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Montreal Canadiens Worst 5 Draft Busts During the 2000’s

By Kenric Mannette

Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Noah Juulsen on stage with team executives after being selected as the number twenty-six overall pick to the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 26, 2015; Sunrise, FL, USA; Noah Juulsen on stage with team executives after being selected as the number twenty-six overall pick to the Montreal Canadiens in the first round of the 2015 NHL Draft at BB&T Center. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports /
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Montreal Canadiens
Feb 16, 2014; Sochi, RUSSIA; Slovakia forward Marcel Hossa (88) and Russia defenseman Ilya Nikulin (5) in a men’s preliminary round ice hockey game during the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games at Bolshoy Ice Dome. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

Examining why Marcel Hossa is one of the Montreal Canadiens worst draft busts of the 2000’s.

When the Montreal Canadiens selected Marcel Hossa in the first round of the 2000 NHL Draft, many thought the Habs were going to get a star. Hossa has enormous size at six feet, three inches tall and weighs 220 lbs. Hossa had great offensive talent and was a very smart instinctive player.

Also, Marcel Hossa’s family pedigree couldn’t get much better as his older brother is Marian Hossa. Marian at the time, was lighting it up with the Ottawa Senators. With Marian tearing it up, Habs fans started drooling over the potential of his brother Marcel.

Hossa’s Career with Habs

In Marcel’s career with the Habs, he failed to develop offensive consistency. In total Hossa played 59 games with the Canadiens, spread through three seasons, and Marcel and only scored 10 goals, totaling 19 points. Marcel was eventually traded to the New York rangers in exchange, for tough guy, Forward Garth Murray.

What didn’t help Hossa in the long run, was his brother Marian who developed into a massive NHL star. What’s amazing, is that Marian is still a leader, and is a top producer for the Chicago Blackhawks. Marian’s reputation greatly overshadowed his brother, and it left much to be wanted from Marcel.

Who Else Could the Habs have Drafted

Fortunately for the Canadiens, the 2000 NHL draft class lacked depth, and overall that class didn’t produce many NHL stars. A player that Canadiens could have landed though, was Forward Justin Williams.

Williams developed into a solid player, and he has also won a couple Stanley Cups with the Los Angeles Kings. Justin isn’t what you would call a franchise player, but in his prime he was a very good second line player, with consistent scoring production.

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