1st overall – Juraj Slafkovski
Degree: A
The Montreal Canadiens liked what they saw in their evaluation of Slafkowski and took him number one. He’s a big, strong puck-carrying player with good hands and a strong work ethic whose trajectory developed as the season progressed.
There is a lot to like about Slafkovský and the main thing for me is his level of play in the home zone where his puck skills and size will be invaluable.
Slafkovský’s confidence was on full display a week before the draft, as he boldly stated that he would fit in well with Cole Caufiled and Nick Suzuki, and he quickly endeared himself to Montreal fans with quotes and high-fives throughout the evening.
However, one of the best things I heard was that he will get AHL time if he needs it; no need to rush it. I personally don’t think he will have to go down that path, but I think it’s important that the club and the fans don’t see this as a step backwards for his development. I think he’s ready for the NHL and that he’ll be on the ice on opening night. However, he has only played a limited number of games at senior level and could use the time in the minors to regain some rest and confidence if the slump hits him hard.
Trade – Alexander Romanov and 98th pick for 13th overall; 13th and 66th pick for Kirby Dach
Grade: A-
I will combine these trades together for obvious reasons.
What’s interesting is the answer to the question Eric Engels asked in the press conference after the first day: the deal was agreed upon before the first overall pick. He fits the need for a center, and Montreal gets a young draft pick to fill one of the top six positions.
Losing Romanov hurts on a personal level, but his trade value has only been higher once: the spring when he left Russia after winning the Gagarin Cup with CSKA, when he was an unknown commodity.
It’s a smart move, especially considering the depth of defense Montreal currently has.
The important thing here is that if Montreal gets Dach to work out, then they are set up for success down the line. But what if he doesn’t?
I like these deals though.
26th overall – Philippe Meshard
Degree: A
I like this choice. It might be a little early, but in the consolidated draft rankings that Jared Book put together, Mešár was ranked 26th.
A low, smart wing with a good to great shot…where have we heard that before? Let me tell you right now, this is the new Arturi Lehkonen. The one thing fans need to remember, though, is that it took Lehkonen four years to get to the NHL, and I expect a pretty long road for Meshar to get there as well. The important word is patience.
The smart move here by the Canadiens was to select Meshar in the first round, which means he can go to the AHL next season. Montreal has full control over his development and since he was drafted out of Europe, Montreal has four years to sign him.
33rd overall – Owen Beck
Degree: A
Adding another center is always good, and Owen Beck has a toolkit that should be good for his development. He’s one of the best skaters in the draft, strong in the faceoff circle, and is more or less a sure bet to enter the NHL with at least a bottom-six position.
With good development, and really making sure his brain, hands and eyes catch up to his feet, could see Beck reach an even higher spot in the lineup, especially if it comes with a touch to score.
As with Meshard, patience is key to Beck’s development.
62nd overall – Lane Hutson
Grade: B+ (but could very well become an A+ down the line).
It’s a swing for the fences. The undersized defenseman has skills that could translate into an NHL career. He reads the game extremely well, his positioning is more or less perfect, he uses his stick to break up passes and steal the puck, and he controls the puck well to get in and out of the zone.
He is a dynamo, or cobra, in the offensive zone as he glides around, finding empty ice and scoring chances. It’s a really interesting pick, and the fact that he brought a doctor’s note that he’s still growing shows that he’s eager to prove that he has what it takes to be an NHLer. Right now, size is what got him drafted outside of the top 15. maybe even in the top 10. I like swinging for the fences and want this kid to succeed.
75th overall – Vincenz Rohrer
Degree: B
Exactly where Rohrer was expected to go in our consensus rankings is where Montreal grabbed him. He plays with an edge, but he’s very smart about it and looks more physical than his build might suggest. He’s a versatile player who never quits, and those are skills that are needed if you want to make it to the NHL from that position. My colleagues at McKeen’s have been raving about Rohrer all spring.
I understand the choice. This is not a pick-the-fences swing, but rather one to get on base. It’s easy to project into the future.
