Gemma Karstens-Smith
July 24, 2021 - 5:53 PM
After an unsettled season that limited opportunities for junior hockey players and NHL scouts alike, Calgary Flames GM Brad Treliving believes it will take some time before the real winners of this year's draft can be picked.
"The reality is now you wait," he said Saturday after Calgary added eight names to its prospect pool. "Everyoneâs happy on draft day.
"Now you wait for a period of time for these players to go through the development process."
General managers, scouts and players have all said for weeks they expected an unpredictable 2021 NHL entry draft after COVID-19 restrictions cancelled games or entire seasons, and prevented scouts from checking out talent in person.