Eagles ready for NHL draft.
Cape Breton players hope to hear name called during NHL Entry Draft
SYDNEY — Ryan Francis admits playing the waiting game hasn't been easy.
Throughout the 2019-20 season, the Cape Breton Eagles forward patiently waited for the NHL Entry Draft in June in Montreal, only to learn the event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“It seems like I've been waiting years now since June,” laughed the 18-year-old. “I'll be happy to get it done and focus on this season and what I need to do and hopefully have a good year.”
The Beaver Bank, N.S., product won't have to wait too much longer as the NHL Entry Draft will take place virtually with rounds 2-7 set for today, beginning at 12:30 p.m. Round 1 was held Tuesday night.
Although the draft is a notin-person event for health safety reasons, Francis intends to embrace the experience.
“Getting drafted no matter what is a great experience and I'm very excited for whenever I get picked,” said Francis.
“I have some family and friends coming up, so we're going to try to enjoy the moment and hopefully hear my name called by a team.”
Francis enters the drafted ranked No. 55 overall among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting.
The five-foot-nine, 176pound centre had a breakout season in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League last year, posting 24 goals and 72 points in 61 games while playing on the Eagles top line with Egor Sokolov and Shawn Boudrias.
“I went into the year with an open mind and just took things day-by-day and not look too far ahead,” said Francis. “I thought I had a pretty good year. I knew I had those capabilities of having a year like that and I'm just trying to build off that this year.”
Francis, a second-round draft pick of the Eagles in 2017, acknowledged there were times during the season when he thought about the draft.
“It's impossible to completely block out the draft, but I didn't want to think too far ahead of myself,” said Francis. “I knew what I could control, and I was hopeful the results would come with my team getting wins and myself getting production.”
Being drafted by an NHL team has always been Francis' dream and something he's thought about throughout his career.
“It's just another step in a long journey to becoming a professional hockey player,” said Francis. “I'll be happy to have my dream come true, but I know there's still many steps
to take to get to where I want to be.”
Former Eagle Egor Sokolov, who played three seasons with the team from 2017 to last March, is also hoping to hear his name called during the draft.
The Yekatarinburg, Russia, native was passed over in the previous two NHL drafts, however, after a strong season in Cape Breton, which saw him record 46 goals and 92 points in 52 games, he hopes the third times the charm.
“I put in a lot of work over the summer and during last season trying to get better as a player every day,” said Sokolov, who's ranked No. 73 overall among North American skaters.
“I knew at some point my hard work would pay off and hopefully it will happen (today).”
Prior to the start of the 2019-20 season, Sokolov was invited to attend the Columbus Blue Jackets rookie camp. He impressed the team's coaching staff during the NHL prospects tournament in Traverse City, Mich., and earned an invite to the club's main camp.
He appeared in one preseason game against the Buffalo Sabres and recorded an assist, while also surviving the team's first set of cuts from camp. He was later reassigned to Cape Breton and never signed a contract with the team.
In December, Sokolov was named to Russia's national junior team for the 2020 IIHF World Junior Hockey Championship. The six-footfour, 231-pound left-winger finished the tournament with three goals and four points in seven games, winning a silver medal.
Although he credits his time in Cape Breton for his success, Sokolov said playing on the international stage helped his draft status.
“A lot of the guys in the tournament were basically drafted in the first-round by NHL teams and I was the guy undrafted,” said the 20-yearold. “It was a good opportunity for me to show what I could do against the best players my age and I think I did well.”
Sokolov won't be with his family for the draft. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he's remained in Atlantic Canada and will be following the draft along with his billet family in Sydney.
“I'm going to try to Zoom call my parents during the draft and make the most of it,” said Sokolov. “I'm really excited for what my future holds.”
Francis won't be the only current member of the Eagles roster following today's results.
Goaltender William Grimard is ranked No. 12 among North American goaltenders, while centre Ivan Ivan is listed as No. 135 among North American skaters. Both rankings by NHL Central Scouting.
“Will and Ivan are both great players,” said Francis. “I hope the best for them on draft day and hopefully they'll hear their name called.”
Grimard, 19, appeared in 28 games for the Eagles in 2019-20, posting a 14-12-1-0 record along with a 3.64 goalsagainst-average and a .895 save percentage.
The Wotton, Que., native had plenty of opportunity to prove himself last season, especially when No. 1 netminder Kevin Mandolese missed the entire month of November due to an injury.
Meanwhile, Ivan, 18, suited up for 62 games with Cape Breton last season and posted 11 goals and 22 points along with a plus-10 rating.
Six QMJHL players were ranked as potential first-round draft picks for Tuesday night's portion of the draft, which took place following the Post's press deadline.
Rimouski Océanic star Alexis Lafrenière was expected to be selected by the New York Rangers with the first overall pick.
Other possible first-round draft picks were Dawson Mercer (Chicoutimi), Hendrix Lapierre (Chicoutimi), Justin Barron (Halifax), Jérémie Poirier (Saint John) and Mavrik Bourque (Shawinigan).