Montreal Canadiens Live 2024 NHL Draft Tracker
By Nate Duffett
The 2024 NHL Draft begins at 7 PM ET at The Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. The draft will be an intriguing event, as the only sure thing is the selection of Macklin Celebrini by the San Jose Sharks. The Montreal Canadiens may be the team with the most rumors surrounding them, as they've been linked to several different players and trade scenarios.
The Montreal Canadiens have picks 5, 26, 57, 70, 78, 102, 130, 134, 166, 198, 210, and 224.
The Canadiens don't have many contract slots available, so it wouldn't be surprising to see them package some of those picks for immediate help or a better draft position. The 26th pick seems like the one most in play, as they'll need to let that one go if they're serious about acquiring Martin Necas before the draft begins.
Throughout Friday and Saturday this will be your number one source for all Canadiens selections, trades, and rumors.
1:25 PM ET - Habs Make Trade to Move Up
The Montreal Canadiens sent their 26th, 57th, and 198th overall picks to the Los Angeles Kings to move up to 21st overall. The Canadiens abundance of picks helped them move into position to pick a better player in the first round.
Round 1, 5th Overall: Ivan Demidov, RW, SKA-1946 St. Petersburg (MHL)
The Montreal Canadiens didn't make the same mistake twice after passing on Matvei Michkov last season. Demidov has one year left in the KHL, but he will be starring with the Canadiens in North America as early as 2025-26. Demidov's stock has rose substantially since he attended the Gold Star Combine this month, and he has the potential to be a superstar and the scoring forward the Canadiens desperately need.
Check out why Todd Matthews thinks the Habs landed the prize of the draft.
Round 1, 21st Overall: Michael Hage, C, Chicago Steel (USHL)
Hage is a highly skilled center who will attend the University of Michigan next season. He has some work to do at the defensive end, but the Canadiens need talent at forward and Hage brings plenty. He is one of the best attackers in the draft off the rush and excels in the transition game. Hage and Demidov on the same line in three or four years could be a dream for Canadiens fans.
Round 3, 70th Overall: Aatos Koivu, C, TPS (Liiga)
Your first question may be if Aator has any relation to Saku Koivu, and the answer is that it's his son. The Canadiens' bloodline is strong with his pick, and it will undoubtedly be a popular pick amongst the fans. Koivu spent time in the U18, U20, and Liiga with TPS this season, but needs to develop his game before ever thinking about coming to North America. It's a nice story, but it'll be a while before it comes to fruition.
Round 3, 78th Overall: Logan Sawyer, C, Brooks Bandits (BCHL)
Sawyer had 78 points in 59 games split between the BCHL and AJHL in a tumultuous year for the Brooks Bandits. He will attend Providence College and out-scored some of this year's higher-ranked picks in Canadian Prep Hockey last season. The Canadiens continue to stockpile forward talent with a high ceiling. Check out some of Sawyer's highlights from the World Junior A Challenge this past season.
Round 4, 102nd Overall: Owen Protz, D, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
The Canadiens went off the board here with Owen Protz. Mckeen's Hockey ranked him 164th in this draft class, but those independent scouting sites often don't consider Protz's style. Protz was one of the most physical defenders in the OHL, and he values a defensive style after tallying just 19 points in 66 games this season.
Round 5, 130th Overall: Tyler Thorpe, RW, Vancouver Giants (WHL)
Tyler Thorpe is a massive 6-5, 216-pound winger from the Western Hockey League. Thorpe is a presence on the ice with an impressive shot, but his WHL roots and size don't make him the player people may think. Thorpe had 23 goals and 21 assists in 51 games for the Giants last year but only 30 penalty minutes.
Round 5, 134th Overall: Mikus Vecvenags, G, HS Riga (Latvia)
Vecvanags played at multiple levels of the Latvian hockey league with Riga last season, including a nine-game run with HS Riga where he posted a 3.00 goals-against average and .908 save percentage. It's an interesting pick with plenty of goaltenders in the pipeline and some good offensive players left in the draft.
Justin Poirier scored 51 goals in the QMJHL this past season and his fall down the draft is a big surprise. Can he fall to the Habs at 166th?
Round 6, 166th Overall: Ben Merrill, C, St. Sebastian's School (US Prep)
The Canadiens were looking at Dean Letourneau with their 21st pick in the first round. Merrill had 37 points in 25 games at St. Sebastian's School, so his upside may not be as high as Letourneau's, but the ideology behind the pick is the same. Merrill will have plenty of room to grow, as he joins the Penticton Vees next season and Harvard in 2025.
Round 7, 210th Overall: Makar Khanin, RW, Dynamo St. Petersburg Jr. (RUSSIA-JR.)
Round 7, 224th Overall: Rasmus Bergqvist, D, Skelleftea Jr. (SWEDEN-JR.)
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