Habs Drafting History & Rebuild Could Determine 2024 Pick – Hockey Writers – NHL Entry Draft

The 2024 NHL Entry Draft is upon us, and here's a look at what the Montreal Canadiens could do in the first round. There is a lot of speculation about who will be drafted and who could be available as the fifth overall pick for the Canadiens. The Habs seem to have a clear plan of what they want to do with this rebuild and are determined to move forward in 2024-25 and try for the playoffs.

Related: Canadiens Drafting Sennecke With 5th Pick Option Active

Social media is abuzz with speculation about whether Montreal will draft a forward and a defenseman. The consensus is that it can be a 50/50 chance depending on who is there. It will all depend on who the Habs like at pick five and who is the best player for the team's future.

Who Gets Drafted Before Five Will Be The Most Important Factor

This year, the Canadiens draft will ultimately come down to who is drafted in the top four. It is certain that Macklin Celebrini will go to the San Jose Sharks for the first time. After that, it may be more open. The Chicago Blackhawks draft second overall, and many experts seem to think they will draft a defenseman (Aryom Levshunov) and have a defensive and offensive cornerstone to build around when Connor Bedard became their top pick last year. It's the third draft for the Anaheim Ducks, and not much is known about which way general manager (GM) Pat Verbeek will go with this draft. Some think they will take a defender (Anton Silayev), while others think, depending on who is available, they will take a forward (Ivan Demidov). Finally, the Columbus Blue Jackets pick fourth, and most think they want a big forward (Cayden Lindstrom) to fill out the top six. However, depending on who is available, they could also like one of their top defensemen (Sam Dickinson).

The Canadiens need quality talent on their roster. The defense has already been released, especially on the left side. If we use logic (which is sometimes not an intuitive answer), it would make sense for GM Kent Hughes to pass on any lefty defenseman. Looking at the team's needs, the best thing would be a highly skilled striker and a potential top scorer. The Canadiens need to hope that the top four is drafted the way many experts are predicting and that two defensemen are drafted in the top four. This would mean the Sharks taking Celebrini, the Blackhawks Levshunov, the Ducks Silayev, and the Blue Jackets either Lindstrom or Demidov. This would leave the Habs with a solid, highly skilled forward who could be a top five player.

The Canadiens will stick to the Game Plan

Jeff Gorton, the Canadiens Vice President of Hockey Operations (VPHO), held a press conference this week stating that they are happy with their draft list and will draft a player that will help their future. He also said that the team wants to improve and strives every day to ensure that they do, whether through trade, draft, or free agency. The plan is to build a consistent and competent team throughout the program; they drafted Juraj Slafkovsky first overall in the 2022 draft and filled a much-needed hole at size up front. Last season, they drafted defenseman David Reinbacher, who helped fill a hole on the right side. They also scored three goals to strengthen their depth in the crease; the system seems to build from the net out. They now have a strong young defensive core and excellent scoring depth, and they should all be ready by the time the team prepares to make a push for the Stanley Cup.

If Hughes sticks to the plan, they are ready to start building a forward team and add to what they already have to make the top six impress. They already have a top line of Slafkovsky, Cole Caufield and captain Nick Suzuki, and a second line of Kirby Dach (if he can stay healthy) and Alex Newhook needs another strong, high-skilled player to join them. It's a lot easier to draft that player than to trade him, and this year, they have a chance to draft a strong front six with high potential.

The Canadiens draft, of course, comes down to who is available. The only sure thing is in the fifth pick, if they really want a talented player, they have options other than Lindstrom or Demidov if they are already drafted. They can go after all viable options: Tij Iginla, Berkley Catton, Beckett Sennecke or Cole Eiserman. Now that they've moved up in the draft by trading three picks to the Los Angeles Kings for the 21st overall pick, they can either draft two top talent or combine the fifth and 21st picks and move into the top four of the draft. This will allow them to avoid drafting another defenseman and try to make a bigger trade to fill an offensive hole.

Whatever the Canadiens do, they just need to make sure they get a player to improve the team and continue the rebuild.