A Winning Habit
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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 – MARCH 14: Brendan Gallagher #11 and P.K. Subban #76 of the Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
UNIONDALE, NY – MARCH 14: Brendan Gallagher #11 and P.K. Subban #76 of the Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

#3: P.K. Subban

The 2006-07 was a heartbreaker for the Montreal Canadiens as they missed the postseason by an inch after blowing a lead to the Toronto Maple Leafs in the final game of the year. They made it for it with one heck of a draft.

After taking Ryan McDonagh and Max Pacioretty in the first round, the Habs selected P.K. Subban in the second round with the 43rd overall selection. In hindsight, it is hard to believe he was still available as he had good size, terrific speed and put up 56 points in 68 games with the Belleville Bulls of the OHL in his draft year.

Subban went on to quickly become the Habs most trusted defenceman and won a Norris Trophy in 2013. He played seven seasons in Montreal, scoring 63 goals and 278 points in 434 games. He was third in Norris voting two years after winning the award as the league’s best defenceman.

#2: Brendan Gallagher

One thing stopped Gallagher from being drafted much earlier and that was his size. Though he is just 5’8″ he plays like a giant and brings everything he has on every shift. The Habs were wise enough to finally select him in the 5th round with the 147th overall pick in the 2010 draft. Gallagher had scored 41 goals and 81 points in 72 games for the Vancouver Giants that season.

Since then, he has become the heartbeat of the Habs. Gallagher has developed into a 30 goal scorer and brings a tenacity and determination that is contagious. Without him, the Habs would be a completely different team as he brings so much in terms of leadership and sets an example for every young player to follow in Montreal.

Gallagher has played eight seasons with the Canadiens and scored 173 goals and 334 points in 547 games. Most 5th round picks don’t play a single game in the NHL. For Gallagher to play well over 500 (and counting) and become a go-to guy for the team is far more than anyone could reasonably have expected on draft day.

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