NHL Twitter reacts to Canadiens controversial selection of Logan Mailloux

Twitter could not believe that the Montreal Canadiens selected Logan Mailloux in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft.

The first round of the 2021 NHL Draft featured plenty of memorable moments, such as five Michigan Wolverines players being selected and Luke Hughes uniting with older brother Jack on the New Jersey Devils. But the end of the round generated headlines, for all the wrong reasons.

Defenseman prospect Logan Mailloux, who was convicted in Sweden in 2020 for sending a photo of himself and a woman performing a sex act to his teammates without her consent, formally renounced himself from the NHL Draft. Despite that, the Montreal Canadiens decided to select him with the 31st-overall pick in the first round.

To say those on NHL Twitter were shocked at this selection is a massive understatement.

NHL Twitter reacts to Canadiens’ controversial selection of Logan Mailloux

Shortly after the pick was announced, the Canadiens released a lengthy statement explaining the selection of Mailloux. Usually, when a team has to release multiple paragraphs worth of an explanation right after a pick, that is telling.

Last year, Mailloux was convicted for sending out the photo in question to his teammates, resulting in him being convicted of offensive photography constituting an invasion of privacy and defamation. Mailloux was not arrested only assessed a fine. The woman spoke to The Athletic, saying that she did not believe Mailloux “understood the seriousness of his behavior” and said that all she wanted “was a heartfelt apology.”

In the days leading up to the draft, Mailloux sent a statement on Twitter to formally ask teams to not draft him, saying that he has not “demonstrated strong enough maturity or character to earn that privilege in the 2021 draft.” According to ESPN’s Greg Wyshynski, multiple teams still intended to select Mailloux despite his conviction but were targeting him in the second round.

The Canadiens are taking deserved heat for the controversial selection. Mailloux himself is expected to speak to the media on Saturday morning, per David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.