Aatos Koivu was ranked 27th among international skaters by NHL Central Scouting and Habs took him with 70th overall pick Saturday.
Talk about a chip off the old block.
Aatos, 18, was born on June 22, 2006 in Turku, Finland. His father played with the Canadiens from 1995-96 through 2008-09.
For the second straight year, the Canadiens didn’t have a pick in the second round of the draft.
Aatos Koivu didn’t attend the draft in Las Vegas.
Habs draft Stanstead College grad
“Best jersey in the league for sure, best team,” Sawyer, who was born in Calgary, told reporters in Las Vegas after being drafted and putting on a Canadiens sweater and ball cap. “I can’t wait to get started.
“It was a little nerve-wracking,” Sawyer added about waiting to get drafted. “But just tried to stay as positive as I could and I got drafted by the best team that could have taken me, so pretty cool. … Original Six (team), it’s just a dream come true. I live in Toronto. I’ve been in Montreal a bunch. It’s a beautiful city and I just can’t wait to get out there.”
Sawyer described himself as a skilled forward who can create a lot of chances, adding that he uses his hockey IQ and big frame well to be an offensive threat.
“I had an interview with (the Canadiens) on Thursday,” Sawyer said. “Obviously, you never know where you’re going to get drafted, but I had a good feeling with them. I didn’t know what round exactly, but fortunate enough to go in the third round, which is pretty surreal.”
Hutson’s brother drafted
Hutson’s younger brother, Cole, was selected by the Washington Capitals in the second round (43rd overall).
Cole, a 5-foot-10, 165-pound defenceman, had 15-36-51 totals in 51 games last season with the U.S. National U18 team. Cole also had 4-9-13 totals in seven games at the world junior championship to help Team USA win the gold medal. Cole was named to the tournament all-star team.
“He definitely has special abilities,” Lane said about his younger brother at the end of the Canadiens’ development camp last summer. “I don’t want to say it … hopefully he doesn’t watch this … but, yeah, I think he has that ability to be better than me. I think he’ll get drafted much higher. He’s a super-talented player. Smooth skater, sees the ice really well. He’s got the shakes. A really good shot, too. He’s a really good hockey player.”
Lane was right. Cole was drafted 19 spots earlier than him.
First QMJHL player finally selected
The 6-foot-4, 186-pounder from Riverview, N.B., had 12-34-46 totals in 65 games last season with the Rimouski Océanic.
Lightning trades Sergachev
The Tampa Bay Lightning traded former Canadiens defenceman Mikhail Sergachev to the Utah Hockey Club on Saturday.
In exchange for the 26-year-old Sergachev, who won two Stanley Cups in Tampa, the Lightning received forward Connor Geekie, the signing rights to defenceman J.J. Moser, a second-round pick at next year’s draft and a seventh-round pick at this year’s draft.
Former Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin selected Sergachev in the first round (ninth overall) at the 2016 NHL Draft. Sergachev only played four games with the Canadiens before Bergevin traded him to the Lightning on June 15, 2017 in exchange for Jonathan Drouin.
Sergachev was limited to 34 games last season, posting 2-17-19 totals, because of surgery required in February to stabilize fractures to the tibula and fibula on his left leg. Sergachev has seven seasons remaining on his eight-year, US$68-million contract with an annual salary-cap hit of US$8.5 million.