檝e watched every single draft on TV with my family in our living room since I can remember,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭o be here and sitting in this position is pretty crazy and surreal. The Trebek thing was pretty cool and pretty funny. I thought that was really awesome how they did that.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a little bit different draft this year, but I think itB次元官网网址檚 kind of special in its own way.B次元官网网址�
The Winnipeg Jets had Crystal Hawerchuk, wife of the late Dale Hawerchuk, make their selection at No. 10 of centre Cole Perfetti of the OHLB次元官网网址檚 Saginaw Spirit.
The Oilers took centre Dylan Holloway from the University of Wisconsin at No. 14, Toronto Maple Leafs selected Russian winger Rodion Amirov at No. 15 and the Montreal Canadiens snagged defenceman Kaiden Guhle from the Western Hockey LeagueB次元官网网址檚 Prince Albert Raiders at No. 16.
"I'm a very physical, very good-skating two-way defenseman. I like to be hard on other teams' best players."
B次元官网网址� Canadiens Montr茅al (@CanadiensMTL)
- Kaiden Guhle |
The Calgary Flames dealt the 19th pick to the Rangers for the 22nd and 72nd selections. Calgary then traded down again to get No. 24 and No. 80 from the Washington Capitals. Calgary finally made its first pick of the night, taking centre Connor Zary from the WHLB次元官网网址檚 Kamloops Blazers with the 24th selection.
The Senators also own the 28th pick, which originally belonged to the New York Islanders, while the Vancouver Canucks donB次元官网网址檛 have a selection until WednesdayB次元官网网址檚 third round.
The Canucks did announce on Tuesday that it has signed a new two-year deal with 24-year-old Charlottetown native forward Zack MacEwen.
The contract has an average annual value of US$825,000.
MacEwen played 17 games for Vancouver in 2019-20, putting up five goals and one assist. He also made six post-season appearances before the Vegas Golden Knights ousted Vancouver from the playoffs in the second round.
The six-foot-three, 205-pound forward originally signed a three-year entry level contract with the Canucks back in March 2017, and spent ample time with VancouverB次元官网网址檚 American Hockey League affiliate, the Utica Comets.
Unlike their NFL or NBA counterparts, NHL teams are usually seated at tables on the floor of one of the leagueB次元官网网址檚 31 arenas B次元官网网址� in this case it would have the Bell Centre B次元官网网址� for its draft, but the 2020 edition saw general managers and much of their scouting staffs spread across North America.
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Instead of walking over to chat with a rival GM about a potential trade, cellphones had to suffice.
The prospects set to take their first steps into the NHL, meanwhile, all watched proceedings remotely, away from the usual bright lights that come with the draft.
First-round hopefuls were each sent gear from the leagueB次元官网网址檚 31 teams B次元官网网址� StuetzleB次元官网网址檚 agent tweeted a picture of a table with 31 hats set up in order of selection B次元官网网址� so theyB次元官网网址檇 have some swag once their names were called.
The Senators, who have largely made headlines for all the wrong reasons since getting within a double overtime goal of the 2017 Stanley Cup final, hope securing Stuetzle and Sanderson will accelerate a rebuild that saw a roster once led by Karlsson B次元官网网址� the teamB次元官网网址檚 captain and a two-time Norris Trophy-winning defenceman B次元官网网址� torn down to its studs.
Lafreniere didnB次元官网网址檛 get the normal draft thrill of climbing on stage in front of friends, family and adoring fans in Montreal, a short drive from his hometown, but is still the first Quebec-born skater to hear his name called at No. 1 since Vincent Lecavalier in 1998.
The Rangers, who selected winger Kaapo Kakko at No. 2 in 2019, beat the odds for a second straight year, jumping 11 spots for the right to pick Lafreniere by winning the second phase of the draft lottery following the disappointment of being the first team eliminated from the NHLB次元官网网址檚 24-team restart to the season.
Joshua Clipperton, The Canadian Press
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