NHL Thread Because There Isn't An NHL Thread

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman didn't mince words when talking about the Montreal Canadiens' controversial selection of Logan Mailloux during last week's draft.

"I was stunned. Surprised wouldn't begin to explain my reaction," Bettman said on "The Power Play with Steve Kouleas" on Thursday. "I'm a dad of two daughters, I have four granddaughters. What was done was horrific."

Mailloux was charged and fined in Sweden last fall for invasion of privacy and defamation after taking a photo of a woman without consent during a sexual encounter and distributing it.


He put out a statement last Tuesday asking teams not to draft him, writing that he hadn't "demonstrated strong enough maturity or character to earn that privilege."

Three days later, the Habs selected him 31st overall.

"Everybody's focusing on the player - he said he didn't want to be drafted, the Canadiens drafted him anyway," Bettman said. "There's no mechanism not to be drafted, it's not within the player's control in any circumstance to decide when he wants to be drafted."

Bettman acknowledged Canadiens owner Geoff Molson's statement on the selection, adding that the situation is going to "require evaluation going forward."

"I don't think anybody should lose sight of the impact of what happened on the victim and the victim's family," Bettman said. "While (Molson) said the Canadiens and Logan are going to try and make good, we're gonna have to see what that means moving forward in all contexts."

Bettman added: "They’re going to continue to see how this evolves, how he progresses ... and at the appropriate time, we may be called on if and when they want him to play and he wants to play."
 
Hollywood said:
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman didn't mince words when talking about the Montreal Canadiens' controversial selection of Logan Mailloux during last week's draft.

"I was stunned. Surprised wouldn't begin to explain my reaction," Bettman said on "The Power Play with Steve Kouleas" on Thursday. "I'm a dad of two daughters, I have four granddaughters. What was done was horrific."

Mailloux was charged and fined in Sweden last fall for invasion of privacy and defamation after taking a photo of a woman without consent during a sexual encounter and distributing it.


He put out a statement last Tuesday asking teams not to draft him, writing that he hadn't "demonstrated strong enough maturity or character to earn that privilege."

Three days later, the Habs selected him 31st overall.

"Everybody's focusing on the player - he said he didn't want to be drafted, the Canadiens drafted him anyway," Bettman said. "There's no mechanism not to be drafted, it's not within the player's control in any circumstance to decide when he wants to be drafted."

Bettman acknowledged Canadiens owner Geoff Molson's statement on the selection, adding that the situation is going to "require evaluation going forward."

"I don't think anybody should lose sight of the impact of what happened on the victim and the victim's family," Bettman said. "While (Molson) said the Canadiens and Logan are going to try and make good, we're gonna have to see what that means moving forward in all contexts."

Bettman added: "They’re going to continue to see how this evolves, how he progresses ... and at the appropriate time, we may be called on if and when they want him to play and he wants to play."
Click to expand...

Took him a whole week to react? So he waited to see what the reaction would be first and then just piled on? If this was to have any weight, he should have said it last Saturday.
 
Buffalo Sabres general manager Kevyn Adams isn't in a rush to trade his franchise star Jack Eichel.

"What’s critically important to make sure is clear is that we’re in control of this process,” Adams said Thursday, according to The Athletic's John Vogl. “We have a player under contract. We don’t feel any pressure. If there’s a deal out there that we feel is the right thing for the Buffalo Sabres that’s going to help us improve - whether that’s improve right away or improve down the road, those are all the things weigh - we’d be open to it.

“But we’re not in a position where we feel we’re just going to do something to do it. That doesn’t make any sense.”


Eichel has been the subject of trade rumors for months. After how his neck injury was treated, the 24-year-old expressed there's a disconnect between him and the club. His status for the upcoming season is still uncertain.

Earlier this week, Eichel's agents said they expect the forward will be traded in the "near future." They were responding to Adams saying he would have "no problem" with Eichel still being with the club to begin training camp.

Adams confirmed he's still often discussing a potential trade with teams, and there's still a market for Eichel. But with the majority of this year's top free agents now signed, the number of potential suitors appears to be dwindling.

Eichel has recorded 139 goals and 216 assists over 375 career games. There are five years remaining on his contract with a $10-million cap hit per season, and a no-movement clause that kicks in after the upcoming campaign.
 
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