Status quo for Eagles
Cape Breton holds second overall pick at QMJHL Entry Draft
SYDNEY — The Cape Breton Eagles now know where they will pick in the first-round of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League Entry Draft next month.
The Eagles won the second overall pick for the 2021 entry draft during the league's annual draft lottery Tuesday evening. The lottery was conducted by Pierre Leduc, QMJHL director of hockey operations.
Cape Breton had six balls in the draw and a 28 per cent chance to win the top selection. The team's chances improved during the lottery when the Baie-Comeau Drakkar — who had the best odds for the first pick at 43 per cent — were given the third overall selection.
The Eagles and the Sherbrooke Phoenix were the final two teams in contention for the first pick. The Phoenix — with three balls in the draw and a 14 per cent chance — won the draft lottery and will pick first overall.
“When I saw that Baie-Comeau was unveiled at No. 3, I thought our chances at No. 1 had gone up significantly,” said Eagles general manager Jacques Carrière. “At the time, it was between us and Sherbrooke, but I guess the odds were otherwise.”
The rebuilding Eagles finished the regular season in 17th place with a 12-25-1-0 record, leaving the club in draft lottery territory with the remaining four bottom five teams in the overall standings.
The Quebec Remparts will pick fourth overall, while the Halifax Mooseheads will have the fifth overall selection.
Although disappointed the team won't have the top pick, Carrière was pleased the team didn't move down in the draft and will remain at No. 2.
“It's status quo, for sure,” said Carrière. “We certainly would have liked to move into the first position … it's good that we stuck there and we didn't go down.”
Cape Breton has had the first overall pick twice since 1997 — selecting James Sheppard in 2004, and Nicolas Roy in 2013 — but has never selected with the second overall pick.
The Eagles last top five pick came in 2015 when the club selected forward Shane Bowers with the fourth overall selection. Bowers never reported to Sydney and the club received compensation for the pick.
The last top five picks to report to the Eagles was Winnipeg Jets' Pierre-Luc Dubois, who was drafted No. 5 overall in 2014. The draft pick was compensation for Roy not reporting to Cape Breton in 2013.
Carrière told the Cape Breton Post he's already received phone calls from other general managers inquiring about the Eagles pick. He said he anticipates those calls to continue leading into next month's draft now that the team officially has the second overall selection.
The 2021 QMJHL Entry Draft will take place June 25-26 virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The first round will be held June 25, while Rounds 2-14 and the United States draft will be held June 26.