MISE À DAY
A little over a week after signing his contracts with the Canadiens and the Rocket, Jayden Struble will make his professional debut tonight. The 21-year-old left-handed defenseman will take to the Place Bell rink to face the Milwaukee Admirals. Here are six things you need to know about him.
The Canadian's second-round choice (46th overall) in the 2019 draft, he soon impressed Marc Bergevin by winning five of the 18 physical events in the “combine” in Buffalo. “This guy is a Greek god,” said the general manager of the Canadian at the time.
The athlete from Rhode Island broke into the world of hockey, but he could very well have done so in other disciplines. He grew up also playing lacrosse, basketball and baseball. In the latter discipline, he even participated in the Little League World Series.
He was born to an African-American father whom he never knew and a Caucasian mother. In a post on Twitter in June 2020, he took a stand during the events following the death of George Floyd by speaking out against police brutality, systemic racism and racial inequities in the United States.
Four seasons with the Northeastern University Huskies, the 6-foot, 194-pound guard never had more than 14 points (in 34 games). He's more of the physical type, able to defend his territory well and launch the attack with a good first pass.
Jayden Struble #3
Until he succeeds Marc Bergevin as general manager of the Canadiens, Kent Hughes was Struble's agent. At Northeastern, Struble was Jordan Harris' teammate for three seasons.
In 2017, he was a 12th round pick (214th overall) of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada.