Now that the NHL’s Draft Lottery has begun, the Montreal Canadiens can start to make preparations ahead of the actual NHL Entry Draft. The team is poised to take the next step in their rebuild, which means the upcoming draft may be the last time they have an opportunity to add top talent to the prospect pool.
The Canadiens will pick fifth overall in 2024.
Montreal held the fifth-best odds heading into the lottery, however, given that 10 teams could potentially move up after the lottery results, their position in the draft was far from a guarantee.
The complete NHL Draft Lottery odds for the Habs were as follows.
First Overall: 8.5 per cent
Second Overall: 8.6 per cent
Third Overall: 0.3 per cent
Fourth Overall: N/A
Fifth Overall: 24.5 per cent
Sixth Overall: 44 per cent
Seventh Overall: 14.2 per cent
The 2024 NHL Entry Draft is projected to be a talented crop of players, with several high-end defencemen among the list of skilled forwards available.
Bob McKenzie recently released his annual draft list, giving Habs fans some insight as to the type of players that should be available once the Habs take to the podium.
Seeing as the Canadiens focused on drafting and acquiring defencemen in recent years, there’s a high likelihood they will end up picking a forward, but we can never discount the idea of picking a defenceman if he happens to be the best player available.
Macklin Celebrini heads the list of available talent, but forwards such as Berkly Catton and Cayden Lindstrom are probably more realistic targets for the Canadiens.
As it stands, the Habs own 12 picks in the upcoming NHL Entry Draft, which will take place in Las Vegas, Nevada, between June 28 and 29.
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