Top five at 5th - #3 Tij Iginla
Tij Iginla has hockey running through his veins, his dad Jarome is a hockey hall of famer. While Tij plays a little different, he has that same fire as his pops.
The Montreal Canadiens are reportedly seeking the best forward that they can get their hands on with the fifth overall selection at the upcoming draft.
As with any pick in the top five, the best player available is often a topic that warrants divided opinions. There is also the fact that each general manager has a different draft and do not draft list, despite what scouts and everybody else might think. But what we know right now is what the scouts have predicted and the statistics that each player had during their draft season.
Tij Iginla is a name that has been talked about by all of the hockey analysts who scout and educate everybody about the draft. Iginla plays with an edge and is one of the purest shooters on the draft, but his offensive game isn't one-dimensional. Iginla is a menace on loose pucks and he plays with such tenacity and speed that he doesn't waste much time putting the puck on the net. Iginla is a fierce competitor and he keeps getting better, but not just in one aspect.
Craig Button, TSN's head director of scouting put out his final draft rankings, which have Iginla ranked third behind Macklin Celebrini and Ivan Demidov. While Button's lists aren't the be-all and end-all, he has been doing it for a long time and knows his stuff. With that said, if Iginla was available in the Habs range, I don't see why they wouldn't consider him.
The thing with Iginla is that he is a natural centre, which you can never have too many of. It is easier to shift a centre to the wing than it is a winger to the centre, which could further boost his draft stock. Nick Suzuki has cemented himself as a centre, but it might not be a bad idea to slot Iginla on the second line, freeing up Dach on the wing, where he can use his speed and brilliant puck skills.
I wouldn't be upset in the slightest to have a player who has similarities to Jarome Iginla. A shooter, who isn't scared to mix it up in the corners and around the front of the net. But he also passes the puck well and has the strength and smarts to rumble his way to the net and create all on his own.
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