The last two drafts are bringing value to the Montreal Canadiens

Drafting and developing is key to winning in today’s NHL and the Montreal Canadiens have found a number of talented players in the last two years.

Every NHL organization has its own key criticism. The Philadelphia Flyers struggle to stop pucks, the Carolina Hurricanes struggle to score, and for the longest time, the Montreal Canadiens struggled to draft.

The team may have their moments of victory at the podium, but a handful of those prospects would end up being moved early or not make it. Many held that weakness as one of the reasons why the Laval Rocket couldn’t put anything together in the playoffs aside from the 2016/17 season (as the St Johns Ice Caps).

The last two drafts have put a shining light on the Habs and their drafting.

2017: Ryan Poehling, Josh Brook, Joni Ikonen, Scott Walford, Cale Fleury, Jarret Tyszak, and Cayden Primeau.

2018: Jesperi Kotkaniemi, Jesse Ylonen, Alexander Romanov, Jacob Olofsson, Cam Hillis, Jordan Harris, Allan McShane, Jack Gorniak, Cole Fonstad, Samuel Houde, and Brett Stapley.

Kotkaniemi had a strong training camp and pushed his way into the lineup. His vision and defensive play has been praised ever since the Montreal Canadiens selected him third-overall in Dallas and it hasn’t taken a step back. The 18-year-old currently has 3 goals and 10 assists in 28 games for the Habs and has yet to look overwhelmed playing against the league’s best.

Fleury turned pro this year after splitting time with the Kootenay Ice and Regina Pats last season. The 2017 third-round pick went into training camp with that mentality instead of going back to the WHL for an overage season. He was later assigned to Laval’s camp and earned himself an entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens allowing him to remain in the AHL.

2018 picks Romanov and Olofsson have gone pro as well playing for CSKA Moscow of the KHL and Timra HK of the SHL respectively.

Then there’s the fact that seven prospects who have been invited to the 2019 World Junior Hockey Championships. Six of them were drafted while Nick Suzuki was acquired from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for Max Pacioretty ahead of the season.

Canada: Suzuki and Brook

Sweden: Olofsson

Finland: Ylonen

USA: Poehling and Primeau

Russia: Romanov

The Montreal Canadiens could have one more going in Ikonen. The 2017 second-round pick is close to returning from an injury over the summer which has held him back from playing any hockey so far this season. According to Brian Wilde, Ikonen is expected to be ready in time for the World Juniors, and Finland is saving a spot for him.

It’s a good feeling, isn’t it? The Habs have a decent cap situation at the moment, but it won’t last forever. Having young and skilled players on cheap entry-level deals are going to be moving forward.

The recognition that these prospects are getting is proof of how well the scouting staff has done at the podium. And if they continue to develop, there’s no reason why a number of them shouldn’t be in the NHL at some point.