Montreal Canadiens: How Many First Round Picks Could They Have in 2022 NHL Draft?

The Montreal Canadiens knew early in the 2021-22 season that they would be sellers at the trade deadline next month.

They were able to get a head start when they dealt Tyler Toffoli to the Calgary Flames for Tyler Pitlick, Emil Heineman and a couple of draft picks, including a first round selection in the upcoming NHL Draft.

After a difficult season, the Canadiens will have the benefit of a very high draft pick. They will also now have a second pick in the first round but it will be much later on. Now that they have moved Toffoli, a player with two more years on his contract after this season, the Habs have signalled a rebuild is on.

It makes sense to capitalize on a lost season by adding a pile of early picks and prospects. It makes even more sense since the team is hosting the 2022 NHL Draft at the Bell Centre in Montreal. What better way to put a spoiled season behind you than host the NHL Draft with a top pick and a few other selections in the first round?

It really begs the question, after adding a second first round pick in the Toffoli trade, just how many first round picks could the Canadiens end up with before the event is held in July?

Ben Chiarot is certain to be traded and will be getting a first round pick in return for sure. He is a big, physical defender who can eat minutes and proved over the past two postseasons a team can be successful with him in their top four in a playoff series.

The remainder of the pending unrestricted free agents, Tyler Pitlick, Cedric Paquette, Mathieu Perreault, Brett Kulak, Chris Wideman and Andrew Hammond are not going to fetch a first round pick in return.

But there are some players with term on their contracts that could land additional first round picks for the Habs at the draft they are set to host.

Jeff Petry has already asked to be traded and the management team has said they will not be selling him for a low return. He has looked better in recent games with Martin St. Louis as the team’s coach and could possibly get dealt for a first round pick before the deadline if he continues to play well for a few more weeks.

Artturi Lehkonen is another interesting trade candidate. He has an exceptional defensive game and is putting up decent offensive numbers this season with 20 points in 46 games. After the Tampa Bay Lightning traded a first round pick for Barclay Goodrow two years ago and he helped them win two Stanley Cups, it is not inconceivable that a team would offer up a first for Lehkonen to step into their bottom six in a shutdown role and given penalty killing duties.

The Canadiens traded away first and second round picks for Christian Dvorak in the offseason. He hasn’t had a tremendous season for the Habs, but who has? He is only 26 years old and has three years left on his contract with a manageable cap hit of $4.45 million. A team looking for depth down the middle, or in need of an injury replacement just ahead of the deadline, may be tempted to offer a first round pick for Dvorak’s services.

Others, like Jonathan Drouin, Joel Armia, Mike Hoffman, and David Savard could be dealt, but their lengthy contracts would make it difficult to acquire a top pick in exchange.

Then there are Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson who certainly have the value, but might be players that the Canadiens identify to keep around during the rebuild to guide the way with a young lineup.

Still, if the Canadiens elect to move Chiarot, Petry, Lehkonen and Dvorak, they could possibly add four more first round picks in the upcoming NHL Draft in addition to the two they already own.

It is possible the Canadiens brass elect to add prospects or picks in future drafts instead of just stockpiling 2022 first round picks. But, as the host this year, it would be a nice bonus for the fans, and a quick start to the rebuild if they were to add half a dozen first round talents.