MTL wins 2nd OA

Team: 2022-23 Montreal Canadiens

Initial Creation Date: Apr. 22, 2022

Published: Apr. 22, 2022

Salary Cap Mode: Basic

MTL wins 2nd OA behind PHI who steals #1 in the Draft Lotto IMO
Hughes trades #2OA to BUF who drew 6th OA and 18th OA

Nemec fixes our RD depth longterm joing Barron and Mailloux as top 3 RD prospects
Hughes has Chemistry established with Harris and Struble as a bonus and will fit nicely in our depth chart as a Eller like Center who offensively contributes but his Faceoffs and DZ play is what he'll becomes a work horse for MTL(High NHL upside according to Dobber with slim hopes for top 6 role)

Why would Hughes do this?
Not for the reasons you'd think as whether he takes his son with that 2nd pick or another player the motivation here is to trade down for a player we need rather then drafting them early like MB did and risking a bust of a top 3 pick for the 3/3rd time since Molson took Ownership(its just a safer approach)

Why i think he'll take his son is cause he's got Chemistry with some of our D already but also because of the timing of his development. He'll be ready for the NHL in his 1st or 2nd year pro likely starting in the AHL right around when Evans and Dvoraks deals are up. With the Center depth we have i think its just a smart move unless a Savoie ,Cooley or Lambert somehow falls to this pick then Hughes is just the best option available in that position

As great as a Slafkvosky or Savoie would be at #2 OA i just dont think they're as needed as Nemec will be going forward. Worst Case Scenario Jiricek is a RD ranked similar to Nemec who is more of a Edmundston then a Petry type but still would address our biggest issue. We can always take Ingram with the CGY pick who offers similar upside to Slafkvosky but is much further behind as he switched from Junior to USHL exploding in their system. He's had a huge growth spirt but hasnt put on any weight yet but has adjusted well to his 3 inches in height he gained so im expecting that will continue as he packs on muscle. He'll take 2-3 years longer to get to the NHL but if developed Properly he's got size and speed with good hands

By Trading this pick Hughes in 1 draft will have filled all MTL's holes for the next 3 years at all levels with 2 firsts in the next draft to boot. Keep selling off Veterans and using our cap to our advantage without wasting it on UFA's until we see where all our youth are at.


After this season is done (2022-23) then MTL will take the cap they've acquired with 5m coming off Goalie's contracts alone coupled with the 6.6m already cleared. Some will go to Caufield although about 6 months after he signs Hoffman and Eddy will be traded unless we're serious contenders and they make themselves indesposable. This also leaves room for youth in the AHL to come up and push players out provoking a trade early. In the end a lot relies on Nemec or Jiricek making a NHL debut within 1-2 years of being drafted which is a pretty tall order i admit

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