Blog

Article content

The next few days will be crucial to whether the Canadiens’ rebuild, now entering their third full season, will ultimately be successful.

After missing the playoffs for the third consecutive year, the Canadiens are ranked No. 5 and No. 21 ahead of Friday night’s draft in Las Vegas. It is the third year in a row they have a top-5 pick after selecting forward Juraj Slafkovsky with the No. 1 pick in 2022 and defenseman David Reinbacher with the No. 5 pick last year.

Article content

On Friday afternoon, Canadiens GM Kent Hughes traded the 26th overall pick, the 57th pick (second round) and the 198th pick (seventh round) to the Los Angeles Kings for the 21st pick and moved up five spots with his second first-round pick. The Canadiens no longer have a second-round pick, but have two third-round picks.

Jeff Gorton, the Canadiens’ vice president of hockey operations, told reporters in Las Vegas on Thursday that he expected to keep his fifth pick.

“I don’t want to lie to you and say we’re 100 percent yes,” Gorton said. “But I’m confident we’ll pick five. For 24 hours, the phone is still ringing, things are happening. But listen, five is a great opportunity for us. It’s a season where you’re a lottery team. You want to take advantage of that year in the draft.”

The Canadiens have selected 20 players in the last two drafts under Hughes, including top prospects Reinbacher and fellow defenseman Lane Hutson, forwards Filip Mesar and Owen Beck, and goalie Jacob Fowler. The Canadiens also have defenseman Logan Mailloux, their first-round pick (31st overall) in 2021 when Marc Bergevin was GM.

Article content

Article content

With 10 picks in Friday’s draft – including a late first-round pick – and a plethora of young defensemen in the system, the Canadiens are well-positioned to make a trade and add at least one forward who can provide offense. The Canadiens ranked 26th in the NHL in offense last season, averaging 2.83 goals per game. Their defensemen scored 44 goals, ranking fourth in the NHL.

“I think we’re well-equipped to do deals,” Gorton said. “I feel like we’re having a lot of conversations that we probably wouldn’t be having in a different situation.”

When asked if there were any defenders he wouldn’t trade, Gorton said, “If there were any, I wouldn’t tell you. It’s hard for me to stand here and say we’d trade this guy but not that guy. I’m sure people are watching at home. We’ll watch everything. We’re trying to get better. We’re trying to win and we’re trying to move things forward, and this is a big weekend for that.”

Rounds 2 to 7 of the draft will take place on Saturday and the free agent market will open on Monday.

Article content

“We’ve been running through those scenarios to figure out what kind of players we might consider if that happens,” Gorton said when asked about free agents. “I guess we’ll see on Monday if those guys think the same way we do.”

Forward Jesse Ylönen can become a restricted free agent on Monday, and Gorton said the Canadiens will not make him a qualifying offer, meaning his days in Montreal are likely over after he was selected in the second round (35th overall) of the 2018 NHL Draft. That same year, Bergevin selected Jesperi Kotkaniemi – now with the Carolina Hurricanes – in the first round (3rd overall). Ylönen had a combined point record of 4-4-8 in 59 games with the Canadiens last season, while Kotkaniemi had a combined point record of 12-15-27 in 79 games with the Hurricanes.

Sam Reinhart, 28, and Steven Stamkos, 34, are two of the big-name forwards who can become unrestricted free agents on Monday, but Gorton said it’s too early in the rebuilding process to look at players like them.

“We’ll look at what those big names are thinking,” Gorton said. “They have to think the same way we do. We have a lot of young players developing and the opportunities they need to play and I don’t want to hamper anyone’s development for an older player on a long-term contract, something like that would delay the rebuild.”

Article content

Before the start of last season, Gorton didn’t want to use the word playoffs when talking about expectations for the team, but the Canadiens hope to accomplish enough in the next few days to speed up the rebuild and make the playoffs a goal next season.

“I think so. I think so,” Gorton said when asked if the Canadiens can make the playoffs. “I think we have the potential to get better and that’s what we’re going to try to do.”

“We’re looking at a number of scenarios that have nothing to do with the draft that could lead to that,” Gorton said when asked if he was looking to speed things up in the next few days. “That’s our job. We always want to have a better team when we come back. That’s what we’re doing, that’s what we’re in the process of looking at that scenario. Yes, it would be nice to expand the group in the future.

“We’re rebuilding the team,” Gorton added. “We’re trying to get better every day. It’s boring to say that, but it’s the truth. And then we’re trying to take advantage of every opportunity that comes our way. That’s what we’re here for.”

[email protected]

x.com/StuCowan1

Article content

Article content