Redrafting the 2018 NHL Draft: Would the Montreal Canadiens Still Take Jesperi Kotkaniemi at 3?

Looking back at past NHL drafts, it is easy to criticize a team's selection. The thing is, even in 2018, everyone knew that Jesperi Kotkaniemi was probably not the third-best player in the draft. It was no secret that the Montreal Canadiens were in dire need of a centre, and they reached for a player they believed was the best player at that position. They were right in that aspect, but the players they left on the board could have made a significant difference for a franchise.

Another thing that should be mentioned is that Kotkaniemi left after his entry-level contract, signing an offer sheet with the Carolina Hurricanes, making his selection an absolute disaster. If we were to go back and do the draft all over again, who would be the Canadiens' selection? Would it still be Kotkaniemi, or has someone else emerged as the clear-cut third pick in the 2018 NHL Draft?

Who goes first and second?

The Buffalo Sabres and Carolina Hurricanes had the top two picks in the 2018 NHL Draft and selected Rasmus Dahlin and Andrei Svechnikov. In a redraft, Dahlin would still be a lock to go top two. Svechnikov has been a dynamic offensive player when healthy, but has struggled with injuries, making it hard to rank him above Quinn Hughes, who has blossomed into a Norris Trophy–winning defenceman. The 2023-24 Norris Trophy winner has established himself as a top-three defenceman in the league and would be the likely choice to go first overall if we were to do the draft on their careers so far.

Dahlin is no consolation at second overall. It took a couple of seasons for him to get adjusted to the NHL, but over the last three seasons, he has established himself as one of the more elite offensive defencemen in the league. Dahlin may have more potential than Hughes, but if we were to do the draft over from what we know right now, the Vancouver blueliner would have the slight lead.

Who would the Canadiens take at third overall?

Pick: Brady Tkachuk

The 2018 NHL Draft is very defenceman-heavy. Even with Hughes and Dahlin off the board, there are still Noah Dobson and Evan Bouchard, who both turned out to be top-pairing defencemen. There are also elite wingers still available at this stage in the draft, with Brady Tkachuk and Svechnikov. Svechnikov falls from his original position of second overall, and while he makes for a good candidate for the Canadiens at the third pick, the right answer would be Tkachuk.

Tkachuk would bring a different dynamic to the Canadiens' lineup. He is the epitome of the modern-day power forward. He will score goals, lay someone out with a big hit, and answer the call if someone wants to drop the gloves. He has three 30-goal seasons, with a career high of 37 in the 2023-24 season. He has also proved so far in his career that he can produce in the playoffs, registering four goals and seven points in six games in his lone playoff run.

Tkachuk would be a perfect complement for Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield on the Canadiens’ first line. Tkachuk would be the guy to do the dirty work in the corner, creating more chances and space for Caufield to do what he does in the slot. The clear-cut third overall pick in 2018 was Tkachuk, and the Canadiens chose to draft a position of need in Kotkaniemi over the best available player. Looking back at it seven years later, Tkachuk is still the clear-cut third pick in the 2018 NHL Draft.