The Montreal Canadiens have been hoarding draft picks in recent drafts. The 2023 NHL Draft will be no exception to that rule as it approaches. We are just one week away from the first round of the draft and the Canadiens hold two choices in that round.
The draft is being hosted in Nashville, but the Canadiens have a chance to steal the show. They hold a pivotal pick at fifth overall and could really start the intrigue of the draft. The top four selections are likely to be centers Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson and Will Smith, but no one knows what the Canadiens will do at five.
Could they go with Russian star winger Matvei Michkov? Do they take the first defenseman off the board and go with David Reinbacher? Will they trade down and shake up the draft order while adding an extra pick or two later in the proceedings?
We don’t know what to expect from them. We do know they should be busy. Aside from their own seven picks, the Canadiens have acquired a few over the years for the 2023 NHL Draft.
They added a first round pick from the Florida Panthers in a trade that sent Ben Chiarot the other way. That pick will be the 31st overall selection next week.
The Canadiens acquired a fourth round pick from the Pittsburgh Penguins as part of the trade that sent Jeff Petry and Ryan Poehling to the Penguins in exchange for Michael Matheson and this pick, which will be 110th overall.
The Canadiens sent a fourth round pick to the Vegas Golden Knights a year ago and acquired a fourth round pick in this year’s draft which will be 128th overall.
The Canadiens also added an additional fifth round pick in this year’s draft as part of the trade that sent Tyler Toffoli to the Calgary Flames during last season. That pick will be the 144th overall selection in this year’s draft.
The complete list of the Canadiens picks as we head towards the 2023 NHL Draft are as follows:
1st Round – 5th Overall
1st Round – 31st Overall
2nd Round – 37th Overall
3rd Round – 69th Overall
4th Round – 101st Overall
4th Round – 110th Overall
4th Round – 128th Overall
5th Round – 133rd Overall
5th Round – 144th Overall
6th Round – 165th Overall
7th Round – 197th Overall
That is a total of 11 selections which promises to see the Canadiens busy during the draft. They have picks in each round, with an additional first, two extra fourth rounders and an extra pick in the fifth round as well.
We will surely see some wheeling and dealing and picks being moved around, but the Canadiens are sure to add plenty of talent at the 2023 NHL Draft.
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