Canadiens’ Top Pick Targets in 2023 NHL Draft

The Montreal Canadiens are limping toward the end of the 2022-23 season as they’ve set records for man-games lost due to injury. This has had a direct impact on their ability to compete and has caused them to lose more games than they should have. With that said, as general manager (GM) Kent Hughes is guiding the franchise through a rebuild, it may be a blessing in disguise, especially in a draft considered to be very deep in game-breaking talent and high-quality prospects.

This draft can have a major impact on the eventual success of the rebuild. Not only the speed of the rebuild but whether they become a true Stanley Cup contender or just a competitive playoff team. Despite having a good prospect pool, there is no doubt they are lacking in game-breaking talent. Where the Canadiens draft will impact who they could select, but there is an expectation that there will be that level of skill at their disposal. There are several options, so it is time to get acquainted with some of them.

Canadiens’ Draft Targets With Top Pick

Currently, the Canadiens are in 28th place, or fifth last, which gives them low odds of selecting first overall (8.5 percent) or second overall (8.8 percent). So you’re telling me there’s a chance? Yes, taking into consideration that 32^nd overall only has a 25 percent chance, those odds don’t seem so bad. However, under the current draft lottery format, there’s also the possibility of falling two spots. There is a 44.2 percent chance of picking sixth overall and a 13.9 percent chance of selecting seventh. While dropping is obviously less than ideal, the most likely scenario is drafting sixth.

Though it’s a no-brainer, anyone that wins first overall is going to select Connor Bedard, and at second, it’s Adam Fantilli. Barring the Habs winning the draft lottery, we’ll just assume, for the sake of this familiarization, that they will select sixth overall, as it is the highest probability mentioned above. At that pick, there is the option to pick for size, skill or even position, as the Habs’ needs fit into all those boxes.

Size is a factor, but it’s one that cuts both ways. When a player is smaller, you can argue that they can add some size and strength, and if they do, what more can they do in their game if they did? While there are players already seen as being physically mature, there is an…