The much-awaited 2018 NHL Draft is here, and the Montreal Canadiens will be one of the reasons why it will be a memorable one.
It’s here. This year’s draft was going to be the centre stage for a turning point for the Montreal Canadiens. Trevor Timmins and the rest of the scouting staff have been getting prepared for this moment and the prospective players to join the organization. The first step is calling out a name; the second is building that name into an NHL player.
Tonight is the first-round of the draft while rounds 2-7 are set for tomorrow. The Montreal Canadiens got some luck from the hockey gods turning their 28th finish into the third-overall pick. There has been endless discussion as to who the Habs will take and all signs are pointing towards the Finnish centre.
At first, Filip Zadina was the guy who moved the needle at three. Jesperi Kotkaniemi has risen on a lot of scouts’ rankings to the point where he wouldn’t be considered a weird or risky selection. Zadina, on the other hand, may get the Seth Jones treatment and fall a few spots lower than where he was originally projected to be at.
Brady Tkachuk is still within the realm of possibility. Perhaps the Montreal Canadiens are trying to keep everyone guessing, but the interest in the Boston University winger doesn’t look to be completely gone.
Another thing to look out for is whether Marc Bergevin acquires another first-round pick. The Habs have pieces on their roster who they could part with to make it happen. Even if it ends up being a selection in the teens, striking twice in the top 31 would pay off fairly well.
The draft is always special on multiple fronts. A young player is experiencing a dream come true while a team builds towards the future. It’ll be interesting to see what the Habs come out with by the end of the night. Then the real fun begins on Day 2.
In Case You Missed It
Players the Habs should consider in the second round
The Montreal Canadiens have four picks in the second round, and there are a lot of talented players to choose from in that range.
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Morning Links
Are the Habs Making Progress? (All Habs)
Bergevin’s latest trade history could hint at the Habs in a standstill instead of a positive trajectory.
Ryan O’Reilly and Elias Lindholm are two players who would make sense for the Montreal Canadiens to pursue in trade, but which is the better option?
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