San Jose made a transfer within the first draft for Common Supervisor Mike Grier, who took over the function this week and have become the primary Black G.M. in league historical past. The Sharks despatched choose No. 11 to Arizona for No.s 27, 34 and 45. Arizona chosen ahead Conor Geekie, brother of Seattle middle Morgan Geekie.
Arizona additionally made a commerce with Edmonton, buying Zack Kassian, No. 29 and two future picks in trade for No. 32 in a deal that gave the Oilers some salary-cap room. The Coyotes selected the Canadian defenseman Maveric Lamoureux at No. 29, and Edmonton chosen the Canadian wing Reid Schaefer with the ultimate choose of the primary spherical.
After Slafkovsky and Nemec turned the highest-drafted gamers from Slovakia, Rutger McGroarty made some Nebraska hockey historical past when he went 14th to the Winnipeg Jets. McGroarty, an Omaha-born ahead, turned the highest-drafted participant from the state.
N.H.L. Commissioner Gary Bettman opened the primary in-person draft since 2019 in French by saying, “Bon soir, Montreal.” When followers booed him, as is custom, he stated: “Thanks for that welcome. It’s a return to normalcy.”
It was additionally the primary time the host group picked at No. 1 because the Toronto Maple Leafs chosen Wendell Clark in 1985. With rival Montreal internet hosting, the Leafs obtained the loudest boos throughout roll name, with some within the crowd chanting, “’67!” in reference to the newest yr Toronto gained the Stanley Cup.
Current deaths in hockey had been additionally acknowledged earlier than the Canadiens went on the clock. Bettman requested these on the draft flooring and within the stands to carry a second of silence for the retired defenseman Bryan Marchment, who died at age 53 on Wednesday in Montreal, the place he was attending the draft as a scout for San Jose. Grier, a former teammate of Marchment, paid tribute to him earlier than the Sharks’ choice of the Swedish middle Filip Bystedt at No. 27.
Youngsters of the Corridor of Famers Man Lafleur and Mike Bossy, who each died in April, additionally addressed the gang.
