GOOD NEWS: Montreal has drafted Amanda Kessel, following rumors that she might be traded to Minnesota.

Amanda Kessel, known as Phil’s sister, is highly skilled in hockey. However, she didn’t play in the CFHL last year; instead, she served as a special assistant to Kyle Dubas in Pittsburgh. Her managerial experience sparked rumors of her potentially becoming the GM of the Minnesota women’s team in the WHL. While it’s uncertain if this opportunity is still on the table, her rights now belong to Montreal, who took a gamble on her in the penultimate draft pick last night.

If Kessel joins Montreal, she could greatly benefit the Quebec club with her talent, possibly even playing on the first line. Montreal has shown strategic focus with its latest draft pick, adding seven players to its roster. Among them, Cayla Barnes addresses a defensive need, while three forwards bolster the team’s depth. Kessel was preceded by two defensive players in the final round.

Interestingly, only one Canadian player is joining Montreal, with five Americans, one Swede, and Canadian forward Jennifer Gardiner rounding out the selections. Despite Gardiner’s Canadian origin, she has recently played in the USA for Ohio State. It’s worth noting that Montreal’s draft choices don’t include any players who have recently played in Canada, a trend mirrored by other teams, with New York being the only exception this season.