With solely 4 days earlier than the 2024 NHL Draft, there are mock drafts and prospect scouting stories left, proper, and heart. On the Reseau des Sports activities’ (RDS) Instagram, Quebec’s prime sports activities channel, the community quotes its journalist who has been overlaying junior hockey since 1990; Stephane Leroux.
Right here’s a translated model of what he stated: In 1995, the Canadiens selected Terry Ryan as an alternative of Jarome Iginla…30 years later, possibly they shouldn’t depart Iginla’s son on the board.” I don’t imagine they need to observe that recommendation. Drafting Tij Iginla based mostly solely on the very fact he’s Iginla’s son could be ill-advised, as bloodlines don’t assure success.
The Apple Typically Falls Far From the Tree
Being raised by a former NHL participant doesn’t assure success in skilled hockey. There are many gamers who tried to observe of their dad’s footsteps however couldn’t pull it off. Claude Lemieux was a royal pest and an excellent hockey participant again in his heyday, however his son Brendan Lemieux is now 28 years outdated and on his fifth group. His greatest season to date was enjoying 59 video games with the New York Rangers and raking in 111 penalty minutes. That season he put up 18 factors and had a minus-14 score on the finish of the common season.
Donald Audette was a reasonably profitable hockey participant, particularly when he performed with the Buffalo Sabres and he racked up 509 factors within the NHL all through his 735-game profession. He had a son named Daniel Audette whom the Montreal Canadiens took an opportunity drafting within the fifth spherical. In the present day he’s 28 years outdated and plying his commerce in Europe. He performed in Finland, Russia, Sweden, and Switzerland however by no means performed a single recreation within the NHL.
Associated: Do the Canadiens Have to Draft a Kirby Dach Alternative?
Raymond Bourque’s son Chris Bourque was taken thirty third total by the Washington Capitals on the 2004 NHL Draft, performed a complete of 51 video games and amassed eight factors within the NHL. Ultimately, he spent most of his profession within the American Hockey League (AHL), but in addition spent important time in Europe enjoying in Russia, Switzerland, and Germany.
Different Occasions it Doesn’t Fall Far From the Tree
For each participant who performed nothing like his dad, you may in all probability discover simply as many who went on to search out success within the NHL similar to their dad. You solely must look so far as Keith Tkachuk whose two sons are dominant gamers in immediately’s NHL. Dad Keith performed 1,201 video games within the league and put up 1,065 factors. Thus far, eldest son Matthew Tkachuk is 26, has performed 590 video games, and scored 579 factors within the course of with 636 penalty minutes. In the meantime, his youngest son Brady is 24 and has already performed 440 video games within the NHL. He’s additionally bought 349 factors and 667 penalty minutes. Protected to say, each sons are properly on their option to being remembered within the NHL.
We will additionally seek advice from the Golden Jet and the Golden Brett. Bobby and Brett Hull each put up wonderful numbers within the NHL. Dad Bobby was a left winger who performed 1,063 video games within the NHL and put up 1,170 factors. Moreover, he additionally performed in 411 video games within the World Hockey Affiliation and gathered 638 factors there. As for son Brett, he spent his complete profession within the NHL with no consideration winger, enjoying 1,269 video games and choosing up 1,391 factors. Father Bobby had a 1.10 factors per recreation (P/G) within the NHL whereas son Brett had…precisely the identical P/G whole which is sort of scary.
I nonetheless don’t actually purchase that bloodlines have that a lot to do with making it within the NHL. If it made that a lot of a distinction, we’d have a league filled with sons following the trail traveled by Dad. I’m not saying the Canadiens ought to overlook about drafting Iginla’s son, however what I’m saying is reaching for a positional want was not a good suggestion (see Kotkaniemi, Jesperi) and I don’t imagine that reaching for the household identify could be both. When it’s about drafting, it comes all the way down to this one factor: taking the perfect participant obtainable when it’s your flip to talk.
The Athletic’s Stan Wheeler has bought Iginla at quantity 9 going with the storybook ending of his dad’s group, the Calgary Flames, choosing him, TSN’s Craig Button locations him at six, NHL.com deputy managing editor Adam Kimelman sees him being picked at 12 and NHL.com senior draft author Mike G. Morreale has him being picked at quantity 9, by his dad’s group the Flames, one other storybook fan, then. The underside line is, after Macklin Celebrini, no one agrees on something or anybody.
Will the Canadiens choose Iginla? They might, but when they do, much more than the very fact his father is Hockey Corridor of Fame 2021 inductee Iginla will go into the choice. I’m no skilled in draft prospects, however with what I’ve heard and browse, I imagine the Canadiens will find yourself with Cayden Lindstrom or maybe Ivan Demidov. We solely have 4 days to attend till we discover out if I’m proper. Till then, you may take a gander at the THW 2024 Draft Information.
