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2019 NHL Draft Lottery: Montreal Canadiens stay put at fifteenth overall

By Omar L

MONTREAL, QC - JANUARY 07: General manager of the Montreal Canadiens Marc Bergevin speaks with the media prior to the NHL game against the Minnesota Wild at the Bell Centre on January 7, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Minnesota Wild defeated the Montreal Canadiens 1-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - JANUARY 07: General manager of the Montreal Canadiens Marc Bergevin speaks with the media prior to the NHL game against the Minnesota Wild at the Bell Centre on January 7, 2019 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Minnesota Wild defeated the Montreal Canadiens 1-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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The results are in from the 2019 NHL Draft Lottery, and the Montreal Canadiens will be selecting fifteenth at the event in Vancouver.

It would’ve been the jump of the century for the Montreal Canadiens to select anywhere other than fifteen and if so, Trevor Timmins would’ve had much difficulty hiding a smile of victory. The team earned those odds by falling just outside of a playoff spot losing out to the Columbus Blue Jackets and Carolina Hurricanes. And although the Habs were put in a position to be a part of the draft lottery, they didn’t have too much of a chance, and the results showed.

Moments like these it’s tough not to have the thought of, “Maybe they should’ve tanked all along.” However, it’s important to keep in mind that the Montreal Canadiens aren’t a team in that kind of category anymore. They missed the playoffs sure, but they had more points than some teams in the NHL that qualified providing a sturdy stepping stone for the future. Whoever Marc Bergevin and Timmins decided to select in Vancouver will jump on a moving train filled with drive and optimism.

So, how did it go down?

The Habs card came up first destroying all hopes of a master moment at the lottery. Again, there’s nothing to be surprised at, and Montreal has a number of prospects who they can select with the fifteenth overall pick. One of the latest names to be taken at that spot is Erik Brannstrom by the Vegas Golden Knights.

Brannstrom is now with the Ottawa Senators being a major part of the Mark Stone trade, and he will likely be a contributor on their blueline next season. Craig Button deemed the 19-year-old as the best NHL-affiliated prospect, and he’s proven that at every level.

The Montreal Canadiens can easily get a player of his ilk or greater, and it’ll depend on the scouting staff and whether they can mimic the success from last year. Once the draft falls out of the top ten, teams tend to free things up instead of following the board which could impact who is available at fifteen. That’ll make the first round interesting for the Habs as they look to take the best player available.

Next. Habs exit interviews. dark

The next step is the NHL Draft Combine leading to the full event in Vancouver to find the next key piece for the Montreal Canadiens.

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