A way-too-early mock suggests Canadiens will roll with an enticing forward in 2025

Will the Montreal Canadiens end up selecting early again in the 2025 NHL Draft, or will the arrival of Patrik Laine change that? Trading for Laine is a potential step in the right direction, but is he enough to completely turn the Habs around besides Juraj Slafkovsky, Alex Newhook, Cole Caufield, and Nick Suzuki making strides? 

Probably not, so it doesn’t surprise me that, before the big trade for Laine, that Lyle Richardson of Bleacher Report had the Habs penciled in with the fifth pick. Even after the trade, Montreal would still probably hold a high draft pick, so with that said, let’s check out who Richardson had going to the Habs. 

The future potential star - yes, potential is the word of the day here - is Michael Misa of the Saginaw Spirit, and he’s a versatile forward who should boast decent size once the 2025 NHL Draft rolls around. Right now, he’s got the length at 6’0, plus solid but unspectacular size for a player his age at 174 lbs. It’s nothing to brag about, but if he grows into his frame, he’ll be more than fine. 

Do the Canadiens have a chance to land Michael Misa in 2025?

There’s a fantastic chance, to be real, and if you look at Misa’s numbers over the last two seasons, you can’t help but share some excitement over what he may do at the next level. In 2022-23, Misa had 56 points and 22 goals in 45 regular season games, and remarkable is an understatement for a rookie in the OHL. 

Fast-forward to last season, and Misa increased his productivity, finishing the 2023-24 campaign with 75 points in 67 contests, finding the net 29 times. He hasn’t been as hot in the playoffs, with 19 points and seven goals in 28 postseason outings, but those numbers also aren’t horrible. 

Right now, we have no idea where the Habs will pick (over) 10 months from today or even if they’ll even have a first-round pick in 2025 should general manager Kent Hughes trade it and their second pick next summer elsewhere. It probably won’t happen, but in the NHL, you’ll never know. 

Oh, and in case you’re curious, Bill Zonnon was their second pick in the first round at a projected 32nd overall. Zonnon was the opposite from a productivity standpoint, with 58 points and 18 goals in 68 contests this past season, but in the playoffs, he posted 10 points and six goals in 10 games.