The Canadiens’ VP of hockey operations, Jeff Gorton, will undoubtedly live his most crucial moments since his hiring by the CH during the July draft.
Posted at 11:30 a.m.
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Mathias Brunet The Press
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Even if there doesn’t seem to be a McDavid or Crosby on the horizon, the Canadiens could get their hands, or not, on an impact player for the next 10 or 15 years.
Former Flyers GM Ron Hextall set the Flyers back years in 2017 by refusing his scouts to draft Cale Makar in place of Nolan Patrick, Bobby Clarke revealed to us this week.
Hextall, like some general managers, was actively involved in amateur recruiting, for better and for worse.
Despite his extensive experience as a scout, first in Boston and later in New York, Gorton had a habit of giving free rein to his scouts during his reign from 2016 to 2020. Recruiting manager Gordie Clarke enjoyed of extensive experience in the field, he had been in the job since 2005, after all.
bad choices
However, the Rangers’ draft cannot be called a success, at least for the moment, during this period.
New York had two first-round picks, including seventh overall, in 2017. At the insistence of the European scouting director, Rangers picked Lias Andersson seventh overall, ahead of Nick Suzuki, Martin Necas, Josh Norris and others. Robert Thomas.
Andersson was a resounding flop. Gorton finally got rid of it in October 2020 against a second-round pick from the Los Angeles Kings. He had nine points in his first 66 games in New York.
Too bad for Gorton. He had provided his scouts with that top pick from the Arizona Coyotes for Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta.
With his own choice, at 21e rank, Clarke chose another player from Europe, Filip Chytil. The 22-year-old has played for Rangers for four years now, but in a more limited role. He has 81 points in 220 games in New York.
The following year, 2018, Gorton racked up three first-round picks for Clarke & Co. That of Rangers, in ninth place, that of the Bruins obtained for Rick Nash and a third of the Lightning for Ryan McDonagh and JT Miller.
Rangers again looked to Europe and first drafted Vitali Kravstov, whom Clarke was very infatuated with. Kravtsov, 22, failed to break into the roster this year and returned to the KHL pending a trade. Evan Bouchard, Oliver Wahlstrom, Noah Dobson and Joel Farabee, all already in the National League, were available at this rank.
New York had more success with K’Andre Miller, already a regular member of the top 4 in defence. The other first-round pick, Nils Lundkvist, 21 like Miller, is still trying to earn an NHL spot. He has just been sent back to the American League in favor of the team’s first choice in 2020, Braden Schneider.
Rangers won the second batch of the lottery in 2019 and the first pick in 2020. Gorton still left Clarke and his scouts to work, but Kaapo Kakko in second, and Alexis Lafrenière in first, were unanimous. For now, Kakko is behind Moritz Seider and Trevor Zegras, but he is still very young. Lafrenière, 20, is on his way to producing 24 full-season points, but the majority of scouts would have picked him No. 1 in 2020.
The Rangers, third overall, owe their current success to the masterstrokes of Gorton. The team’s first two centers, Mika Zibanejad and Ryan Strome, were acquired on the exchange market. Defenders Adam Fox, Jacob Trouba and Ryan Lindgren in trades from Gorton as well. Artemi Panarin was hired as a free agent.
Ryan Lindgren (55), Mika Zibanejad (93), Filip Chytil (72) and Adam Fox (23)
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The splendid 26-year-old Rangers goaltender, Igor Shesterkin, is a 2014 draft product by Gordie Clarke, late in the fourth round. Twelve guardians were chosen before him.
Clarke and his right-hand man in Europe lost their jobs last year with the arrival of Gorton’s successor, Chris Drury.
Martin Lapointe in charge
Not only did Martin Lapointe survive the purge that cost Trevor Timmins the job, he was promoted to director of amateur scouting, in addition to carrying the title of director of player personnel he already held.
Lapointe and Gorton have a bond that goes back more than 20 years. Gorton was assistant general manager with the Bruins when Lapointe signed his four-year, $20 million contract there after leaving the Red Wings.
There are still 12 amateur scouts left under Lapointe, including European scouting director Christer Rockstrom, who discovered Niklas Lidstrom in Detroit at the time.
A marked difference in the draft strategy between Marc Bergevin and Jeff Gorton: Bergevin systematically refused to offer additional choices to gain a few ranks. Rather, he was doing the opposite. He didn’t hesitate to step back to amass more choices.
Gorton has always spoiled his recruiters in New York. Braden Schneider, K’Andre Miller were drafted early in the first round because Gorton agreed to give up third- and second-round picks to advance.
Let’s see his strategy in Montreal. In addition to drafting in the top 3, the Canadian risks accumulating one or more first-round picks in his role as seller, and probably others in subsequent rounds. He already has three third-round picks in the bank. Enough to allow the team to advance in the first or second round, who knows?
A bit by default, despite all his great promises, Nick Suzuki will represent the Canadiens in the All-Star game. The 22-year-old Suzuki is the team’s leading scorer with 19 points in 36 games, but that production still puts him at… 160e National League scoring rank. Montreal didn’t deserve to send anyone to this game, but it takes one per team. At least we avoid the humiliation of sending a fringe defender to this meeting, Chris Wideman, as rumor suggested at one point.
Do not miss
The Canadian lost in controversy Thursday night in Chicago. This other defeat allows the team to remain in the cellar of the classification and to improve its chances of winning the lottery, but Dominique Ducharme does not care. The analysis of Guillaume Lefrançois.
Fascinating article by Alexandre Pratt on the impact of COVID-19 on the performance of athletes who have been infected with the virus.
