The Canadian didn’t move. On June 28, Kent Hughes will have the fifth privilege to speak at the Las Vegas Sphere.
According to the odds, he had a 44% chance of falling to sixth place. Like last season, we console ourselves with the small victories.
• Also read: Whose Macklin Celebrini?
• Also read: Celebrini and the others: who are they?
A top five selection remains more than interesting. This is the same ranking as last year when the Habs targeted defenseman David Reinbacher.
“Knowing that we will finish fifth makes us happy. We are confident that we can recruit a good player,” Hughes said via video conference.
With a relatively deep pool of prospects on the blue line, we can expect the Habs to turn to an attacker.
In fifth place there will be a few more whose profiles will be interesting: Ivan Demidov, who some consider to be the most talented player in this draft, the colossal center Cayden Lindstrom, Cole Eiserman, new Record holder Goals in the history of the American development program, and Tij Iginla, a tireless worker, are some of them.
It will require quite a bid
Even though he recognizes that he will choose a striker given the same assessment, the Canadian’s general manager still indicated that nothing is set in stone.
“We believe we have depth in defence, particularly on the left side. “If we can get a striker in the top six, that would be something we would be interested in,” Hughes said. But it could be a right-handed defender if we consider that he is the best player at our disposal.
The Canadian not only holds his own first-round pick, but also that of the Winnipeg Jets, acquired as part of the Sean Monahan deal. Depending on the form of the series, this pick will be between ranks 25 and 27.
Hughes also makes no secret of the fact that the phone might ring. He will also address his colleagues.
“That’s normal, it’s part of the job of a general manager.”
But it will take a more than tempting offer to tempt Hughes, who continues to work to rebuild his team.
“We are always open to suggestions to improve our team, but it is very likely that we will present a draft,” said the Canadian’s general manager.
What would it take for him to be tempted?
“That’s hard to answer,” he said. It would take an offer that would take us forward next year and in the future.”
One last time
If Hughes does indeed retain his pick, it will be the third time he has been picked in the top five since his tenure as Canadiens general manager.
Before Reinbacher at No. 5 last year, he was lucky enough to pick Juraj Slafkovsky at No. 1 in 2022. Although such high ranks practically guarantee him to get his hands on a good player, Hughes hopes this will be the last time.
“We want to make progress from year to year. We think it’s time to get involved. If that is the case, we will prepare a draft later next year.”
The San Jose Sharks have the very first pick. Sharks general manager Mike Grier has already confirmed that he will be targeting Boston University Terriers star player Macklin Celebrini. The opposite would have been surprising.
In addition, no team has changed its position in this lottery.
The Sharks win the lottery –
2024 first round selection order:
1. San Jose Sharks
2.Chicago Blackhawks
3. Anaheim Ducks
4. Columbus Blue Jackets
5. Montreal Canadiens
6.Utah
7. Ottawa Senators
8. Seattle Kraken
9. Calgary Flames
10. New Jersey Devils
11. Buffalo saber
12. Philadelphia Flyers
13. Minnesota Wild
14. San Jose Sharks (via Pittsburgh)
15. Detroit Red Wings
16. St Louis Blues
List of CH’s first decisions in the last 10 years:
2023: David Reinbacher – Defender – 5e
2022: Juraj Slafkovsky – Striker – 1um
2021: Logan Mailloux – Defender – 31ste
2020: Kaiden Guhle – Defender – 16the
2019: Cole Caufield – Striker – 15the
2018: Jesperi Kotkaniemi – Striker – 3rde
2017: Ryan Poehling – Striker – 25e
2016: Mikhail Sergachev – Defender – 9the
2015: Noah Juulsen – Defender – 26the
2014: Nikita Scherbak – Striker – 26the
List of first overall picks from the last 10 years:
2023: Connor Bedard – Forward – Blackhawks
2022: Juraj Slafkovsky – Striker – Canadian
2021: Owen Power – Defenseman – Sabres
2020: Alexis Lafrenière – Striker – Rangers
2019: Jack Hughes – Forward – Devils
2018: Rasmus Dahlin – Defenseman – Sabres
2017: Nico Hischier – Striker – Devils
2016: Auston Matthews – Forward – Maple Leafs
2015: Connor McDavid – Forward – Oilers
2014: Aaron Ekblad – Defenseman – Panthers
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