It was an open secret, but here it is confirmed: the Quebec Remparts officially ended their association with the Japanese Yu Sato and will select two new players on Tuesday, during the draft of the European players of the Canadian Hockey League (CHL), which begins at 11 a.m.
Patrick Roy continued to keep an open door, but it had become clear that Sato, who ended the season by being left out more often than not, was no longer part of the organization’s plans.
“I called him last week to tell him that we’re going in a different direction. It’s not easy to let him go because he’s a good person, but you had to make hockey decisions, “said Roy on Monday.
The Red Devils are now looking to the future. Having to initially choose 14th overall in the first round tomorrow, the Remparts will rather speak at the 11th echelon.
Three teams ahead of them, the Greyhounds of Sault-Sainte-Marie, the Drakkar of Baie-Comeau and the Frontenacs of Kingston, have decided to pass their turn since they already count on their two hockey players from the Old Continent.
In the second round, Quebec will speak 53rd even if it is 74th on the list, also due to the package of several teams.
A partner at Nause
Patrick Roy already has a good idea of where he wants to go on Tuesday.
“Ideally, I would like to get my hands on a defender who could play with Evan Nause and we would also like to add a striker. In which order? I do not know. We will make a decision tomorrow, depending on how the first picks will go. It is sure that they will be 17 or 18 year old players. It is a continuation of what we do. ”
The Remparts will also want to avoid repeating the error of Yu Sato, a player who was not in reality what his agent Igor Larionov had sold to the Quebec team.
“We want our European players to be impact players. With our first choice, it will be easier because we are fishing 11th. Our second choice will be more difficult because there will be around fifty players who will have been selected. This is an important day for the organization and we want to bring in the best two players possible to support the players in place. ”
Several options
The repechage, which is more a backstage game between agents and teams than anything else, contains its surprises.
Increasingly, teams are trying their luck with players even if they have not had talks with them.
The Remparts, who intended to claim forward Pavel Zacha in second overall, were beaten by the Sarnia Sting who tried their luck with the very first choice, after hearing rumors that that the Czech was interested in playing in the Canadian Hockey League.
In the end, Quebec City had to fall back on Vladislav Kamenev who had never shown up in Quebec City while Zacha, he finally agreed to play at Sarnia.
“You have to be careful in this draft. You have to have several plans. When I say careful, I mean we need to have at least five or six other players on our list in case we are unlucky. We would have to be unlucky for all these players to come out before our rank, but we still have to keep our eyes open and have plans A, B and C. ”
CHL European Draft
1. North Bay
2. Acadie-Bathurst
3. Swift Current
4. Niagara
5. Halifax
8. Gatineau
11. Baie-Comeau (pass)
14. Quebec (11th in reality)
17. Val-d’Or (pass)
20. Shawinigan (16th)
23. Saint-Jean (19th)
26. Victoriaville (pass)
29. Rouyn-Noranda (24th)
32. Blainville-Bois. (Pass)
35. Charlottetown (28e)
38. Drummondville (pass)
41. Rimouski (33rd)
44. Cape Breton (36th)
47. Chicoutimi (39th)
50. Moncton (42nd)
53. Sherbrooke (45e)
62. Acadie-Bath. (Pass)
65. Halifax (pass)
68. Gatineau (pass)
71. Baie-Comeau (pass)
74. Quebec (53rd)
77. Val-d’Or (pass)
80. Shawinigan (pass)
83. Saint-Jean (55th)
86. Victoriaville (pass)
89. Rouyn-Nor. (Pass)
92. Blainville-Bois. (past)
95. Charlottetown (59e)
98. Drummondville (pass)
101. Rimouski (pass)
104. Cape Breton (pass)
107. Chicoutimi (65th)
110. Moncton (66e)
113. Sherbrooke (pass)
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