CANADIENS IMPROVE DRAFT POSITION VIA TRADE WITH KINGS
The Montreal Canadiens have made a trade ahead of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft that includes a handful of draft picks.
The trade is as follows: the Habs have acquired the Los Angeles Kings’ first-round pick (21st overall) in exchange for the Winnipeg Jets’ first-round pick (26th overall), the Colorado Avalanche’s second-round pick (57th overall) and their own seventh-round pick (198th overall).
Simply put, the Habs moved up five spots in the first round in exchange for two picks that have very little odds of becoming impact players via the draft. That’s not to say the second-round pick was worthless, but it was at the end of the round. Statistically speaking, it’s closer to a third-round pick in terms of overall value, whereas the seventh-round pick is the type of sweetener you can toss into any trade without much worry.
As for which players the Canadiens may target with the improved first-round pick, it’s a rather unpredictable draft. It’s unlikely someone as talented as Cole Eiserman will be available, but Cole Beaudoin, Andrew Basha, Dean Letourneau, Jett Luchanko, and Ryder Ritchie all fall within that range. Sasha Boisvert, a player ranked between 15th and 20th, could also interest a team like the Habs.
Regardless of who they end up picking with the pick, this is the type of trade you want to see from a team that has an overabundance of draft picks and prospects, but lack high-end talent throughout their prospect pool. Turning the sum of the parts into one single asset is the right way forward for general manager Kent Hughes.
With the trade in the books, the Montreal Canadiens now own 10 draft picks at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
Montreal Canadiens Draft Picks in 2024
5th Overall, 21st overall (via Los Angeles), 70th overall, 78th overall (via Minnesota), 102nd overall, 130th overall (via San Jose), 134th overall, 166th overall, 210th overall (via Washington) and 224th overall (via Edmonton)
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2024-06-28T18:04:01Z dg43tfdfdgfd