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Three Rumors Regarding Canadiens’ First Overall Pick

By Patrick Lortie

KITCHENER, ONTARIO - MARCH 23: Shane Wright #51 of Team Red skates against Team White in the 2022 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on March 23, 2022 in Kitchener, Ontario. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)
KITCHENER, ONTARIO - MARCH 23: Shane Wright #51 of Team Red skates against Team White in the 2022 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game at Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on March 23, 2022 in Kitchener, Ontario. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images) /
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Alexis Lafreniere  (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Alexis Lafreniere  (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Trade rumors regarding Alexis Lafrenière have amped up since this winter. The 2020 first overall pick has been streaky since his NHL debut but has certainly started to amp up after finishing the season strong and finishing with 19 goals and 12 assists for 31 points. While he’s enjoyed time on the first line, head coach Gerard Gallant has thrown Lafrenière around on all lines.

Chris Drury fired the rumors even further when he gave specific instructions to Lafrenière not to give any interviews in his native French. A decision that not only confused the St-Eustache, Quebec native, but drew the anger of many in the hockey world in general.

While trading the first overall pick in return for another first overall pick could make sense on paper, it doesn’t make sense for the Canadiens.

As good as Lafrenière will be, he currently is not worth a first overall pick simply because he is not currently the best in his draft class. Lucas Raymond of the Detroit Red Wings is in my opinion the best in class thus far, having registered 23 goals and 34 assists for 57 points in 82 games. Tim Stützle can also be argued as being better than Lafrenière as he leads the draft class scoring race with 34 goals and 53 assists for 87 points in 132 games.

Other players that are scoring at a higher pace than Lafrenière are Jamie Drysdale of the Anaheim Ducks, Anton Lundell of the Florida Panthers, Seth Jarvis of the Carolina Hurricanes and Dawson Mercer of the New Jersey Devils.

Getting Lafrenière to the Canadiens would still represent a coup for Montreal as a whole, however a trade involving Calgary’s first round pick tagged with a couple of prospects is more viable than sacrificing the first overall pick.

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