NASHVILLE | Ethan Gauthier has become the first Quebecer selected in the NHL draft. The Tampa Bay Lightning made him the 37th pick in the second round, a choice that previously belonged to the Montreal Canadiens.
• Read also: “The defenseman closest to the NHL”: scouts analyze the Canadiens’ 1st choice, David Reinbacher
• Read also: Kent Hughes defines David Reinbacher as a raw diamond
The Lightning received this pick from the Colorado Avalanche in exchange for Ross Colton, who in turn acquired it in the trade that sent Alex Newhook to Montreal.
But the young winger didn’t care! “I’m happy to be a member of the Tampa Bay Lightning!” he exclaimed, smiling, to a colleague who pointed out that this selection had previously belonged to the Canadiens.
From disappointment to euphoria
That smile was indeed difficult — if not impossible — to wipe off his face, and it was in stark contrast to the feelings he had just 12 hours earlier, after spending the entire first round in the stands without hearing his name.
“It was a tough evening because I had good feelings with some teams. I had discussions that made me believe I would be picked in the first round. It was disappointing because it’s a dream to be drafted in the first round and go on stage. However, I am a player with character, it’s part of my identity, and I will prove that I deserved to be a first-round pick.”
In the evening, after the first round, Gauthier and his family crossed paths with Lightning general manager Julien BriseBois, as well as the team’s director of hockey operations, Mathieu Darche.
“I hadn’t spoken much to the Lightning. Mathieu told me he expected me to be picked in the first round… As for BriseBois, he didn’t even talk to me about the draft. He just told me to enjoy the moment and that I was a player they really liked.”
The best possible destination
Once the disappointment subsided, Gauthier began to look at the order of selection in the second round and circled the 37th pick, that of the Lightning.
“When I saw that Tampa Bay was picking at 37, I told my brother, ‘If I go to Tampa, I will be the happiest guy in the world.’ I am honored to be part of this organization… In recent years, they have shown that they know how to build winning teams, and that’s what excites me the most about joining their organization.”
In 66 games with the Sherbrooke Phœnix last season, Gauthier collected 69 points. He was recently traded to the Drummondville Voltigeurs.
dans un article qui peut être bien classé sur Google
#Repêchage #LNH #Lightning #sélectionne #Ethan #Gauthier.. #avec #choix #Canadien
publish_date]
