Considering it costs a pretty penny to move up in any NHL Draft, it would seem logical that moving up in a particularly deep one could cost an arm and a leg. As such, hearing that the Montreal Canadiens aren’t exactly chomping at the bit to move additional picks to slide up a few spots is not surprising. After all, where they sit in this year’s NHL Entry Draft, they’re bound to get a fairly good player.
According to Marc Antoine Godin of The Athletic Montreal, the Canadiens have made it clear they’re not looking to move up. Clearly, if there’s a deal on the table and too good to pass up, one would assume they’ll look. But, Bergevin is heading into the draft with no plans or desires to shuffle picks in an effort to secure the chance to virtually call out a name a few minutes earlier than expected.
The Canadiens GM explained:
“I don’t like to trade up. With what’s in the draft right now and all the players that are available, I’ve talked to Trevor (Timmins) and we see a good player at 16 if we don’t move.”
Names like Dawson Mercer, Kaiden Guhle, Seth Jarvis, Connor Zary, Braden Schneider, Hendrix Lapierre, Rodion Amirov and others will be available when the Canadiens come around to their selection. There’s no reason not to take a good player and once it gets past the first six-or-so names, it’s anyone’s guess.
The Canadiens Will Come Away With Good Players
The Canadiens have 11 picks in this year’s draft. Five of them are slotted in the first three rounds. Does that mean the Canadiens won’t make a trade? Of course they might. After all, Bergevin didn’t say he wouldn’t trade for a roster player or move down in the draft.
The Canadiens have some business to take care beyond picks and the draft is never a bad place to try and do it.
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