MONTREAL – The Montreal Canadians got off to a great start to their 2015-16 season only to see them on the outside looking in come playoff time. The Habs were “rewarded” with the 9th overall pick in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft. Montreal has had some solid picks in recent years and hope the trend continues if the Canadians are to get back on top of the hockey world.
The Habs had two players hit the 30 goal mark, but no other player hit the 20 goal mark. They did have eight players in the 10-19 goal range, but none of them were defensemen. P.K. Subban had only six goals on the blueline and will look to add to an offensive defensemen either through the draft or free agency. Most of their goal scoring came down the middle of the ice at the center position. The need for scoring wingers will be a priority as well.
The Canadians have tended to draft bigger players in recent years. Don’t expect that trend to stop anytime soon. In fact, look for the Habs to start drafting players with the intention of moving them to the wing position after years of being a tad on the smallish side.
Montreal would love to draft one of the top scoring wingers in the draft and could very well look at a player such as Julien Gauthier but for some reason his stocked has fallen despite his high numbers. If they want to continue drafting big players, center Logan Brown would fit that bill.
If the Habs go defense, they could look at one of the best offensive defenseman in the draft such as Jake Bean from the Calgary Hitmen or go with Mikhail Sergachev who was named the OHL’s best defenseman with the Windsor Spitfires.
Montreal could become a trading partner for someone who is looking to move up in the draft. A team like Arizona who has picks at 7 and 20 (from the New York Rangers) could prove interesting or a team such as Carolina who has picks at 13 and 21. If they do move down a player who is intriguing to them, as well as a lot of people, is center Tyson Yost who played in the BCHL this year.
Expect quite a few boos from the hometown Buffalo crowd on draft day but expect quite a few cheers in Montreal when their pick is made in two more weeks.
“With the 9th overall pick in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft, the Montreal Canadians select, from the Windsor Spitfires of the Ontario Hockey League, Logan Brown.”
The Colorado Avalanche are now on the clock.
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