Everyone is trying to figure out what the Canadiens will do with the fifth overall pick on Friday night, and honestly, no one really knows.

The Habs have been very secretive so far, so many names have been floating around since the lottery.

We decided to come up with four possible scenarios for the CH and predict what it will do in each case. For the sake of the matter, we assumed that the Sharks selected Macklin Celebrini first overall and that the Blackhawks targeted defenseman Artyom Levshunov with the second pick.

Scenario #1: The Anaheim Ducks select Anton Silayev third and the Columbus Blue Jackets select Cayden Lindstrom fourth.

The debate at the drafting table: The team is now in a big dilemma, as the very talented attacker Ivan Demidov is still available, as well as other interesting attackers, including Beckett Sennecke and Tij Iginla, as well as defenders Zeev Buium, Sam Dickinson or Zayne Parekh.

Last year, CH made the decision not to take the risk of Matvei Michkov due to his contractual situation, but above all due to certain concerns in his game, whose contract with SKA Saint Petersburg still has three years left to jump to the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers next season. Demidov, for his part, has only one year left on his pact with SKA and has made it clear that he wants to end up in North America once that agreement expires.

On the other hand, there are safer attacking options in Sennecke and Iginla, but they may have less Grand Slam potential, as Demidov is considered the most talented of his year and we compare him to Nikita Kucherov and Kirill Kaprizov.

What the CH will do: Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton cannot afford to pass up on such a unique talent two years in a row. They will select Demidov at No. 5.

Scenario #2: Anaheim Ducks draft Anton Silayev and Columbus Blue Jackets draft Ivan Demidov.

The debate at the drafting table: This is a scenario that satisfies the CH organization, which has great appreciation for the Medicine Hat Tigers’ great center, Cayden Lindstrom.

There would be other options, but the idea of ​​adding a center (who could potentially be a power forward at the next level) who has been compared to Eric Lindros a few times throughout the season will lessen the reflection at the table.

Some concerns about his health remain, but the potential is too great to pass up.

What the CH will do: He will select Lindstrom.

Scenario #3: The Anaheim Ducks and Columbus Blue Jackets select Cayden Lindstrom and Ivan Demidov in any order.

The debate at the drafting table: The Habs see their two preferred attacking options before their pick.

The organization must now ask itself whether to go for the highest forward on its roster, thereby filling an organizational need, or to go for the best player available, even if it is a defenseman. In this scenario, the imposing Russian Anton Silayev and the dynamic American guard Zeev Buium are tempting choices. Up front, Beckett Sennecke and Tij Iginla are the most logical options, while we could also add Cole Eiserman and Berkly Catton.

What the CH will do: He will choose the best player on his list, a defenseman, possibly Zeev Buium.

Scenario #4: The Anaheim Ducks surprise and select Beckett Sennecke third and the Columbus Blue Jackets choose Anton Silayev.

The debate at the drafting table: The scenario of Sennecke being selected third overall by the Ducks was mentioned by fellow draftee Scott Wheeler of The Athletic, who mentions that behind the scenes, more and more rumors are pointing in that direction. This would not be a surprise, as the Ducks have not been afraid to trust in their talent in recent years. Last year, they selected Leo Carlsson second overall, even though Adam Fantilli was second on most people’s list.

In this case, the CH is probably faced with the most heartbreaking dilemma of all: choose Ivan Demidov or Cayden Lindstrom?

On the one hand, Lindstrom would add an imposing physical presence in addition to a very interesting offensive potential, which fits in with what the CH has been trying to build for several years, especially with the selection of Juraj Slafkovsky and the acquisition of Kirby Dach. On the other hand, he has the chance to get a talented winger who has the potential to one day score 80 or more points in the NHL.

What the CH will do: He will choose Lindstrom because he is the candidate who will most help them win the playoffs.

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