Out of all the teams at the NHL draft yesterday, the Montreal Canadiens made sure they took it upon themselves to be the most exciting to watch. Not only did they steal the show by passing over presumptive-#1 pick, Shane Wright, to take Juraj Slafksovsky, but they also were the busiest team by acquiring Kirby Dach from Chicago in a three-team trade.
In truth, we can all thank the Montreal Canadiens for saving the draft and everyone watching. Without their selection controversy and draft-day trades, last night’s 5-hour fiasco probably could seriously injured people.
I mean, it was like torture having to watch the same five commercials played during after every pick. The NHL could have at least shortened the process down to four hours, right?
Okay, on a serious note, the Canadiens made the right choice by drafting the Slovakian phenom over Shane Wright. Slafkovsky will carry Montreal’s forward core in scoring for years to come, especially when the Habs pair him up with Connor Bedard.
Yes, you read that correctly. I’m predicting today that the Montreal Canadiens will once again be one of the worst teams in the NHL next season, putting them in the Connor Berdar-sweepstakes along with the rest of the NHL’s bottom feeders.
I know, it’s an easy prediction to make. Yet will the Habs do the right thing and tank again? They better or else they’ll be back in the same position as they are now in five years’ time.
“What about Kriby Dach? They just traded Alex Romanov for him to be the Habs’ new 2nd-Line center,” many Habs’ fans will point out. And it is a valid point. But there is one MASSIVE caveat to that argument: Dach’s health.
Can Kirby Dach stay healthy enough for him to become one of Montreal’s long-term centers? Right now, I’d have to say no.
Obviously, Kirby Dach is an outrageously talented center, easily possessing 1st-Line/Elite center capabilities. However, he has yet to play a full 82-game schedule since his debut in the 2019/20 season. Moreover, Dach’s highest ever point tally was only a 9-goal, 26pts season last year.
It is a good sign that his numbers are trending upward, but is that really enough points from a center who has had Patrick Kane, Alex DeBrincat, Jonathan Toews, and Dominik Kubalik as teammates? Hopefully, for all Canadiens’ fans, Dach’s breakout year will be in a Montreal jersey.
Nevertheless, if that breakout never occurs, it will not hurt Montreal too much if they can win the draft lottery again next season to draft Connor Bedard. Unlike Shane Wright, there has been zero doubt over Bedard’s skill, dedication, and effort. He will be a superstar at the NHL level and will be the #1 overall pick next year.
Is it unlikely that Montreal wins two draft lotteries in a row? Yes. But that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t try. Edmonton won THREE years in a row from 2010-12, drafting Taylor Hall (2010), Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (2011), and Nail Yakupov (2012) with their three consecutive 1st overall picks.
As for Montreal’s current 1st-Line center, Nick Suzuki, I think he is a fantastic player with the potential to be Montreal’s 1st-Line man permanently. Still, why settle for one 1st-Line center when you can have two? It has worked for Tampa Bay (Steven Stamkos and Brayden Point), hasn’t it?
In a worst-case scenario that Dach doesn’t pan out and the Habs don’t win the Bedard draft lottery, they did draft C Owen Beck at #33 overall toady. Hopefully he can develop into a great center too.
As long as Montreal does not foolish improve their roster through the upcoming free agent market, then all Canadiens fans can rest assured that GM Kent Hughes, Executive Vice President Jeff Gorden, and Head Coach Marty St. Louis truly know how to rebuild the Canadiens for greatness.
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