NHL Draft: Canada’s pride in for shock Friday
Woe Canada.
Canada’s hockey pride will likely suffer a blow at the top end of Friday night’s NHL draft in Buffalo.
Auston Matthews from the United States is expected to go first overall to the Maple Leafs. Then it should be a pair of Finns, Patrik Laine and Jesse Puljujarvi. Then Americans Matthew Tkachuk and Clayton Keller. Then Russian Mikhail Sergachev.
It could take a while for a Canadian to be selected — maybe only one in the top 10. Defenceman Jakob Chychrun (even he was born in the U.S.) and forward Pierre-Luc Dubois offer Canada’s best hopes of avoiding a shutout.
“It’s certainly going to be interesting to see when the first Canadian-born player gets drafted,” says Dan Marr, director of Central Scouting.
Even if both go in the top 10, it would mark the fewest for Canada in NHL draft history. There were three in 2000, when Raffi Torres went fifth overall, and 2004, when Cam Barker was chosen third.
Voices within Hockey Canada have privately raised concern, and said publicly they are keeping a close eye on whether this becomes a trend.
“Should, after three or four years, a trend develop that sees other countries dominate the first round, we would certainly scrutinize our approach,” said Tom Renney, president and CEO of Hockey Canada.
The number of Canadians in the NHL dipped below 50 per cent this past season: 49.3 per cent, or 488 skaters and goalies out of the 990 who played at least one game.
Other countries are gaining at the elite level. Finns promise to go second and third Friday night, a first for a country better known for grooming goalies. A bad economy in Russia means more of that country’s young players are choosing the NHL over the KHL.
Meanwhile, the American program seems to get stronger each year, including from non-traditional markets such as Arizona and California.
“I think it just bodes well for the future now,” says Marr. “There’s been so much attention with Auston Matthews (raised in Scottsdale, Ariz.). I think you’re going to see a spurt of hockey continue in that area.”
No one is setting off alarm bells just yet. Canada, after all, is just one year removed from a world junior title and has won the last two world championships and Olympic golds. And 17-year-old forward Nolan Patrick of the Brandon Wheat Kings, born in Winnipeg, is at the top of most scouts’ list for 2017.
“These things do go in cycles,” says Marr. “I don’t think it says anything. There are just good players that come from everywhere.”