Dominic Sramaty

The Montreal Canadiens had the rights to draft a

two French Canadian players before anybody else could take a pick.

And they did it.

They didn't do it every year.

They did it a couple of times.

But yes, there was a time in the 60s where if you were French Canadian, the Montreal Canadiens had a chance to take you before they took anybody else.

So that did exist.

To make a long story very short,

Before the NHL draft existed, which it came in in the 60s, there was something – the way that they used to have the teams develop players or get their rights to players was something called their sponsorship list.

So basically what happened was is that teams –

And the NHL sponsored other teams in junior organizations.

So, for example, the Montreal Canadiens, they sponsored teams like the Montreal Junior Canadians.

They also had the Peterborough Peets.

You know, there were other teams.

Detroit had a connection, big connection in Saskatchewan.

That's where they got Gordie Howe.

The Maple Leafs had, you know, St.

Michael's in Toronto.

A lot of their great players came through there.

But that's basically how it worked.