The Montreal Canadiens are selecting 5th overall in the 2024 NHL draft, and not matter who they pick, the future is more than likely very bright. Generally, the 5th overall pick turns out to be a quality NHL player, and Habs fans are hoping David Reinbacher and this year's pick will continue that trend.
The first ever 5th overall pick for the Montreal Canadiens was Pierre Bouchard, son of Canadiens legend and former captain Emile "Butch" Bouchard. Pierre Bouchard was a physical, defensive defender who won many Stanley Cups with the Habs, before ending his career with the Washington Capitals.
Phil Myre was selected the next year at 5th overall, but ultimately was blocked from establishing himself with the Canadiens by the emergence of Ken Dryden. Myre did earn a Stanley Cup ring with the Canadiens, and was part of the Philadelphia Flyers who went to the Cup Final, and was part of the longest unbeaten streak in North American sports history.
A few years later, the Canadiens selected the Can't Miss Kid, Ray Martyniuk (or maybe Martynuik), as the second highest goalie pick at that time. Stop me if you heard this one before, but the emergence of Ken Dryden blocked Martyniuk from establishing himself at the NHL level, and he retired without ever playing an NHL game, and with his goalie equipment at the bottom of a lake in British Columbia.
It would be another 4 years until the Canadiens would draft 5th overall, in 1974. In that time, the Habs drafted Guy Lafleur, Bob Gainey and Larry Robinson, and were on the verge of starting another dynasty. And the brass were hoping the high scoring captain of the Flin Flan Bombers, Cam Connor. Yep, that's right. The last two 5th overall picks by Montreal were both stars of the Flin Flan Bombers.
Of the first round picks Montreal had that year, Cam Connor had one of the weakest NHL career. Doug Risebrough was selected two spots later, and the Bionic Blueberry Mario Tremblay was drafted 12th overall and were important parts of the team for years to come.
Defender Rick Chartraw had a solid 400+ game career was taken by the Habs 10th overall, but the biggest miss was Gord McTavish, who only played 11 NHL games, none with the Canadiens.
Three players drafted in the 1974 draft played over 1,000 games. Brian Trottier was drafted in the second round by the New York Islanders, Harold Snepsts was selected by the Vancouver Canucks in the 4th round, and Bob Murray went in the third round to the New York Rangers. And David "Tiger" Williams, career leader in penalty minutes all time, went right at the middle of the second round.
Cam Connor only played 89 games in the NHL, but that could have changed with one small decision.