The Montreal Canadiens have the No. 5 overall pick at the NHL draft lottery. The Habs came in the 5th spot, behind the Columbus Blue Jackets at No.4. According to the official results, this year’s Lottery Draft came in quite sequentially, as the bottom five teams aiming for a chance of winning the lottery would finish in order, counting from the bottom.
San Jose Sharks Gets 1st Overall Pick
Of the 16 teams, the San Jose Sharks picked up the No.1 spot making them the first overall for the first time in their history. The San Jose Sharks were followed closely by the Chicago Blackhawks who emerged as the second team participating in the draft.
The Canadiens will head into the 2024 NHL Upper Deck Draft in 5th place. Recall that the Habs finished bottom of the Atlantic Division’s table, consequently going into the lottery with an 8.5 percent chance of getting picked at No. 1.
Following the Draft, several reactions from the NHL media and managing staff at the Canadiens team have circulated the press. The Habs now have their eyes set on the No. 5 top-rated prospect, Cayden Lindstrom. The 18-year-old from Chetwynd, BC was quite impressive in the concluded 23/24 regular season.
Canadiens general manager, speaking in a video conference after the lottery described Macklin Celebrini’s prospect as “franchise-altering”. “But, certainly, when you’re watching — this is the third time through now for me doing it — and you had a chance to draft Connor Bedard (who went to the Blackhawks) last year and Macklin Celebrini (this year) … so they’re franchise-altering hockey players”, Mr Hughes narrated in full.
Recall that The Canadiens went for Juraj Slafkovsky, the Slovakian forward, to pick up the No.1 spot in 2022. When asked if the team needed the No. 1 pick to go after top targets, Hughes added,
“You obviously hope to win,” But the reality is the percentages of the lottery are such that the most likely outcome is that we pick sixth. So, in that regard, we’ve had good luck with the lottery.”
Several media sources following up on Hughes’s comments after the Tuesday Draft Lottery, have described them as honest reviews. Speaking of reviews, Canada’s online casino scene is known for its regular and honest reviews of casino sites from experts.
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Fun Fact: Thommie Bergman was the first European player ever drafted in the NHL. The Detroit Red Wings selected him in 1964.
For The Best Chance A Better Offense is Needed
Jim Murray: “Hockey is murder on ice.”
The Canadiens have fallen short of quality in the concluded season. However, their offensive woes stand out. The Habs only managed to rank 26th in the NHL offense ratings this season, even after getting 48 goals from their defense stars. In the light of their No. 5 overall pick, The Canadiens could have limited forward options, as the likes of Celebrini and Ivan Demidov at 1st and 2nd spots.
However, fortune could yet smile on the Habs, as they are well open to high-scoring center Cayden Lindstrom of the Medicine Hart Tigers at No. 5. As reported by The Montreal Gazette, Canadiens’ GM once again had a few words to say about their chance of winning after learning the team will be getting the No. 5 this time around.
“I think what I’ve said is all things equal we would draft a forward, and I think that remains the case,” Hughes reassured.
Canadiens’ Previous Picks.
Jim McKenny – Ice hockey veteran and broadcaster. “Half the game is mental; the other half is being mental.”
The Canadiens NHL lottery pick history is apparently a pretty interesting one, since the process took hold in 1963. The Habs have picked up the No. 1 pick a couple of times in its history, including the first round of 1963 edition, as well as that of 1971. According to some trusted NHL statistics sources, here are some of the most prominent options the Habs have gotten from their No. 1 picks this far;
- Doug Wickenheiser
- Guy Lafleur
- Juraj Slafkovsky
Asides it’s occasional No. 1 picks, The Canadiens’s lottery history doesn’t present so many highlights.
Fun Fact: The “Russian Factor” is a term used in NHL Drafts to describe the perceived risk of drafting Russian players due to concerns about their willingness and ability to play in North America.
Latest News: When is The 2024 NHL Draft Lottery
Following the Lottery and in anticipation, lots of NHL prospects and fans alike would mostly likely beg the question, when is the NHL draft lottery in 2024, in anticipation. This wait for answers has long since been over, NHL has released the details for this year’s Lottery Draft.
The event shall be hosted at the sphere in Las Vegas, from June 28th to 29th, following the completion of the primary lottery draft in May.
Final words 2024 NHL Draft Order
In the end, The Montreal Canadiens seems to be pretty satisfied with their No. 5 pick, after finishing just behind the Columbus Blue Jackets at No. 4 and the Anaheim Ducks at No. 3. Consequently, the Habs are now open to a possible center talent selection, in the 6-foot, 210-pound Cayden Lindstrom, who has been drawn at No. 5 prospect, from several authorities in the NHL.