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Montreal Canadiens: The Strategy for the 2018 NHL Entry Draft

By Mark Paul

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 23: A general view of the Montreal Canadiens draft table is seen during Round One of the 2017 NHL Draft at United Center on June 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 23: A general view of the Montreal Canadiens draft table is seen during Round One of the 2017 NHL Draft at United Center on June 23, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Dave Sandford/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The Montreal Canadiens will have a decent chance of striking gold at the draft lottery, but that’ll be the start of the planning ahead of the event in June

The Montreal Canadiens will have a 9.5% chance of striking gold at the NHL Lottery Draft. Regardless of whether the Habs end up picking first, seventh, or somewhere in between, we know they have the 35th overall pick, and 38th overall (from the Chicago Blackhawks). The other second-round picks from the Toronto Maple Leafs, and Washington Capitals are still to be determined.

Having some idea of where Montreal will be drafting, one of the first questions asked should be whether the Canadiens should draft purely for need or if they take the best player available regardless of it. The obvious answer is just to take the best player available since it looks like they need everything.

Let’s assume no big-name players get dealt in offseason and Jonathan Drouin, Alex Galchenyuk, Max Pacioretty and the rest of the gang return. The top six still looks pretty solid, but it’s the center position that is still a huge question mark going forward. Unfortunately, there is only one center in the entire top ten of the draft rankings, so the Montreal Canadiens will be forced to select either a defenseman or winger unless they trade out of the top seven.

It’s very unlikely Montreal would move their first-round pick, but would it be worth packaging some of their second-round picks to be able to make another selection in the first? Eight centermen are ranked between 10-28 in several mock drafts. Montreal should put together a package that allows them to move up in the draft and take the best player available when that best player is a center.

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It used to be that a player taken outside the top ten would take at least two or three years to even get a sniff of the NHL, but today, eight players drafted outside of the top ten in 2016 have played more than 40 games in the NHL. Charlie McAvoy, Alex DeBrindcat, and our very own Victor Mete fit the bill here. So it’s not out of the realm of possibility that their selection can play for the Habs sooner rather than later.

If Montreal can move into the top 30 for a second selection and hit on that pick, it will speed up their re-tooling process immensely. Rather than using all four second-round picks and hoping that one of them can make an impact, taking the risk for a higher end player should be the strategy in Dallas.

Next: The Mystery Surrounding Zachary Fucale

After April 28, we will know exactly where the Habs will make their first-round selection, but regardless of where they pick, they should go all in on finding another first-round pick.

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