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Montreal Canadiens: What Has to Happen For Habs to Make Playoffs Next Season?

By Ken MacMillan

NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 27: Cole Caufield #22 of the Montreal Canadiens and Nick Suzuki. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 27: Cole Caufield #22 of the Montreal Canadiens and Nick Suzuki. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Getty Images) /
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PETERBOROUGH, ON – JANUARY 27: Shane Wright (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images)
PETERBOROUGH, ON – JANUARY 27: Shane Wright (Photo by Claus Andersen/Getty Images) /

Win the Draft Lottery

The first domino that needs to fall in order to get the Canadiens right back into the playoffs is winning the draft lottery.

The NHL is yet to announce when exactly this will take place, but it usually happens during the first round of the playoffs. This year, that will be some time in the first two weeks of May since he regular season doesn’t end until April 30th.

The Canadiens have been at, or very near, the bottom of the NHL standings all season. They are definitely going to get a high pick, but the first overall pick would give them the biggest boost for next season.

Shane Wright is certain to the be taken first overall and he is going to step right into the NHL next season. He is a smart, skilled, two-way centre who has 28 goals and 84 points in 58 games for the Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL. It is not just his offensive numbers that are impressive, as his defensive game is just as polished. Wright is a go-to guy for a stacked Frontenacs team when penalties need to be killed and big face-offs need to be won.

He might not score a point per game at the NHL level next season, but his smarts and skill will ensure he is an impact player right away. Having him down the middle with Nick Suzuki, Christian Dvorak and Ryan Poehling would give the Habs incredible young depth at centre.

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