After an emotional evening in the first round, the NHL Draft continued on Saturday with the presentation of rounds 2 through 7.
The Montreal Canadiens had picks No. 70, 78, 102, 130, 134, 166, 210, 224. The Habs earlier drafted forwards Ivan Demidov (5th) and Michael Hage (21st) Friday night in the first round.
• Read also: NHL Draft: here are all the 1st round picks
Here are the highlights from Rounds 2-7:
The Washington Capitals acquired the 43rd pick from the Buffalo Sabers for forward Beck Malenstyn. They selected Cole Hutson, the brother of Lane Hutson. See his interview with our journalist Anthony Martineau below.
The Tampa Bay Lightning made a surprise trade by trading defenseman Mikhail Sergachev to Utah. In return, the team receives Connor Geekie, JJ Moser, a 2025 second round pick and the No. 199 pick. Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois also sent forward Tanner Jeannot to the Los Angeles Kings.
After Sergachev, the Utah team got its hands on another defenseman, John Marino from the New Jersey Devils.
St. Louis Blues forward Kevin Hayes has also changed addresses. The veteran is heading to Pittsburgh.
Additionally, goaltender Logan Thompson was traded to the Washington Capitals. In return, the Vegas Golden Knights acquired the third round pick of the “Caps” and that of 2025. The Nevada team also made a transaction with the Devils by acquiring goaltender Akira Schmid and young Alexander Holtz in return for Paul Cotter and a third-round pick.
At the end of the draft, the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired the rights to defenseman Chris Tanev from the Dallas Stars.
With the 70th pick, the Canadiens selected Aatos Koivu. He is the son of Saku Koivu, former captain of the team. At 78th overall, the team drafted center Logan Sawyer. Subsequently, in the fourth round, the Habs selected left-handed defenseman Owen Protz, a product of the Brantford Bulldogs in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). The 130th choice allowed the Habs to select the imposing striker Tyler Thorpe. A few choices later, CH got their hands on Latvian goalkeeper Mikus Vecvanagas. At 166th overall, Montreal selected center Ben Merrill from St. Sebastian’s.
In the last round, the Canadiens staff drafted Russian Makar Khanin and Swedish defenseman Rasmus Bergqvist.
The QMJHL honored
In total, 15 players playing in the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) were selected during the draft.
First of all, Rimouski Océanic defender Spencer Gill was the first chosen. He was drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers 59th overall.
Quebecer Maxim Massé was the Anaheim Ducks’ choice early in the third round at 66th place.
The Ducks once again entered the QMJHL in the following round by getting their hands on forward Alexandre Blais from the Océanic.
The Seattle Kraken selected Alexis Bernier, Baie-Comeau Drakkar defender, with the 73rd selection.
Quebec player Tomas Lavoie of the Cape Breton Eagles was a third-round pick of Utah. The club also selected Gabe Smith of the Moncton Wildcats in the fourth round.
Forward Eriks Mateiko, playing for the Saint John Sea Dogs, heard his name announced by the Capitals.
A QMJHL goaltender was also drafted: Jakub Milota, goaltender for the Cape Breton Eagles, by the Nashville Predators.
In the fourth round, the Lightning selected guard Jan Golicic of the Gatineau Olympics with the 118th pick. Immediately after, the Rangers opted for Raoul Boilard from the Baie-Comeau Drakkar.
His teammate Justin Poirier was the Carolina Hurricanes’ pick late in the 5th round.
Voltigeurs defenseman Simon-Pierre Brunet also heard his name called, this time by the Buffalo Sabres.
In the 6th round, the Devils chose Matyas Melovsky, a center player from the Drakkar.
The Blues got their hands on Antoine Dorion from the Remparts de Québec. The forward is the son of Pierre Dorion, former general manager of the Ottawa Senators.
Finally, the Colorado Avalanche delved into the QMJHL with the choice of Nikita Prishchepov, who wore the colors of the Victoriaville Tigres.
