Can HuGo exceed expectations for the 2024 draft window?

June 26, 2024

It’s been two years since the management duo of Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton entered their first amateur draft for the Montreal Canadiens. Montreal was the host and the Canadiens held the first overall pick.

Shane Wright was projected to go first overall, but Hughes took to the microphone and made jaws drop when he called Juraj Slafkovsky’s name. It seemed unfathomable that the Habs, owners of a giant hole at the centre position, would pass up on the opportunity to draft a player projected to become a first line centreman.

It all made sense when Gary Bettman stepped up to announce two trades that essentially converted defenseman Alexander Romanov and draft picks into Kirby Dach. The Habs landed their big pivot after all.

The Habs went on to draft Filip Mesar and Owen Beck, and what might become the steal of the draft when they nabbed Lane Hutson in the second round. HuGo killed their first draft.

Their second draft last summer was not quite as punchy, but the desire to be aggressive with their assets was still obvious. After being in the Pierre-Luc Dubois discussion, they dealt for Alex Newhook in the days leading up to the draft.

When the forwards they coveted were gone in the top four picks, the Habs made noise when they selected right-shot defender David Reinbacher over Matvei Michkov. HuGo went on to land a top goalie prospect in Jacob Fowler, and selected some diamonds in the rough in Florian Xhekaj and Bogdan Konyushkov.

It’s abundantly obvious that HuGo likes to use the draft window to make trades to improve the Habs. No wonder they are rumoured to be interested in every big name on the market.

Here are three moves HuGo can make to exceed fan expectations for the 2024 draft window.

Win the Rutger McGroarty sweepstakes.

Another prospect who took the college hockey route is reportedly at odds with the team who drafted him. In this case, it sounds like the bone of contention is the conservative approach the Winnipeg Jets take with young players. Finding a place for McG in their line up should have been a priority for the Jets, but since it wasn’t the Habs might be able to capitalize.

I wonder if Justin Barron and the second round pick would be enough to entice Winnipeg? That would mean HuGo converted Artturi Lehkonen into a young power forward. It may take more, but if the habs are going to overpay somewhere, this is the spot to do it.

Make the sexy pick.

Sexy is, of course, in the eye of the beholder. Where draft picks are concerned, sexy may be in the eye of the prophet.

Once again the Habs may be in a difficult spot at fifth overall, with coveted forwards off the board. This is the summer to take a risk. There are risks associated with taking Demidov because they lose control of his development. Lindstrom may be risky because of his health. Senneke and Iginla could be spun as risks because they arguably involve a reach.

What if the guy available at five is Anton Silayev. Does that selection free them to deal Kaiden Guhle for Trevor Zegras or Martin Necas? Might they also be able to move Josh Anderson in that kind of deal?

Whatever the reaction from fans and pundits, HuGo has to take their best swing and make the sexy pick.

Convert assets to move up in the first round.

In the past two drafts, the Habs have used the late first at their disposal to trade for NHL-ready players. This might be the year to package Winnipeg’s first to move up and draft another player. Two goal scorers – Cole Eiserman and Berkley Catton – are candidates to fall a little and the Habs should be on that.

This may be the last draft of this rebuild where the Habs can draft in the top five. HuGo will be looking to make a splash. It might be the biggest we’ve seen from them to date.