Roundup: The Montreal Canadiens priority ahead of the offseason
By Omar L
What are the Montreal Canadiens going to do with all those draft picks? And what is the team’s priority heading into the summer? All this and more discussed amongst our writers.
1. The Montreal Canadiens have 25 picks in the next two drafts, what are the odds all 25 remain with the organization?
Scott Cowan: The NHL draft is one of the most unpredictable events in the NHL offseason, in regard to both drafting and trades. Most of the rumors are kept behind closed doors, and a lot can happen in the event’s short space of time. Personally, with that many picks, I doubt the Canadiens will keep all of them, and with certain 3rd and 4th round picks dealing a pair away for a low rent prospect and a pick could be a solid move.
The Laval Rocket seem to be turning a corner in their on-ice success and, more importantly, developmental success with rookies, so there’s no harm in the team acquiring some lesser prospects to boost Laval and potentially Montreal. Simply put, with that many selections, moving a few presents little risk, and some benefits in the right scenario.
Sebastian: While it is very possible that a few of these picks are shuffled around to either move up or down in the drafts, I expect the Habs to make in the region of 25 draft selections in the next two years, as this novel youth movement should stay in full swing.
Omar White: I feel it’s important to keep in mind where these picks are. Montreal’s first four selections should be safe this year, and it’s possible Marc Bergevin tries to package those later picks in an attempt to get more selections in the top-60, or at least he should considering how deep this year’s draft is meant to be.
The picks for next season are a different story and completely depend on where the Montreal Canadiens are. Bergevin wants the team to be competitive, and if they are, it’ll include giving up picks and other pieces to beef up before the playoffs. At the same time, the organization as a whole may start to feel they need more bodies than picks, regardless of what reality is telling them. Only time will tell.