Historically, Picks 16 and 17 Haven’t Favored the Canadiens
Unless a trade occurs—a very real possibility—Kent Hughes and his team are currently positioned to select 16th and 17th in the upcoming NHL Draft, scheduled for June 27–28 in Los Angeles.
While there could be some solid prospects available at those slots, many observers doubt the Canadiens will actually keep the picks. The team is in need of a second-line center, and holding two mid-round picks consecutively presents a prime opportunity to strike a deal.
If someone like Justin Carbonneau were still available at No. 16, the Habs would likely waste no time making that selection.
That said, the franchise doesn’t have a strong track record at these draft positions. Aside from Kaiden Guhle—picked 16th in 2020—there’s not much to celebrate.
Players like Nathan Beaulieu and Andrew Cassels had decent careers, but their best years came after leaving Montreal. Beaulieu appeared in 225 games with the Canadiens before playing 246 elsewhere. Cassels notched 732 career points, but only 27 came in a Habs uniform.
Other former picks at these spots—Marcel Hossa, Eric Chouinard, Brent Bilodeau, Tom Chorske, and Alfie Turcotte—failed to make a lasting impact in Montreal. There’s hope the 2025 selections (if the Canadiens keep them) will have a more significant influence.
Despite past disappointments, quality talent has been found at 16 and 17 in recent years—players like Jakob Chychrun (2016), Vladimir Tarasenko (2010), and both Mathew Barzal and Kyle Connor (2015) prove that point.
