Kent Hughes’ strategy this summer will be closely linked to the player he selects fifth overall in the Las Vegas Draft: at least that’s what other National Hockey League teams believe According to David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period.
“Hughes is pointing out to certain teams that the Canadiens have no interest in signing a center,” Pagnotta wrote in a column published last Monday. What we should understand is that the plan is to put Kirby Dach in the middle of the second line [derrière Nick Suzuki]while Alex Newhook will play on the wing or in the middle of the third unit.
However, according to Pagnotta, other teams believe Hughes may change his mind if he cannot target the fifth-line center, which would be Cayden Lindstrom.
“More and more people believe that Lindstrom has a good spot on the Canadiens’ roster and that Hughes could trade the pick if he is unavailable at No. 5,” Pagnotta added.
Lindstrom is an imposing 6’3″, 220-pound center who is ranked third in NHL Central Scouting’s North American rankings. In an interview with TVASports.ca, his head coach with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the Western Junior League (WHL), Willie Desjardins, compared him to Eric Lindros.
Russian Ivan Demidov and winger Tij Iginla are other names often associated with the CH in mock drafts.
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