Canadiens Have Many Options With Fifth Overall Pick

Canadiens in good place for the 2024 NHL Draft

The Montreal Canadiens season is over, but the optimism going into the offseason is at an all-time high. At the end-of-season presser, both general manager (GM) Kent Hughes and vice president of hockey operations (VPHO) Jeff Gorton said they were looking to push this team closer to a playoff spot. They also mentioned that the next offseason would be crucial for the team’s rebuild. Taking all this in, it makes sense that they would make smaller moves this offseason and then a giant leap to improve the team next season. If this is the case, it will make this draft more critical because they will still be focused on drafting talent and not trying to add it through trades or free agents (FA).

As it stands before the lottery, the Canadiens will draft fifth overall, and with defencemen deep in the draft, only one forward may go in the top four. This means the Habs have a very good chance of drafting a highly skilled forward, which is what they need and fans have been begging for.