The Canadiens wanted to draft Benoît Pouliot before Carey Price

Good thing the Wild chose Pouliot. After all, not drafting Carey Price would have really affected the franchise since it would have been one less big-name talent in town.

And the Habs, at the time, couldn’t afford to have less than that, you know.

So Pouliot was ranked ahead of Carey Price by the Habs, but also ahead of a guy like Anze Kopitar, who came out at #11 and became a big star in Los Angeles.

So Pouliot was held in high esteem by the Habs. No wonder Gainey, a few months before stepping down as GM, traded Guillaume Latendresse to the Wild to get his hands on the same Pouliot.

Hats off to Bob Gainey, in any case, for telling it like it is. After all, he didn’t have to, and in hindsight, it’s not an anecdote that makes him look good, let’s say.

But we won’t say no to a little transparency.

overtime

– A machine.

– The former Habs player is heading to Switzerland.

– Strange timing to pull this out with the Hurricanes winning last night. But he’s right nonetheless.

– With good reason.