Predicting the Canadian’s fifth pick in the draft is a complex exercise this year.
Montreal held the first overall pick in 2022 and despite the popular fervor towards Shane Wright, internal echoes a few weeks before the event suggested keen interest from the Canadian in Juraj Slafkovsky.
And there was no one to pull the rug out from under the CH since it held the first choice. Kent Hughes’ announcement took the public by surprise, but not necessarily the community, at least not in the days leading up to the draft.
The identity of the four choices ahead of that of the Canadian in 2023 was rather clear. Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson and Adam Fantilli were going to be picked in the top 3. Will Smith was the likely pick for San Jose at fourth overall.
Montreal was not keen on the idea of drafting Matvei Michkov. Not so much for the duration of the contract in the KHL, since the Canadian did not have big aspirations before 2026, but rather because of the behavior of the young man, on the ice, in the locker room with his teammates, and his almost total disinterest in defensive concern.
We had heard of the interest in David Reinbacher. Right-handed defenders are always a rare commodity when they are gifted with talent and the young man in his essence fit the culture of the team.
The challenge is much more perilous this summer. The Canadian is drafted fifth again, but after Macklin Celebrini, the consensus first-overall pick by the San Jose Sharks, the predictions are going in all directions. Let’s dare to create a simulated top 5 to try to see more clearly, with the little information at our disposal…
Celebrini’s name is already embroidered on the turquoise sweater.
According to reports from Chicago, management is torn between right-handed defenseman Artyom Levshunov, a strong-willed Belarusian already based in the United States with the Michigan State Spartans, and explosive Russian winger Ivan Demidov from SKA St. Petersburg. Drafting Demidov, a 6-foot, 192-pound player with 60 points in 30 junior games in St. Petersburg, would provide a top-tier winger for Connor Bedard. But Levshunov would add depth to the defense, never to be sniffed at for a rebuilding club without a single No. 1 defenseman, without taking anything away from Kevin Korchinski.
A recruiter from an Eastern club in the National League whispers to us that Ducks GM Pat Verbeek will not draft a Russian player. From the first year of his reign, in 2022, Anaheim chose Pavel Mintyukov in tenth place, he is reminded. Mintyukov, it must be remembered, was nevertheless already established in North America, with the Saginaw Spirit, in the Ontario Junior League. The Ducks are loaded with top forwards: Leo Carlsson, Mason MacTavish, Cutter Gauthier, Trevor Zegras, if he isn’t traded. Troy Terry is only 26 years old. Despite the presence of Mintyukov, Tristan Luneau, Olen Zellweger, we could eye a defender. Sam Dickinson, smoking at the Memorial Cup? Carter Yakemchuk, that big right-hander from Calgary? Or the giant Anton Silayev, despite our source’s claims?
The Blue Jackets have no particular needs, but want to get their hands on a star, a source whispers to us. If the Blackhawks ever opt for defenseman Levshunov, Demidov meets the profile sought by Columbus. But if this one ends up in Chicago, will we go for one of the best forwards available, center Cayden Lindstrom, 6-foot-3, 210 pounds, 46 points, including 27 goals, in 32 games at Medicine Hat despite a herniated disc? Or will we be tempted by Levshunov?
Montreal will preferably draft an attacker. Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton have made no secret of it in recent months. If Ivan Demidov or Cayden Lindstrom are available at fifth, they could well be the Canadian’s target. If they are already drafted, Montreal could turn to a defenseman, right-hander Levshunov or left-hander Zeev Buium, 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, 50 points in 42 games in his first season at the University of Denver. Can a club have too many good defenders?
So. It’s the best we can do. The picture will already be slightly clearer from the Blackhawks’ choice at second place. Hidden cards like defenseman Zayne Parekh, 107 points in 79 points, series included in Saginaw, in the Ontario Junior League, or winger Beckett Sennecke, dominant in Oshawa in the second half of the season, can also confuse the issue .
This first round of the draft, Friday evening, will be as exciting as possible!
The venerable Bob McKenzie has just released his final rankings ahead of the draft. This is not a mock draft, but a list of the best players available, concocted after surveying ten NHL club scouts. Here are his top 15: