The first NHL Entry Draft was held in 1963. The format was changed in 1969áto allow for all amateurs players under the age of 20 to be eligible to be drafted by any NHL team. Before 1969, only amateur players who were not already property of NHL teamsáwere eligible. In those days, NHL teams owned junior teams, thus making the players on those junior rosters their property.
That meant the original six franchises lost their stranglehold on the amateur hockey talent in North America. This affected the Montreal Canadiens and Toronto Maple Leafs more than any of the other teams, as they held amateur players in the prime real estate marketsáof amateur hockeyùthe province of Quebec and most of Ontario, respectively.
In 1970, Gilbert Perreault was selected No. 1 overall ...
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Article written by Nelson Santos
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