Gaglardi was in the room when Dallas selected Wyatt Johnston 23rd overall in Round 1 of the 2021 NHL Draft.
“It was a tough decision between Logan and Wyatt Johnson,” Gaglardi said. “Our head amateur scout spent lots of time on Wyatt Johnston and that’s where he wanted to go.
“We took Johnston and I’m like, ‘Oh, that’s too bad. I guess we won’t see Logan.’ Disappointed.”
Gaglardi was unfamiliar with Johnston, in part because Canadian Hockey League play had been halted amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“But our guys in Ontario knew him and it turned into an unbelievable pick,” Gaglardi said.
Johnston is fifth in Stars’ scoring this season, with 48 points in 64 games.
Stankoven continued to slide down the draft board, with his home-province Canucks among the clubs who passed on the Kamloopsian in Round 1.
“We had two consecutive picks in the middle of the second round,” Gaglardi said. “I knew we were taking Logan if he was there.
“I just didn’t believe until our picks came that he would be there. There he was.”