92nd overall – Adam Engstrom
Grade: C+
It’s easy to forget Engstrom is on the ice at times as he fades from the spotlight. He knows what he needs to work on — defense and offense — but his transition game is there, and that’s what Montreal is counting on.
Engström left Djurgården for Rögle, which is a good move. In recent years, Rögle has become a good destination for young players to take the next step forward. I don’t see Engstrom becoming a top-four defenseman, but more of a useful secondary if — and that’s a big if — he can work out his defense.
I’d prefer another high-risk pick here, and that’s the reason for the lower rating.
127th overall – Cedric Guindon
Grade: B+
This is a choice I really like. Guindon has tools and projection that could lead to the NHL. A player’s intelligence can really help him develop further, and his two weaknesses are his skating and physicality, two things that are fixable. You can learn to skate better and you can build muscle.
The AHL has a lot of guys like Guindon, as do the European leagues; guys who are on the verge of making it to the NHL and in the right situation get a chance and can regularly become part of an NHL team. It’s a smart choice in that regard.
128th overall – Traded to Vegas for a 2023 fourth-round pick
Good deal and rare for a 2023 selection. It adds a mid-round pick for next year.
130th overall – Jared Davidson
Grade: B-
When you draft an older guy this early in the draft, you look at the trajectory, and the one thing Davidson has is just that; he’s gotten better offensively with each passing year. The center has gone all-in offensively and looks to continue to progress along that path.
It’s an interesting pick, Montreal undoubtedly saw something in him as they selected him earlier than the second and third year players further down the order.
There wasn’t a notable prospect I would take on at this level of the project, so picking one with a positive trajectory and more data available is a smart move.
162nd overall – Emmett Croteau
Degree: B
Croteau is a big time goaltender from the USHL and the NCAA route will give the Canadiens four years to evaluate him. This is a pick you’d expect Montreal to make in previous drafts, and you can see the logic in selecting a goaltender for future development here.
From what my goalie friends tell me, the numbers are kind of what you’d expect from a high school goalie. With netminders like Jakub Dobes, Joe Vrbetic and Frederik Dichow in the bullpen, there’s nothing wrong with adding another long-term option.
194th overall – Peteri Nurmi
Grade: C-
The one thing I like about this type of pick is that you’re taking a seventh round pick and using it on a player with a positive trajectory. We’ve seen Montreal do the same before; Arsen Khisamutdinov, as an example. By using a pick, you get the rights to a player for a few years and don’t have to fight others for him on the open market.
Although Petteri Nurmi is not a flashy player, he was on the WJC team this winter. He plays in League for HPK and it’s a good move to keep him there. I’m not sure about this pick, especially since Elite Prospects contributor Laci Alanen doesn’t see much upside from it:
Petteri Nurmi to MTL at #194. Went from playing at U18 level two years ago to being a League regular this season. I don’t see much upside with this choice though. Double overager with limited offensive skills. I guess you are betting on the upward curve of development. #GoHabsGo
— Lassi Alanen (@lassialanen) July 8, 2022
I like the older blocking strategy here, I’m just not sure Nurmi is the player to focus on as I don’t see exceptional skill in any aspect of his game.
216th overall – Miguel Turini
Degree: A
Again, taking an older guy with a seventh round pick is smart thinking and I like that pick. As a defenseman, Tourigny has a nose for goals but needs to work on his skating, especially for a shorter player. He thinks offensively most of the time and has skills in the playmaking area as well.
The question that arises in this case is whether it can translate to the NHL. Probably not why he almost went undrafted, but it’s a home run swing that’s totally understandable. I’m sure Turini will play professional hockey in his career, but will the Montreal Canadiens take advantage of this. Either way, I like the choice.
Overall, I think this is an excellent project for the new management with Kent Hughes at the helm. While the organization may not have taken a center with the first pick, they lined up a center via trade and selected the player they believed in the most: Juraj Slafkowski.
While adding Kirby Dach to the team cost Alexander Romanov, it’s a deal that makes sense. Our podcast defensive expert, Jason Paul, pointed out that Romanov’s days as a top six defenseman in the organization may be numbered. The Habs have not been able to determine if Romanov…
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