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How Could The Canadiens Move Up In The Draft?

By Patrick Lortie

Finland's forward Mikael Granlund (top R) and Finland's forward Marko Anttila (bottom R) vie for the puck with Slovakia's forward Juraj Slafkovsky during the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships quarterfinal match between Finland and Slovakia in Tampere, Finland, on May 26, 2022. (Photo by Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP) (Photo by JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images)
Finland's forward Mikael Granlund (top R) and Finland's forward Marko Anttila (bottom R) vie for the puck with Slovakia's forward Juraj Slafkovsky during the IIHF Ice Hockey World Championships quarterfinal match between Finland and Slovakia in Tampere, Finland, on May 26, 2022. (Photo by Jonathan NACKSTRAND / AFP) (Photo by JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images) /
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The trade deadline, the NHL Draft and the beginning of free agency. Those three moments are circled on the calendars for all Montreal Canadiens and hardcore hockey fans around the NHL.

As we’re currently about to start the Stanley Cup Finals and inching closer towards the draft, the rumors and hearsay are amping up and one has actually gotten the attention of yours truly.

There’s no absolute confirmation about this rumor and if it does pan out, it will probably be a swap of later draft picks. However, it has gotten people dreaming a little bit.

Speculations ran rampant in the comments section as to what it would take for the New Jersey Devils to give up their second overall pick in a three team trade involving the Canadiens and Columbus Blue Jackets.

MONTREAL, QC – APRIL 29: Josh Anderson #17 of the Montreal Canadiens prepares to throw some merchandise towards spectators after their 10-2 victory against the Florida Panthers in their last game of the regular season at Centre Bell on April 29, 2022 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC – APRIL 29: Josh Anderson #17 of the Montreal Canadiens prepares to throw some merchandise towards spectators after their 10-2 victory against the Florida Panthers in their last game of the regular season at Centre Bell on April 29, 2022 in Montreal, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

The popular notion is that such a trade would involve, of course, Josh Anderson who has been a hot commodity since the trade deadline. It’s been no secret to anyone that Kent Hughes’ phone has rang nonstop with opposing GM’s asking what is the price to pay for the power forward. After all, a player of his caliber at a team friendly cap hit doesn’t suddenly become available every day.

The issue lies however, that it would be doubtful that the Devils would give up their number 2 pick to only get Josh Anderson, which would be the player they aim for. One Twitter user had this trade proposal instead which would give the Canadiens the number 6 overall pick:

So the Devils would get Anderson, who’ve they’ve been linked to for quite a while now, while Columbus gets a major boost with the number 2 pick and the Canadiens get the number 1 and number 6 pick which would probably allow them to take a long hard look at Matthew Savoie or David Jiricek at that rank. Adding Shane Wright to that mix would leave the Canadiens with a very successful first round haul to say the least.

If you were Kent Hughes, would you agree with this this trade proposal? Comment below!

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