3 first-round talents the Canadiens can steal in the second round of the NHL Draft
Surefire first-round picks aren’t always selected in the first round of the NHL Draft, and it means the Montreal Canadiens could get a steal in the second round.
The Montreal Canadiens may only have a late-second-round pick in the NHL Draft, but it doesn’t mean a first-round-caliber talent won’t slip through and fall to them at 57th overall. Every year, a player looking to hear their name called in the Top 32 will fall into the early, middle, and sometimes even the late stages of the second round, if not further.
But for a team looking to raise their prospect pool into one of the league’s best, if such a player fell to No. 57, general manager Kent Hughes shouldn’t have much of a debate with himself of whether such a player should enter the Habs system.
With that said, there are three players listed who I can see getting drafted late in the first round who could be there when the Canadiens select in the second round. While you can count all three of the following players as steals, it’s important to keep in mind that they aren’t potential late-round steals like we talked about last week.
So once again, there should be a sense of urgency for Hughes if one or all of them dropped to the 57th pick, and it would benefit the Habs system if he took one of them.
Matvei Gridin, RW/Michigan
Matvei Gridin is the classic example of someone who had quite a bit to adapt to in the North American game, something we saw during the 2022-23 season when he scored just eight times and finished with just over a half-point per game with the Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL. Then he erupted for 38 goals and 45 assists, good for 83 points and 1.38 per game, proving he figured things out in the USHL.
Sure, heading to the University of Michigan and playing college hockey for and against some of the NCAA’s best will present a new challenge. But considering how high Gridin jumped in production from Year 1 to Year 2, it foreshadows perhaps something similar following what will likely be a formative year in Ann Arbor.
His ability to figure things out quickly could come from an ultra-strong work ethic, but Gridin’s 6’1, 185-pound physique also holds ideal size. So overall, if he falls to the Habs in the second round, we could slap a steal label onto him the minute his name is called.
Maxim Masse, RW/Chicoutimi Sagueneens
Another right-winger who boasts excellent size at 6’2, 190 pounds, and one who could evolve into a solid power forward, Maxim Masse is that ideal hybrid between a scorer and a playmaker. We know this because not only did he find the net 36 times in 2023-24, but he also added 39 assists for 75 points in 67 games.
This wasn’t a massive jump in production, and it could be a reason Masse falls deep into the second round, even if outlets like FC Hockey have him ranked as highly as 34th or borderline first-round territory. That said, he could easily be a surprise pick toward the end of Round 1 or even scooped up early in Round 2, but other outlets, like Elite Prospects, clock him in at 54th overall, and still others have him ranked in the 60s.
Lots of variation here, but what would make Maxim Masse a steal if he’s the Canadiens pick in Round 2 of the NHL Draft? We already talked about his size, hybrid scoring, and playmaking ability, but he’s a physical player who’s only too happy to compete in puck battles.
Overall, Masse is an ideal player who could fill the lower lines on an NHL team in the future, which would be a fair projection for a Canadiens team whose top-six should remove the ‘under construction’ label soon. Masse, if Montreal drafts him and when he’s ready, would sidle right in and play a good defensive game, but teams would also be forced to account for his shot.
Max Plante, C/USNTDP
While I’ve written a few pieces rolling with a mixture of forwards and defensemen, the Montreal Canadiens will likely go forward-heavy in the 2024 draft. When I was looking for a trio of potential steals, size was often my criteria, but that changed with the 5’11, 176-pound Max Plante.
Like many playing for the US National Development Team, Plante had a solid but unspectacular first year in 2022-23, when he played in 86 regular season games and put up 70 points, including 16 goals. Following the 2023-24 season, Plante saw time in just 76 contests, but he had 21 goals and 90 points - 69 assists.
That’s a playmaker, and it’s something Elite Prospects didn’t ignore when they put him into that category alongside “two-way forward” and “cerebral tactician.” Plante is also one of those players with a wide range, including a 33rd-overall rating, which would put him between the late-first and early-second rounds, but Dobber Prospects has him listed at No. 93 overall.
Realistically, Plante could drop to the third round, but it would be more of a steal than a reach if he was there at No. 57 and Kent Hughes drafted him. There’s a good chance he’s long gone before that pick, and if a potential playmaker of Plante’s caliber is available in Round 2, it only makes sense to take and let him keep growing into his game at the University of Minnesota-Duluth.
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(Statistics powered by Elite Prospects)