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Montreal Canadiens: Five Best Draft Picks Since 2000

By Ken MacMillan

MONTREAL, CANADA - OCTOBER 26: Carey Price #31 and P.K. Subban #76 of the Montreal Canadiens do their "triple low-five" celebration after defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 5-1 and Price's 100th career victory during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on October 26, 2011 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Flyers 5-1. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, CANADA - OCTOBER 26: Carey Price #31 and P.K. Subban #76 of the Montreal Canadiens do their "triple low-five" celebration after defeating the Philadelphia Flyers 5-1 and Price's 100th career victory during the NHL game at the Bell Centre on October 26, 2011 in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The Canadiens defeated the Flyers 5-1. (Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images) /
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UNIONDALE, NY – FEBRUARY 09: Mark Streit against Tomas Plekanec #14 of the Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NY – FEBRUARY 09: Mark Streit against Tomas Plekanec #14 of the Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) /

#5: Tie between Jaroslav Halak and Mark Streit

For many years now, the NHL Draft is a seven round affair. That was not the case in the past as the event would go on and one for twice that length many years ago. It has been shortened up over the years before landing on the seven round event it is now in 2005.

So, to say the Habs got great value when they selected Jaroslav Halak in the 9th round, 271st overall in 2003 and Mark Streit in the 9th round, 262nd overall in 2004 is an understatement.

Halak was playing Junior hockey in Slovakia when the Habs took a late chance on him. He was terrific at the World Under-18 Championships that year which put him on their radar. He worked him way up from the ECHL to the AHL before making his NHL debut with the Habs in 2006-07.

In four seasons with Montreal, Halak had a 56-34-7 record with a 2.62 GAA and a .919 SV%. He carried the team to the Eastern Conference Final in 2010 before being traded for Lars Eller. He still plays in the NHL and had a terrific season with the Boston Bruins.

Streit was 26 years old when he was drafted by the Habs. He would play three seasons in Montreal, scoring 25 goals and 109 points in 205 games as a hybrid winger-defenceman who was dynamite on the power play.

#4: Tomas Plekanec

Tomas Plekanec was playing pro in the Czech Republic as a teenager when the Habs drafted him in the 3rd round, with the 71st overall pick in the 2001 draft. Most third round picks are lucky to play more than 100 games in the NHL, but Plekanec would go on to play over 1000.

Plekanec played 15 seasons in Montreal, quickly earning a second line centre role with his consistent, solid two-way play. He settled into that role for over a decade and was a guy the Canadiens counted on when they were down a goal, up a goal or tied late in a game.

He was a leader who played in all situations and reached the 70 point plateau while garnering some Selke votes throughout his career. That is terrific value from a third round pick.

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