Montreal to stage entry draft in ’22
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Friday night the plan is to hold the 2022 NHL Entry Draft at Bell Centrein Montreal, which is where the 2020 event was scheduled to take place before the pandemic forced the festivities online.
The 2021 draft was the second to be held virtually with team staff in their home cities. Bettman ran the draft from the NHL Network studio in Secaucus, N.J.
Bettman told The Associated Press the league is aiming for full arenas at the start of next season and an in-person draft in Montreal but would be ready to adjust as circumstances dictate.
If NHL players go to the Olympics, the Stanley Cup likely would be handed out in late June with the draft pushed to July. There is currently no agreement in place between the league, players and international officials to guarantee participation in Beijing in February.
The schedule for next season that was released Thursday night includes an Olympic break from Feb. 7-22. Bettman said negotiations with the Players Association, International Ice Hockey Federation and International Olympic Committee are ongoing.
There’s no official deadline for when an Olympic agreement must be reached.
Elsewhere
Seth Jones is going to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Chicago acquired the star defenseman from the Columbus Blue Jackets before the NHL draft began, according to three people with knowledge of the move.
Jones also agreed to terms on a $76 million, eight-year contract extension that carries an annual salary cap hit of $9.5 million. He has one year left on his current contract and cannot sign the extension until free agency opens Wednesday.
The people spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because the trade had been agreed to but the call not completed yet. It was not immediately clear what Chicago gave up to get the 26-year-old who could become cornerstone of the franchise’s blue line for years to come.
The trade was the fourth of the day and second blockbuster.
The Arizona Coyotes pulled off the other, sending captain Oliver EkmanLarsson and forward Conor Garland to the Vancouver Canucks for the No. 9 selection, a 2022 second-round pick, 2023 seventh-rounder and three veteran forwards.
• The New York Rangers continued their offseason makeover by trading fourth-leading scorer Pavel Buchnevich to the St. Louis Blues for forward Sammy Blais and a 2022 second-round pick.
Buchnevich had 20 goals and 28 assists for 48 points in 54 games last season. The 26-year-old winger is a restricted free agent with arbitration rights.
Blais, 25, has 35 points in 119 regular-season NHL games and was part of St. Louis’ 2019 Stanley Cupwinning team. He’s signed for $1.5 million next season before becoming an unrestricted free agent.