Who will Kent Hughes be watching at the World Junior's?

The Montreal Canadiens scouting team will certainly be on-hand to catch the World Junior Hockey Championships (WJHC) live in Ottawa, Ontario.

I fully expect to see Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton taking in the action in some form. With two draft selections in his pocket, Hughes will watch the best junior hockey tournament of the year. Gavin McKenna, a native of Whitehorse, Yukon Territory isn't draft eligible until the 2026 draft, but he is already putting on a show.

McKenna is a special player, as evidenced by earning exceptional status to play in the Canadian Hockey League one year early at 15. In his rookie season, McKenna recorded 34-63-97 through 61 games. He and Connor Bedard are cousins, and while the hockey talents run deep, McKenna is carving his path.

If Hughes could wrap things up and just take McKenna, it would be such a massive add for the Habs. McKenna is dynamic, and while his shooting and puck skills are impressive; the poise the 17-year-old possesses highlight a mature all-around game. He could stand to add some weight to his frame, but at this juncture I think he could play in the NHL come October 2025.

Unfortunately that isn't the case, but fret not, there is still a silver lining. Aside from Russian top prospects, Hughes and Gorton will get to see all of the top international prospects in one spot. And thankfully for them, the draft features some intriguing pieces, highlighted by a potential number-one skilled centre, and a franchise defenseman.

With two selections in the first round of the draft, their own and the one acquired in the Sean Monahan deal with the Calgary Flames, Hughes can hopefully come out of the tournament with a good idea of who the scouts like best. It will go beyond just watching one tournament, but it is definitely a good place to watch the top prospects.

My top three WJHC players

How about a series of my three favourite players in the tournament. Let me rephrase that, my three favourite draft-eligible players. I will breakdown the type of player they are and what makes them standout. But these players will be the three that I feel would best suit the Canadiens needs.

These may be way off the mark, but they are based on the highlights and scouting reports. I personally don't think that the Habs should be drafting another defenseman, but having said that, one of the three spots is occupied by a defender. The other two are forwards, who I can see slotting into the Habs future top six; if not, a top nine role at worst.

Montreal only has one prospect in the tournament, Sweden's defenseman Rasmus Bergqvist. If all goes well, Bergqvist's name won't be mentioned much by the announcers. Bergqvist is a defensive defenseman, so a quiet game is a good game.

So, this little series will feature three articles, one about each prospect and how they would fit on the team.