The reaction to Habs GM Marc Bergevin selecting Logan Mailloux has been swift and severe

Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin shocked the hockey world Friday night at the NHL entry draft. With the 31st pick of the 1st round, Bergevin selected 18-year-old defenceman Logan Mailloux, who had specifically asked teams not to draft him after going public with charges he had faced in Sweden last year for sharing a photo of a consensual sexual encounter with an 18-year-old woman with teammates. Bergevin attempted to get ahead of the criticism last night, having the Canadiens release a statement saying that Mailloux understood his poor behaviour and that the Habs would work with him to ensure he is accountable for his actions and understands the full impact of what he had done. As you can imagine, the pick did not sit well with many.

Logan Mailloux: The NHL Draft should be one of the most exciting landmark moments of a player's career, and given the circumstances I don't feel I have demonstrated strong enough maturity or character to earn that privilege in the 2021 Draft.

Montreal Canadiens: Welcome aboard.— Arpon Basu (@ArponBasu) July 24, 2021

Why do this? Honestly.

Mailloux isn't going to make you win a Cup.

Was it really worth it, Marc? Trevor? Geoff?— Habs Chronicle (@HabsChronicle) July 24, 2021

Shocked that MTL took Logan Mailloux 31st overall even tho he asked all NHL teams to not to take him because of a sex-related criminal charge/judgment for taking/distributing a photo of a woman w/o permission, as 1st reported by @frank_seravalli last week: https://t.co/iYWZqiH2YY— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) July 24, 2021

Logan Mailloux still being a first-round pick is further proof that "cancel culture" isn't an actual thing, by the way.— Taylor Haase (@TaylorHaasePGH) July 24, 2021

The Canadiens, once a beacon of all that is good in hockey, took Logan Mailloux in the draft. The fact they did tells you all you need to know about the culture of toxic masculinity in hockey. My latest for Hockey Unfiltered. Please consider subscribing. https://t.co/mS7Dk46iW1— Ken Campbell (@Ken_Campbell27) July 24, 2021

You don't need to be female, or the parent of a girl, to be shocked by the Montreal Canadiens selection of Logan Mailloux in the NHL draft, but if you're male, just for a moment try putting yourself in the position of a female fan and picture how devastating this must feel.— Gord Miller (@GMillerTSN) July 24, 2021

There are many, MANY other statements that could have been shared here, but they all boil down to the same thing: why would Bergevin choose to make this move? Perhaps even more confusing is that Mailloux, before the details of the charges became public, was projected to go in the mid-to-late 2nd round of the draft at best, or possibly somewhere in the third round. Bergevin chose, for whatever reason, to take him late in the 1st, higher than almost all projections, even after he asked teams not to draft him saying he would take another year to mature and learn from his mistakes. Why Bergevin decided to take this on, rather than just pick a player who is for all intents and purposes just as likely to have a successful NHL career, perhaps even more so, than Mailloux is a complete head scratcher.

Whether Mailloux deserves a second chance or not is completely a matter of personal opinion. I won't bother giving mine here. Either way, it's unlikely to sway your own. What I can say is that, either way, it's really confusing to try and figure out what Bergevin believes he is accomplishing with this pick or why he seemed so intent to make it. The options left on the board were likely just as good as, if not better, than taking Mailloux. Bergevin also could have saved himself and the team a lot of headaches that aren't likely to go away any time soon. Why any team, but especially one located in a hockey hot zone like Montreal, would select Mailloux after he asked for all of them to wait until next year, is simply baffling. For what it's worth, Mailloux is expected to do an interview with members of the media on Saturday.

We go from Marc Bergevin - director of player personnel with the 2010 Chicago Blackhawks - announcing the horrendous Logan Mailloux pick for Montreal.

And transition right into Chicago, the team under investigation for allegedly covering up sex abuse, making the 32nd pick.

Oof.— Mike McIntyre (@mikemcintyrewpg) July 24, 2021

MUST READ

5 minutes ago  |  By Graham Montgomery Jeremy Swayman's Selfish Play Costs the Boston Bruins Important Game: Fans are Furious

1 hour ago  |  By Graham Montgomery New York Rangers Scratch Multiple Top Prospects: Blockbuster Trade Likely Coming

2 hours ago  |  By Graham Montgomery Fans Stunned After Connor Bedard Falls for Popular Conspiracy Theory

6 hours ago  |  By River Hawk More Terrible News for the Vancouver Canucks: Star Sniper Brock Boeser is Leaving the Team

9 hours ago  |  By River Hawk 'Cliques Forming': Darren Dreger Fans the Flames of the Vancouver Canucks Locker Room Controversy

10 hours ago  |  By River Hawk Vancouver Canucks Locker Room Controversy Heats Up After Thatcher Demko Rumour Leak

21 hours ago  |  By Graham Montgomery Former NFL Star Cam Newton Comes Out About Financial Struggles Despite Making $133 Million in His Career

23 hours ago  |  By Tom Banks Jets Defenseman Opens Up About Terrifying Skate Blake to the Throat Injury

MORE STORIES