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Gemma Karstens-Smith July 24, 2021 - 5:53 PM
After an unsettled season that limited opportunities for junior hockey players and NHL scouts alike, Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving believes it will take some time before the real winners of this year s draft can be picked. The reality is now you wait, he said Saturday after Calgary added eight names to its prospect pool. Everyoneâs happy on draft day. Now you wait for a period of time for these players to go through the development process.
General managers, scouts and players have all said for weeks they expected an unpredictable 2021 NHL entry draft after COVID-19 restrictions cancelled games or entire seasons, and prevented scouts from checking out talent in person.
Draft day a dream come true for Montreal Canadiens prospect Riley Kidney timescolonist.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from timescolonist.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Getting to know Montreal Canadiens #63 pick Riley Kidney
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Photo by Marissa Baecker/Getty Images
For the 63rd selection in the 2021 NHL Draft, the Montreal Canadiens looked to their own backyard so to speak, taking Riley Kidney from the Acadie-Bathurst Titan of the QMJHL. The general consensus around Kidney is that he will be more of a long-term project for the club, but there is a lot to like about his game.
Birthplace:
Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL)
He had a solid 2020-21 season with the Titan, putting up 38 points in 33 games. What likely put him on the Habs radar, however, was his explosion of 17 points in just nine playoff games that same season. I actually caught one of his playoff games and have to say he stood out a lot as a highly skilled player at the junior level.
MONTREAL Eight playors had stars in their eyes Saturday as Montreal locked in their NHL draft picks: Forward Riley Kidney (63rd overall) Forward Oliver Kapanen (64th overall) Defenseman Dmitri Kostenko (87th overall) Defenseman William Trudeau (113th overall) Defenseman Daniil Sobolev (142nd overall) Forward Joshua Roy (150th overall) Forward Xavier Simoneau (191st overall) Goalie Joe Vrbetic (214th overall) Riley Kidney of the Quebec Junior Hockey League s Acadie-Bathurst Titan joined the Canadiens prospect pool at the end of the second round, picked 63rd overall. The five-foot-11, 168-pound centre said being drafted was a dream come true. It kind of feels surreal right now. My phone s blowing up, he said, silencing a call. Words can t describe how I feel right now.