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Montreal Canadiens: A scenario where Andrei Svechnikov is drafted

By Omar L |
MISSISSAUGA, ON - JANUARY 19: Andrei Svechnikov #14 of the Barrie Colts fires the puck past goalie Emanuel Vella #30 of the Mississauga Steelheads during game action on January 19, 2018 at Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images)
MISSISSAUGA, ON - JANUARY 19: Andrei Svechnikov #14 of the Barrie Colts fires the puck past goalie Emanuel Vella #30 of the Mississauga Steelheads during game action on January 19, 2018 at Hershey Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Graig Abel/Getty Images)

The Montreal Canadiens have decisions ahead around the NHL Draft, and there may be a possible scenario where they draft Andrei Svechnikov third overall.

No one knows what player will go where until the team steps up to the podium. All we know now is the order as to which those organizations get to choose. Thanks to the NHL Draft Lottery, the Montreal Canadiens will be picking third overall. Regardless of who Marc Bergevin and the rest of the scouting staff decide to draft, the Habs are getting a special player that day.

There have been some discussions among the fan base of whether the Habs trade the pick. Moving it all together doesn’t make any sense, and I doubt Bergevin goes down that route. Trading down is a hot topic with the number of centres available lower in the first-round.

However, the Montreal Canadiens can’t ignore the position they’re in at three. Filip Zadina, who looks to be the most likely candidate to receiving a Habs sweater, and Brady Tkachuk look to be near ‘can’t-miss’ prospects. The conversation will be between those two and what they can bring to the organization long-term.

Zadina is a dynamic force on the wing who can score and make great plays. The amount of skill within the Halifax Moosehead player should be a signal fire to management. Tkachuk, on the other hand, is a heavier player that brings a lot of power to his game. He also has the ability to finish and contribute on all areas of the ice.

Bergevin did say that he is unlikely to trade that pick unless an offer he can’t refuse comes to his attention. The Habs would be in a disadvantaged spot if they tried to trade up and swap places with the Carolina Hurricanes who sit at second overall. For all intents and purposes, the Canes have the first-overall pick of the 2018 NHL Draft 2.0.

Related Story: Four Hurricanes players to trade for

Buffalo is picking Rasmus Dahlin. It’s a no-brainer and the worst kept secret heading into Dallas. But the Hurricanes can change the outlook of the rest of the event with what they do.

Causing Chaos

Off the board picks happen every season. In the 2013 Draft, Seth Johns, who was expected to go second overall, fell to number four. A similar thing happened in 2016 when the Columbus Blue Jacket chose to select Pierre-Luc Dubois instead of Jesse Puljujarvi. What if the Carolina Hurricanes were this year’s chaos starter?

Although there are several names in charge, we can’t ignore Rick Dudley being part of that group and his love for hard-working, gritty players could point Carolina’s attention towards Tkachuk. If that happens, the Montreal Canadiens will have no choice but to take Andrei Svechnikov (he types sarcastically).

Zadina is a good player, but Svechnikov may be on a different level. His size, skating, shooting ability will make him a danger for any team in the NHL. It also helps that he said (via translation), it would like to play with Alex Galchenyuk and Nikita Scherbak. Svechnikov also said that playing against them will be equally as good but imagine if he were on the Habs.

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This whole scenario is very circumstantial, but the Montreal Canadiens have had a decent offseason so far. Perhaps the odds continue to fall in their favour, and Carolina pulls it off.

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