The Montreal Canadiens have been focused on the blueline on Day 2 of the 2026 NHL Draft. After trading up to select defenseman Timofei Runtso in the second round, they would pick Cooper Cleaves in the third round.
It is the first time in this year's draft that the Canadiens didn't trade up in the round but they still ended up with a good player coming off a solid season in college.
Cleaves is an older player as he already is 20 years old and just completed a season in the NCAA with Dartmouth. He played in 30 games last year and had four goals and six assists and prior to that, he played over 60 games between the USHL and BCHL.
Montreal Canadiens get a different type defenseman with this pick
In the second round, the Montreal Canadiens got an offensive-minded defenseman in Runtso, but the selection of Cleaves is more of a shutdown defenseman. As Brock Otten of McKeen's Hockey notes, he has a lot of "physical tools and defensive upside." He is considered an "overage" player as he has been in the NHL Draft the past few years but wasn't selected.
Even though he is older, the Canadiens can be patient with this player and don't necessarily need to rush him. He still has room for development, and right now, the Canadiens have a bit of a logjam at the position with other players ready to make the jump but without roster spots.
It appears that Kent Hughes is focused on adding more players with size and physicality, as all three picks have been 6'3", and the Eastern Conference Finals is still very much on the Canadiens' mind. They want to be able to match up with the bigger teams in the NHL and are focused on adding players that can help with that.
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