Équipe: 2023-24 Canadiens de Montréal

Date de création initiale: 12 mai 2023

Publié: 12 mai 2023

Mode - plafond salarial: Basique

I am not sure what the Habs are gonna do at 5OA and honestly I really trust this management team. I will also add that Gorton, as far as I know, has never traded back - but I think this year it might make sense, if (and only if) they are presented with a choice between Michkov & Benson on the draft floor.

Why not Michkov?

Call me a conspiracy theorist if you want, I prefer to see myself as a realist. It would not be the first time the Russian government enslaved an athlete and it won't be the last. Not worth the risk.

Why not Benson?

He's a great player by all accounts. There is no questioning his heart or commitment, and certainly not his talent. His size really concerns me, especially if the team intends to keep Caufield long term. We need to get bigger not smaller.

What could we get?

It's entirely reasonable to think we could target deals with teams like Detroit or St-Louis and pull in a top 10 pick (9 or 10) and another one or two picks (16-20) or (21-28 & a 2nd)

The top 10 pick will still being in an assuredly good player, probably more of a Dvorsky or Reinbacher. Not a game breaker, but a serious contributor to this team in the medium and long term.

There is also a ton of great players in the 16-60 range of this draft. Forwards, Defensemen, Goalies. We could select 4-5 times in the top 60, and that is a great way to find players who outperform their draft pedigree.

Final thought

While we don't have game-breaking talent at Center, this team for the first time in a long time does not "need" a Center. Between Zuke, Dach, Beck, and possibly PLD, we will have a good to great center line for many years. Our needs on he other hand are at wing, at RHD, and at Goalie. There are plenty of those guys who will be effective in the NHL at 9-60.

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