Montreal Canadiens: Looking back at former third-overall picks

With the Montreal Canadiens set to select third at the 2018 NHL Draft, here’s a look at former third-overall selections in the organization.

There has been a lot of talk around the Montreal Canadiens and their third-overall pick. The biggest debate is whether Marc Bergevin should keep the pick, package it in a deal and move down in the draft, or trade the pick altogether. In an ideal world, the Habs keep the selection and take whoever they’re meant to take because whoever ends up being called, it’ll be a good player.

The Montreal Canadiens have only had one third-overall draft pick of their own in franchise history, that being Alex Galchenyuk from 2012. Galchenyuk was a projected top-five talent all of that year. However, a torn anterior cruciate ligament kept him away from the Sarnia Sting for the entire season. That didn’t stop Bergevin for walking up to that podium in Pittsburgh and call out Galchenyuk’s name.

The 24-year-old made his NHL debut in the shortened season putting up 9 goals and 18 assists in those 48 games. Smiles and growing pains have been the marque of Galchenyuk’s time in Montreal, but there’s no denying that he is a special player.

What are the odds that the Montreal Canadiens find someone of his calibre or greater this year? Not that bad I’d say. Here is a list of the last 12 third-overall picks:

• 2017: Miro Heiskanen
• 2016: Pierre-Luc Dubois
• 2015: Dylan Strome
• 2014: Leon Draisaitl
• 2013: Jonathan Drouin
• 2012: Alex Galchenyuk
• 2011: Jonathan Huberdeau
• 2010: Erik Gudbranson
• 2009: Matt Duchene
• 2008: Zach Bogosian
• 2007: Kyle Turris
• 2006: Jonathan Toews

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Making comparisons based on draft position is a dangerous game at times, but it’s tough to look past the talent selected third overall over the years. Drouin and Dubois were the only players on this list to be drafted as left-wingers, but all forwards have found themselves playing centre at some point in the NHL.

Filip Zadina may not be on the same level as Andrei Svechnikov, but he is a dynamic player who has the potential to do something that is very difficult in professional hockey: drive a line on the wing. Drouin displayed that ability in Tampa Bay, and it helped generate offence with the Montreal Canadiens this season while in the middle of the ice.

Everyone has their own path to the NHL, and the ‘hit’ ratio of players taken at that position should keep it safe from trade. Many are claiming this draft being a game-changer for the Montreal Canadiens and whatever retool they have planned for the next year or so and you have to agree. Getting the chance to add a player like Zadina to the fold is massive, and work needs to be done to ensure that he reaches his potential.

Next: Valiev is Going to the KHL

We all know the magic words of having organizational success. Don’t rush the kids but instead develop them, and follow the process. If the Habs do that, then more players than Zadina will come out of their shell for years to come.