Habs take Kidney in second round

Halifax Mooseheads winger Zachary L'heureux was taken in the first round, 27th overall, by the Nashville Predators while Enfield's Riley Kidney had the distinction of being the first Nova Scotian chosen at the 2021 NHL Entry Draft.

Kidney, who had 13 goals and 38 points for the QMJHL'S Bathurst Titan, was chosen in the second round, 63rd overall, by the Montreal Canadiens.

In all, six Nova Scotians were drafted on Saturday.

Cam Whynot (Kentville) was taken in the third round, 89th overall, by the Calgary Flames. The defenceman for the Halifax Mooseheads had 23 points last season and showed growth in the defensive end.

The fifth round saw Bathurst winger Jacob Melanson (Amherst ) go to the expansion Seattle Kraken with the 131st pick, Charlottetown Islanders defenceman Oscar Plandowski (Halifax) taken with pick No. 155 by the Detroit Red Wings and Saint John Sea Dogs centre Cam Macdonald (Hammonds Plains) picked 160th by the two-time Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning.

Ben Boyd (Dartmouth),a rugged winger for Charlottetown, was selected in the sixth round, 165th, by the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Bobby Orr of the Mooseheads was taken in the fifth round, 136th, by the Carolina Hurricanes.

On Friday night, the Predators traded the 40th and 51st picks of the draft to move up and take L'heureux in the first round. The Predators are said to like L'heureux's tenacious style of play to go along with his scoring prowess.

The Buffalo Sabres made defenceman Owen Power the first overall pick while Matthew Beniers was the first player drafted by the Kraken at No. 2.