Gary Bettman spoke with media on Tuesday night, covering a range of issues in and around the NHL. For one thing, the NHL Commissioner assured fans that 'nobody tanks' when asked if teams deliberately field bad teams for a better shot at a top draft pick.
A statement which
literally nobody believes to be true.
Another topic addressed was the fate of Montreal Canadiens' 2021 1st round pick,
Logan Mailloux. Mailloux was infamously charged in Sweden for "taking and distributing an offensive photo without consent during a consensual sexual encounter."
The incident landed the 6'3'' defenseman on many teams' 'do not draft' lists. Montreal felt obliged to take him with the final pick of the 1st round, and speaking strictly regarding the on-ice portion of the situation, it looks like a great pick.
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The 19-year old has 31 points in 33 games for the London Knights of the OHL this season, who is looking to make a run at the Memorial Cup this spring. The question of Mailloux's NHL eligibility remains unanswered, however.
if and when the Canadiens decide they want to bring him up to the NHL level and we'll have to take a good, hard look. I do think that at some point, and in some circumstances, with some people, when you make a mistake there's a chance of redemption and rehabilitation. But we'll have to evaluate that on a
case by case basis. But the short answer for you is it's not an issue for us yet to consider."
Bettman's answer to the Mailloux question suggests the Habs' prospect remains ineligible, to be reviewed if/when the day comes for the team to call him up. The question of Mailloux's eligibility initially arose after the Boston Bruins/Mitchell Miller debacle.
Playing in the NHL is a privilege, so Bettman's answer isn't too surprising. The league's consistency on the matter could be called into question, given the 2018 Canadian World Junior scandal which includes more than one current NHL player.
Nevertheless, the league has to take some kind of stand on players' indiscretions. Hence, Bettman's response.
