Habs owner apologizes for 'pain caused' by drafting player who shared intimate photos without consent

Montreal Canadiens owner Geoff Molson issued a statement on the situation surrounding the drafting of Logan Mailloux in the 2021 NHL Draft.

The statement comes just one day after "lifelong" Montreal Canadiens fan Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed his disappointment in the organization.

"I want to share with you my perspective on our decision to select Logan Mailloux in the 2021 NHL Draft. This decision, made in the context of the Draft, turned out to be instantaneously very offensive to many of you.

"I understand that you expect more from us and we let you down. The Montreal Canadiens are more than a hockey team. Logan's actions do not reflect the values of our organization and I apologize for the pain this selection has caused," Molson wrote.

"First and foremost, regarding the young woman who is the victim, I want to say that we do not minimize what she has had to, and continues to have to, live through. No one, especially not an 18-year-old, should have to suffer through a traumatic experience like this. We are there to support her and her family and respect their privacy.

Molson wrote that the selection of Mailloux was not intended to be disrespectful towards victims or family members, or towards other women who have faced sexual abuse or harassments.

"Logan is a young man who committed a serious transgression. He is genuinely remorseful about the pain he has caused. He is committed to becoming a better person and we will work with him through this process," Molson wrote.

The letter then details how the organization will work with experts to create a "comprehensive plan to raise awareness and educate young men and young women about this serious issue."

The statement says that the organization will oversee that Mailloux becomes "a better person," and Molson writes that the organization will not be participating in rookie training camp come this fall.

"We gave Logan a second chance but in doing so, we failed to properly assess the impact of our decision on the victim and on anyone who have suffered in similar circumstances. Once again, I want to apologize to everyone impacted by our decision," the statement says.

Lastly, I want to thank everyone that provided their feedback on this situation, including our partners and sponsors, so that this mistake becomes an opportunity to grow and raise awareness.