Canadiens select Mailloux 31st overall after prospect withdrew from draft

The Montreal Canadiens stunned the hockey world Friday with one of the most controversial picks in recent memory.

Montreal selected Logan Mailloux with the 31st overall pick. The 18-year-old announced Tuesday that he was withdrawing from the draft because he hasn't "demonstrated strong enough maturity or character to earn that privilege" after news broke that he had been charged in November.

The 18-year-old was fined for invasion of privacy and defamation for taking an offensive photo without consent during a sexual encounter and distributing it.

The Canadiens released a statement following the draft.

"By drafting prospect Logan Mailloux with the 31st overall pick, the Montreal Canadiens organization not only selected a promising hockey player, but also a young man who recently admitted to making a serious mistake.

"The Canadiens are aware of the situation and by no means minimize the severity of Logan's actions. Logan understands the impact of his actions. His recent public statement is a genuine acknowledgement of his poor behaviour and the first step on his personal journey."

Mailloux sent a photo of a woman performing a consensual sexual act to multiple teammates.

"I do not think that Logan has understood the seriousness of his behavior," the woman recently wrote in an email to The Athletic.

While several teams placed Mailloux on their "Do Not Draft" list, multiple other clubs had indicated they might pick the defenseman in the second round, sources told ESPN's Greg Wyshynski.