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.
Last time we went over the Montreal Canadiens first ever 5th overall pick: Pierre Bouchard. Bouchard was a second generation Canadien, being the son of former captain Emile "Butch" Bouchard. Both father and son had long, successful careers on the blueline and both won multiple Stanley Cups with the Habs.
Pierre Bouchard was selected in 1965, and we wouldn't have to wait long for the Canadiens to select 5th overall again. The very next year, the Montreal Canadiens selected goalie Phil Myre at 5th overall. The first goalie of many we will look at here.
By far the best pick of the draft was the second overall pick and Hall-of-Famer Brad Park, selected by the New York Rangers, pictured above as a member of the Bruins. Phil Myre was not a bad selection, but because of a series of events no one saw coming, maybe journeyman centre Don Luce may have been a better fit for the Canadiens.
Second Fiddle
Phil Myre took a few years to make his way up to the NHL, including winning the Memorial Cup as a member of the Niagara Falls Flyers and the AHL regular season title with the Voyageurs.
The 1970-71 was going to be the breakout season for Phil Myre. Montreal's starter Rogatien Vachon was injured, and Myre stepped up and played 30 of the 78 games for Montreal, and playing well enough for the Canadiens to make it into the playoffs as the third seed against the Montreal Canadiens.
Unfortunately for the Boston Bruins, a trade they made years ago would come back to bite them, as the Canadiens upset the Bruins on route to winning the Stanley Cup.
In 1964, the Boston Bruins drafted Ken Dryden 14th overall, but traded him to the Montreal Canadiens days later. This was likely due to Dryden's commitment to college, which he followed through and didn't make his NHL debut until 1970, six years after being drafted.
Dryden was a perfect 6-0 in the regular season, and had a fantastic playoff, winning the Stanley Cup and Conn Smythe, and pushing out Phil Myre.
Interestingly, Phil Myre got a Stanley Cup ring for that year, but didn't get his name engraved on the Cup, since he never played in the playoffs.
With the coming out of Ken Dryden and the established Rogie Vachon, there wasn't much room for Phil Myre, and he was left exposed and selected by the Atlanta Flames in the 1972 expansion draft.