Patrick Roy takes a shot at the Canadiens and it makes a lot of people react

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Jeff Drouin
July 15, 2022 (5:07 PM)

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While all the attention of hockey fans is focused on the opening of the free agent market without compensation, the Quebec Remparts organization met with the press to introduce its new assistant coach, Simon Gagné.

Gagné will be assisting Patrick Roy behind the bench of the Red Devils. During the press conference, the Remparts' head coach and general manager commented on the last NHL draft and admitted that he was disappointed by the low number of QMJHL players selected by the Canadiens.

Roy said he found it "a little funny" that the only player from the league selected by the Habs was in the seventh and final round.

The honor went to Miguel Tourigny, a 20-year-old defenseman who recently played for the Acadie-Bathurst Titan and was drafted 216th overall by the Habs as the team's final pick.

Afterwards, Roy recalled the importance of the Nordiques in Quebec City and how, at the time, it gave QMJHL hockey players more opportunities to be drafted by a local team.

I think it was always important to have two teams in Quebec. It gave our players an opportunity to get drafted and have a chance to play for their favorite team. There are some for whom it was the Nordiques, others for whom it was the Canadiens.

[...]

When you get one in the seventh round (Miguel Tourigny), it feels funny.

Do I wish the Habs would have been more involved with our youth? The answer is "yes". But I understand that there is a list. At the junior level, in any case, we get drafted local players, [we know that] this belonging is important."

He also said he was very happy that the Anaheim Ducks' first three picks were Courteau Circuit color-bearers - his forward Nathan Gaucher, Noah Warren and Tristan Luneau. In total, 19 QMJHL players were drafted.

Despite the change of direction within the Habs, the team's lack of QMJHL players has been strongly criticized by many.

But in defense of Kent Hughes and his team, the top prospects available at the time the Habs were picking were probably not QMJHL players and they will likely get a chance to make up for it in the coming years.