The performance of CH hope Sean Farrell did not go unnoticed. The 2020 fourth-round pick will represent the Americans at the Olympics along with some of the NHL’s top prospects including Jake Sanderson, Matthew Beniers and Brendan Bisson. A text by Katherine Harvey-Pinard.
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Mathias Brunet
The Press
–
Even if there doesn’t seem to be a McDavid or Crosby on the horizon, the Canadiens could get their hands, or not, on an impact player for the next 10 or 15 years.
Former Flyers GM Ron Hextall set the Flyers back years in 2017 by refusing his scouts to draft Cale Makar in place of Nolan Patrick, Bobby Clarke revealed to us this week.
Hextall, like some general managers, was actively involved in amateur recruiting, for better and for worse.
Despite his extensive experience as a scout, first in Boston and later in New York, Gorton had a habit of giving free rein to his scouts during his reign from 2016 to 2020. Recruiting manager Gordie Clarke enjoyed of extensive experience in the field, he had been in the job since 2005, after all.
bad choices
However, the Rangers’ draft cannot be called a success, at least for the moment, during this period.
New York had two first-round picks, including seventh overall, in 2017. At the insistence of the European scouting director, Rangers picked Lias Andersson seventh overall, ahead of Nick Suzuki, Martin Necas, Josh Norris and others. Robert Thomas.
PHOTO OLIVIER JEAN, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Lias Andersson
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Andersson was a resounding flop. Gorton finally got rid of it in October 2020 against a second-round pick from the Los Angeles Kings. He had nine points in his first 66 games in New York.
Too bad for Gorton. He had provided his scouts with that top pick from the Arizona Coyotes for Derek Stepan and Antti Raanta.
With his own choice, at 21e rank, Clarke chose another player from Europe, Filip Chytil. The 22-year-old has played for Rangers for four years now, but in a more limited role. He has 81 points in 220 games in New York.
The following year, 2018, Gorton racked up three first-round picks for Clarke & Co. That of Rangers, in ninth place, that of the Bruins obtained for Rick Nash and a third of the Lightning for Ryan McDonagh and JT Miller.
Rangers again looked to Europe and first drafted Vitali Kravstov, whom Clarke was very infatuated with. Kravtsov, 22, failed to break into the roster this year and returned to the KHL pending a trade. Evan Bouchard, Oliver Wahlstrom, Noah Dobson and Joel Farabee, all already in the National League, were available at this rank.
New York had more success with K’Andre Miller, already a regular member of the top 4 in defence. The other first-round pick, Nils Lundkvist, 21 like Miller, is still trying to earn an NHL spot. He has just been sent back to the American League in favor of the team’s first choice in 2020, Braden Schneider.
Rangers won the second batch of the lottery in 2019 and the first pick in 2020. Gorton still left Clarke and his scouts to work, but Kaapo Kakko in second, and Alexis Lafrenière in first, were unanimous. For now, Kakko is behind Moritz Seider and Trevor Zegras, but he is still very young. Lafrenière, 20, is on his way to producing 24 full-season points, but the majority of scouts would have picked him No. 1 in 2020.
PHOTO JOHN MUNSON, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Alexis Lafreniere
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Masterstrokes of Gorton
The Rangers, third overall, owe their current success to the masterstrokes of Gorton. The team’s first two centers, Mika Zibanejad and Ryan Strome, were acquired on the exchange market. Defenders Adam Fox, Jacob Trouba and Ryan Lindgren in trades from Gorton as well. Artemi Panarin was hired as a free agent.
PHOTO GARY A. VASQUEZ, USA TODAY SPORTS
Ryan Lindgren (55), Mika Zibanejad (93), Filip Chytil (72) and Adam Fox (23)
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The splendid 26-year-old Rangers goaltender, Igor Shesterkin, is a 2014 draft product by Gordie Clarke, late in the fourth round. Twelve guardians were chosen before him.
Clarke and his right-hand man in Europe lost their jobs last year with the arrival of Gorton’s successor, Chris Drury.
Martin Lapointe in charge
Not only did Martin Lapointe survive the purge that cost Trevor Timmins the job, he was promoted to director of amateur scouting, in addition to carrying the title of director of player personnel he already held.
Lapointe and Gorton have a bond that goes back more than 20 years. Gorton was assistant general manager with the Bruins when Lapointe signed his four-year, $20 million contract there after leaving the Red Wings.
PHOTO ANDRÉ PICHETTE, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Martin Lapointe
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There are still 12 amateur scouts left under Lapointe, including European scouting director Christer Rockstrom, who discovered Niklas Lidstrom in Detroit at the time.
A marked difference in the draft strategy between Marc Bergevin and Jeff Gorton: Bergevin systematically refused to offer additional choices to gain a few ranks. Rather, he was doing the opposite. He didn’t hesitate to step back to amass more choices.
Gorton has always spoiled his recruiters in New York. Braden Schneider, K’Andre Miller were drafted early in the first round because Gorton agreed to give up third- and second-round picks to advance.
Let’s see his strategy in Montreal. In addition to drafting in the top 3, the Canadian risks accumulating one or more first-round picks in his role as seller, and probably others in subsequent rounds. He already has three third-round picks in the bank. Enough to allow the team to advance in the first or second round, who knows?
Nick Suzuki, a default star
PHOTO MICHAEL REAVES, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Nick Suzuki
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A bit by default, despite all his great promises, Nick Suzuki will represent the Canadiens in the All-Star game. The 22-year-old Suzuki is the team’s leading scorer with 19 points in 36 games, but that production still puts him at… 160e National League scoring rank. Montreal didn’t deserve to send anyone to this game, but it takes one per team. At least we avoid the humiliation of sending a fringe defender to this meeting, Chris Wideman, as rumor suggested at one point.
Do not miss
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