Montreal Canadiens 2015 Draft Class: Noah Juulsen Highlights Lacklustre Group
It's officially draft month! For June, we will look back at some of the draft classes to see how the Habs front offices of the past did with their selections. It's too early to examine some of Kent Hughes' first few draft classes. The 2015 class will be the subject of our seventh look at the history.
The 2015 NHL Entry Draft was at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Florida. The complexion of the NHL changed forever that night, as the Edmonton Oilers selected Connor McDavid with the first-overall pick. It is one of the best drafts of the decade, as other players in the top ten included Jack Eichel, Dylan Strome, Mitch Marner, Mikko Rantanen, Zach Werenski, and Timo Meier. The Canadiens had a good 2014-15 season, leaving them with the 26th overall pick.
I wish I could've skipped this draft class for Habs fans' sake, as it's a collection of some disappointing selections. The good news is that their drafting got better in the coming years.
Round 1
26th Overall - Noah Juulsen
Juulsen immediately signed a three-year entry-level deal after the draft but didn't make his professional debut until the 2017-18 season. He split two seasons between Laval and Montreal but went to the Panthers in 2021 after the Canadiens placed him on waivers. Juulsen was sent to Vancouver in a trade for Olli Juolevi before the 2021-22 season, where his career flourished. He played his first complete season in the NHL in Vancouver in 2023-24.
Round 3
87th Overall - Lukas Vejdemo
Vejdemo made his NHL debut on December 31st, 2019. He scored his first career goal on March 10th, 2020. He ended up playing 13 games with the Canadiens before leaving the team as a free agent after the 2021-22 season. Vejdemo spent last season with Leksands in the Swedish Hockey League.
Round 5
131st Overall - Matt Bradley
Bradley never signed with the Canadiens, instead joining the Toronto Maple Leafs affiliates after his WHL career ended. Bradley played with the Newfoundland Growlers for two seasons, winning a Kelly Cup Championship in 2019. Bradley bounced around the ECHL before heading to play with the Vienna Capitals. Bradley spent the 2023-24 season with the Straubing Tigers in the DEL and will be with HC Bolzano next season.
Round 6
177th Overall - Simon Bourque
Simon Bourque had an interesting post-QMJHL career. He played with Laval in 2017-18, then in the Quebec Senior League and Concordia University in 2018-19. Bourque played another season in the Quebec Senior League, then captained Bordeaux in Ligue Magnus. He spent the 2023-24 season with Stavanger in Norway.
Round 7
207th Overall - Jeremiah Addison
Addison played ten games with the St. John's Ice Caps and Laval Rocket from 2015-18, before heading to St. FX in USports. He played four seasons in USports, then bounced around Europe for the next two seasons.