THE great debate
Published Saturday October 11th, 2008
QMJHL More than three years after 2005 draft, Esposito's snub may have worked out best for Sea Dogs
It's June 4, 2005: the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League entry draft in Chicoutimi, Que.
Saint John Sea Dogs general manager Tipper LeBlanc can barely contain his smile as he steps up to the podium at the Georges Vezina Centre.
After congratulating the organizers and the defending champion Rimouski Oceanic, LeBlanc proudly calls the name of the team's first-ever selection.
"Angelo Esposito," he says.
Angelo Esposito. The young forward from Montreal has been lighting it up for the Shattuck St. Mary's prep school in Minnesota, and is by far the top-rated player.
LeBlanc beams confidently because, although Esposito had declared his intention to play U.S. college hockey, the GM swung a last-minute deal to convince the young star to anchor the franchise.
As a footnote, their expansion cousins, the St. John's Fog Devils, select the No. 2 prospect, Alex Grant, a highly regarded player considered a cut below Esposito. Grant moved to Montreal with the team this summer, while Esposito went on to become captain of the Dogs.
That's how it might have unfolded in some alternate universe.
In reality, Esposito rebuffed LeBlanc and stuck to his story, the Sea Dogs settled for Grant, and eventually, Patrick Roy's Quebec Remparts scooped up Esposito with the 11th pick.
Two weeks later, Esposito announced he had changed his mind and would play in the QMJHL after all. He's since been traded to the Montreal Junior (6-3), who visit the Sea Dogs (5-6) at 7 p.m. tonight at Harbour Station.
At the time, it was seen as a loss for the Dogs. More than three years later, it's not so clear cut.
LeBlanc still has vivid memories of that day.
He also recalls the five months before the draft and the multiple meetings he and head scout Norm Gosselin had with the Esposito family and his agent, Phil Lecavalier.
"At no time did they say they were going to come (to the league). If he didn't want to play in Saint John, he could have just come out and said so," said LeBlanc, now a scout for the Halifax Mooseheads.
"We could have dangled him and got something for him because, at that time, he was head-over-heels better than anybody available."
LeBlanc still believes Roy and Esposito had a deal in place before the draft.
"Two weeks later everything changes?" he said. "Give me a break."
But Roy, Quebec's coach, GM and vice-president, denies it to this day.
"It was a big gamble for us at the time. We were not sure if he was going to report, but we felt we had everything in place to seduce him," said Roy.
He says he was confident because he'd heard Esposito had an agreement in place with Moncton Wildcats owner Robert Irving.
"All I had to do was match the offer Moncton made," said Roy.
Irving did not confirm or deny Roy's assertion.
"I can't talk to you on anything that was behind the scenes," he said. "We do a lot of deals out there and I don't like to broadcast our arrangements, especially in the public."
"I don't talk about his deals and he shouldn't be talking about anything else out there," added Irving.
Roy says the family was impressed with Quebec's education package, and Roy's plans to use Esposito alongside superstar Alexander Radulov.
"I'm not sure anyone knows the real story there," said Jay Heinbuck, director of amateur scouting for the Pittsburgh Penguins, who chose both Esposito and Grant in the 2007 NHL draft.
LeBlanc points out that, although the Remparts won a Memorial Cup in 2006, things haven't gone exactly as Esposito planned, while Grant's fortunes have risen.
Once ranked the No. 1 prospect for the NHL draft, Esposito slipped to the Penguins at No. 20, and was dealt to the Atlanta Thrashers in the Marian Hossa trade last season. Grant, a fourth-rounder, remains in the system.
Esposito "had kind of a tumultuous year (but) we were elated to be able to select him at No. 20," said Heinbuck. "And we're happy with Grant's development."
Not only has Esposito been traded in two leagues, he was not invited to Team Canada's summer camp for the world junior championship, while Grant was.
"When you try to create a scenario in hockey to put everything in your favour, it doesn't always work that way," said LeBlanc.
"I prefer kids, as Sidney Crosby did, who say, 'Draft me and I'll go,' not try to dictate where they'll play."
It's worked out just fine for Grant, who has grown into the face of the Sea Dogs, and led them to the league semifinal last year.
"I've loved my time here and I wouldn't want to be with any other organization in the league," he said.
Esposito "is a good player, but hopefully Saint Johners aren't too disappointed with their pick," Grant added with a laugh.
Looking back, if LeBlanc could have made a deal with Esposito, would he?
"They're both excellent hockey players, but Alex Grant wanted to be in Saint John, gave his heart and soul to Saint John and has become the leader of the hockey team," said LeBlanc.
"If I knew then what I know now, I would have gone with Alex Grant."
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