Montreal Canadiens Must Draft For Need, Not Best Available
The Montreal Canadiens have the third overall pick but must draft for a specific need at this year’s NHL Draft.
The Montreal Canadiens had a lousy season in 2017-18. It started poorly, and they never got the train back on the tracks. There were a lot more downs than ups for the Habs that they, unfortunately, couldn’t overcome.
However, that results in the team stepping up to the podium before most at the NHL Draft. The Canadiens had the 28th best record in the 31-team league. Thanks to a little lottery luck, they hopped to the third overall selection.
This gives the team an opportunity to add a much-needed shot of talent. When a team sits so low in the standings, they usually could add talent at any position. The Habs, however, can afford to be a little more picky than most teams at the wrong end of the standings page.
The Canadiens, obviously won’t be looking to add a goaltender any time soon. They also boast an impressive group of wingers on both sides of the lineup. Shea Weber, Jeff Petry and Noah Juulsen appear to be the right side of the blue line for years to come.
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That leaves Montreal with needs at center and on left defence. That was an understatement, let me try again. The Montreal Canadiens desperately need an enormous infusion of talent at center and will have high odds in the 2019 draft lottery if they can’t find an appropriate partner for Weber.
The problem is, the consensus third overall pick will be a winger. So will the fourth pick. The fifth pick looks to be a winger as well. It usually makes the most sense to draft the best available player, especially at the top of the draft.
However, adding a skilled winger doesn’t fill a need for the Habs. They have to attempt to fill an organizational need with the third overall pick.
Habs have been looking for first line center for two decades
How long has it been since the Canadiens had a legit first line center? Saku Koivu? Not Quite. Vincent Damphousse? He played more wing than center. Pierre Turgeon? Probably the last one to fit the bill. He left in 1996 after barely 100 games as a Hab.
That’s more than two decades Montreal has been lacking at center ice. They thought they took a future 1st line center last time they had the third overall pick, but Alex Galchenyuk remains on the wing. They traded their best prospect last year for a winger and tried to put him at center.
The team is desperate for a bonafide top center. They have a chance to fill that void this June in Dallas. The consensus pick is Filip Zadina or Brady Tkachuk, a pair of wingers. Great players, but definitely not the best fit for the Habs.
The Canadiens must focus their attention on the top middlemen. Forget Zadina or Tkachuk, lock your target on Joe Veleno, Rasmus Kupari, Jesperi Kotkaniemi or Barett Hayton.
Next: Former Third Overall Picks
The Canadiens have been looking for a first line center longer than the Philadelphia Flyers have been looking for a starting goaltender. It’s time they finally put an end to their search. They have an opportunity at this draft and need to take advantage.