2023-06-28 17:40:00
If the past is a guarantor of the future, the Montreal Canadiens might very well surprise several of its supporters, Wednesday evening, as part of the draft of the National Hockey League.
Holders of the fifth overall pick, the CH have many options on the table regarding which player can be selected at this rank. The names of forwards Matvei Michkov, Will Smith and Ryan Leonard are circulating widely, as is that of defender David Reinbacher. And why not the Slovak Dalibor Dvorsky?
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A trade involving this fifth pick would be surprising from general manager Kent Hughes, but it’s not impossible either.
Speaking of the recent past, it must be remembered that the Canadian surprised many by opting for Slovakian forward Juraj Slakfovsky, instead of choosing Shane Wright with the first overall pick in 2022. Wright eventually slipped to fourth level, not without imagining, for a moment, that the Habs had concluded a transaction to achieve a double blow.
AFP
However, Hughes had instead made two trades to send Alexander Romanov to the New York Islanders and acquire forward Kirby Dach from the Chicago Blackhawks.
Surprises, good or bad, have also marked previous years. In 2021, Marc Bergevin was bold and above all aroused controversy by calling defender Logan Mailloux at the 31st level.
Caufield had slipped to 15e rang
The selection of Kaiden Guhle, ranked 16th in 2020, was possibly the most logical of recent years, while the previous year, forward Cole Caufield had surprisingly slipped to 15th place in the first round, behind defenseman Cam York (Philadelphia Flyers), among others. Bergevin had only had to pick the fruit.
AFP
Should we finally recall the 2018 draft? Many supporters of the Canadian had surrounded the name of Brady Tkachuk, but the Montreal organization had rather set its sights on the Finn Jesperi Kotkaniemi in third place. The Ottawa Senators followed suit by calling Tkachuk.
In short, Montreal fans are no surprise in the National Hockey League draft. The evening might be fertile in emotions. While the auction begins around 7 p.m., coverage begins at 5:30 p.m. on the TVA Sports network.
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