The Montreal Canadiens had their eye on Brett Stapley in 2017 after he exploded offensively in the BCHL, becoming a point-per-game forward for the Vernon Vipers, but the Habs ran out of picks he came up on their list. They used their last selection on a goalie who flew under the radar in the USHL — Cayden Primeau — which was a great choice in retrospect.
When Montreal came back to the draft floor the next year, however, Stapley was on their list again. This time, they snatched him up. ‘‘We think the world of him.