he Montreal Canadiens had a great first round at the 2024 NHL Draft.
One that significantly improved their prospect pool, so much so that their top five prospects shuffled significantly. The direction of the rebuild has been steadily forward and the drafting is a big reason why. With development taking such precedence, the Canadiens are looking like a safe bet to become a problem for the league soon enough.
As mentioned, the prospect pool got some fine new additions. The top five in the organization have two new additions, who, in my opinion, will be impact players for a long time. I can’t help but think that Kent Hughes is very pleased with the talent he has accumulated.
Without further ado, let's dive into the post-2024 draft top five prospects. We’ll start at five and work our way through to one. Number two has been the top prospect in the system since he was drafted, that was until the most recent draft. But just because he isn't number one, it doesn't mean that he won't be brilliant in his first season with the Habs.
Lane Hutson
Lane Hutson has all the tools to run a number one NHL power play and he did so in the NCAA swimmingly. Often he and Macklin Celebrini teamed up together and terrorized opposing penalty killers. It may take some time, but Hutson has a knack for adapting to new challenges and finding ways to manipulate and exceed.
Clear evidence of this is when he made his NHL debut and was making moves, walking the blueline like a veteran who had been doing it for many years. Since PK Subban was in Montreal there has't been a player as dynamic on defence as Hutson and that speaks volumes. Subban was the Canadiens last superstar and he could singlehandedly take over shifts with his dynamic skating and brilliant puck skills, there are high hopes that Hutson will do the same.
If not for the Canadiens 2024 fifth overall selection, Hutson would still rank as the number one prospect in the pool. But just because he isn't ranked number one, it doesn't mean that he is any less of a player. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't in the conversation for the Calder Trophy come season's end.
Hutson's number two ranking speaks to the quality of prospects the Canadiens have.