BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – The first round of the 2021 NHL entry draft was completed Friday night.
The event, held virtually for covid-19 considerations, was a mixed bag. The first few players went as expected, but some surprises followed and a major late-round shocker as well.
There were also a few players selected with connections to Connecticut who were selected.
The New York Rangers, the parent club of the Hartford Wolf Pack took Brennan Othmann, an 18-year-old 6’0 175lbs. forward with the 16th pick.
Two years ago, Othmann played for the Flint Firebirds (OHL). In 55 games he registered 17 goals and 33 points. Last season, with the OHL on hiatus due to Covid-19, Othmann took an unorthodox route to continue to play.
CONTINUING TO PLAY
Since he is a Canadian with dual citizenship in Switzerland, he went there and played in the elite men’s league with EHC Olten (NLA). In 34 games, Othmann had seven goals and 16 points.
His father, Gerry Othmann had an 11-year professional hockey career. His uncle Robert, who still resides in Switzerland, after completing a 15-year playing career went on to coach the game at various levels of Swiss hockey over the last five years.
Othmann’s midget hockey was played with the traditionally strong Don Mills Flyers (GTHL) program.
CONNECTICUT CONNECTED SELECTIONS
The 24th pick by the Florida Panthers was Newtown’s Mackie Samoskevitch. The selection was announced by former Hartford Whaler, and Ranger, Shane Churla, the Panther Director of Amateur Scouting.
Samoskevitch skated for the Shattuck’s St. Mary’s Sabres (MNPREP) program playing with current UCONN Huskies center Artem Schlaine. He is a commit to the University of Michigan (Big 10) in the fall. They had three current Wolverines and two incoming freshmen all drafted. They could be an early favorite to be in the NCAA Frozen Four which will be played in Boston next spring.
Chase Stillman, the grandson of a former New Haven Nighthawk Bud Stefanski, was chosen 29th by the New Jersey Devils. With the OHL sidelined he played with Esbjerg (Denmark-DHL). In eight games he had nine goals and 16 assists.
In 2019-20, Stillman played for the Sudbury Wolves (OHL). In the 59 games that he played in, Stillman tallied 13 goals and 34 points. The team was coached by his father, former NHL’er, Cory Stillman.
ANOTHER CONNECTICUT CONNECTION
Moving up a few notches early in the draft was Cole Sillinger, the son of ex-Bridgeport Sound Tiger and NHL’er, Mike Sillinger. He was taken by the Columbus Blue Jackets thirteenth overall out of the Sioux Falls (SD) Stampede. While playing there, he earned USHL Rookie-of-the-Year honors. In 31 games, Sillinger registered 24 goals and 46 points.
The first two picks came from the University of Michigan program. The first was 6’6 defenseman, Owen Power by the Buffalo Sabres, and the second was the first-ever NHL selection by the Seattle Kraken. They chose Power’s teammate, Matthew Berniers.
MORE PICKS
The third pick moved up from where scouts thought he might wind up. The selection was forward Mason McTavish by the Anaheim Ducks.
SURPRISE
The biggest surprise of the first round was at the 29th selection.
The Montreal Canadiens chose Logan Mailloux who declared he did not want to be drafted earlier in the week. Mailloux is dealing with an incident that occurred last year in Sweden while the London Knights (OHL) player was on loan to SK Lejon (Sweden HockeyEttan, Division I, Third Tier).
Mailloux, 18, was fined by local police for showing a photo that depicted him and a woman engaged in a sexual act to his teammates via Snapchat. The photo was taken without her consent.
The woman went to local police, and while Mailloux was not arrested, he was charged with invasion of privacy and defamation. He paid a fine that amounted to just over $1,300 in US Currency.
“I feel that this would allow me the opportunity to demonstrate an adequate level of maturity and character next season,” Mailloux wrote in his own press release. “(It would) provide all the NHL teams the opportunity to reassess my character towards the 2022 NHL draft.”
A player can’t be de-certified once you’re in the Central Registry for the draft. Once you’re eligible, you can be drafted and the Canadiens elected to select Mailloux.
Rounds 2-7 will be conducted on Saturday starting at 11 AM on the NHL Network.
PLAYER AND COACHES MOVEMENT
The Rangers traded forward Pavel Buchnevitch to the St. Louis Blues in a move to clear cap space but to also add grit to the lower six forwards. While Buchnevich is a popular 20-goal scorer, the Rangers got back 25-year-old Sammy Blais and a 2022 second-round pick to be held in Montreal at the Bell Centre two years later than was originally planned.
The Blueshirts also initiated the buyout of defenseman Tony DeAngelo. The oft-troubled rearguard was exiled after a January 30th post-game fight near the locker room with another ex-Pack, goalie Alexander Georgiev.
It’s a safe bet to expect a few more trades, especially to alleviate the glut of (as of Friday) 19 signed defensemen in the organization. Qualifying offers will officially be made on Monday to RFA’s and they will have until Wednesday to either accept or reject them.
WOLF PACK SCHEDULE
The Wolf Pack’s 2021-22 regular season schedule was released on Friday. The Wolf Pack will play 72 games dropping two home and road games.
Both the home and regular-season openers are on the schedule for Friday, October 15th against the renamed Bridgeport Islanders.
On Saturday, October 16th, the Pack travel northbound on I-91 to play the Springfield Thunderbirds, who return to action after taking a (Covid) year off. They will have a new affiliation with the St. Louis Blues and their head coach is ex-Wolf Pack, Drew Bannister.
The Pack will finish the first weekend playing the Providence Bruins at 3 PM in Hartford on Sunday, October 17th.
PLAYERS MOVING
Ex-Pack Shawn O’Donnell signs with his third Denmark team in two years. O’Donnell signed his name on a contract with SonderyskE for next season departing from Esbjerg Energie after being traded by Odense.
Another AHL player heads to Europe in Robert Lantosi. He leaves Providence for Rogle BK (Sweden-SHL). a Swedish SHL team making 48 players leaving for Europe and six to sign with a Swedish SHL team.
Ex-Sound Tiger Victor Bartley has left Unia Oswiecim (Poland-PZIHL). He announced he was retiring in the spring, but signed with the Kunlun Red Star (China-KHL).
Matt Boucher, the son of former NHL defenseman Philippe Boucher, signs an AHKL deal with the Colorado Eagles.
Connor Doherty (Sacred Heart University) signs with the Maine Mariners (ECHL), the former Double AA affiliate of the Wolf Pack.
