Will Kent Hughes steal the show in the draft for a second year in a row? Over the past few days, rumors have been circulating that the Habs are actively trying to improve their selection rank.
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From the fifth rank he currently occupies, it is said that he would like to advance to fourth, held by the San Jose Sharks. A possibility raised by colleague Alexandre Gascon, of Radio-Canada Sports, and confirmed by a source gravitating in the upper echelons of an NHL team.
“The Canadian is very aggressive to climb in the top four. He is ready to pay dearly, said this source. We will not hide it. The player the Canadian wants is Will Smith. »
The problem is that everyone is of the opinion that there will be a break in the level of talent available from the fifth rank. It is said that Connor Bedard, Adam Fantilli, Leo Carlsson and Smith are, for now, ahead of the parade. Not to mention the hot potato represented by Matvei Michkov, who many see as one of the best prospects available, but who is much more risky.
Does Hughes have what it takes in his organization to entice Sharks counterpart Mike Grier? It would seem so. Especially on the blue line where the Habs are full of hopes.
“With all the young defensemen there are in the Canadiens network, it could definitely be one or two of them in addition to two draft picks. Logan Mailloux, maybe? I don’t think he would fit with a Canadiens jersey on his back, ”said a recruiter contacted by the Journal.
The hunt for Fantilli?
Some even speak of a jump to second place, a choice that currently belongs to the Anaheim Ducks. By climbing to second place, the general manager of the Canadian would ensure at the same time to be able to claim Adam Fantilli, the young sensation of the Wolverines of the University of Michigan, winner of the Hobey-Baker trophy, given to the player par excellence of the NCAA .
Photo Micheline Veluvolu
At 6’2″ and 187 lbs (for now), the 18-year-old Ontarian would be a more than interesting complement to a formation led by Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield, two small forwards, and whose center line is not the strongest.
Fantilli is said to have above average vision and sense of play. Dominating when in possession of the puck due to his speed allowing him to create space in the neutral zone, he is not afraid to use his physicality to protect it and to make his way to the opposing net. .
Recruiters with whom The newspaper spoke also praised his hard work and his ability to adapt to different roles.
Last year, in his first season in the university ranks, Fantilli led the scoring column with 65 points, including 30 goals in 36 games. It was five points more than Logan Cooley, chosen third overall by the Arizona Coyotes in the draft held at the Bell Centre.
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A threesome dance
FILE PHOTO, AFP
Obviously, the Ducks will not let such a phenomenon pass without demanding the moon in return. It will take more than a reversal of choice, the other right to speak held by the Canadian in the first round (31e rank, acquired from the Panthers) and some hopes to convince Pat Verbeek, the general manager of the Ducks. If the Panthers had missed the playoffs, it would already be more enticing, but that was not the case. Far from there.
Last year, to acquire the 13e overall pick, Hughes had to send Alexander Romanov and a fourth-round pick to the New York Islanders. Then he immediately traded that pick to the Chicago Blackhawks, along with a third-round pick, for the services of Kirby Dach.
If he really wants to advance to second place, Hughes may have to once again organize a three-team waltz. Because there does not seem to be in his training an established player or a young rising star who will make Verbeek’s eyes widen, apart from Suzuki, Caufield and Kaiden Guhle, whom the Canadian will certainly not want to part with.
A rarely traded choice
In the last 40 years, only four GMs have managed to convince a counterpart to give him the second overall pick. In the vast majority of cases, the transaction involved an already established player.
2001: Ottawa, Jason Spezza
The Senators acquire the first-round pick (second overall) from the Islanders, along with Zdeno Chara and a man named Bill Muckalt, in exchange for Alexei Yashin.
1999: Vancouver, Daniel Sedin
After completing a trade involving three draft picks to get their hands on the first-ever pick (the Lightning), the Canucks traded that top pick for the Thrashers (second overall) and a conditional third-round pick in 2000. Brian Burke, the GM of the Canucks, thus manages to fish out the twins Daniel and Henrik Sedin in the second and third ranks.
1998: Nashville, David Legwand
The Predators acquire the first-round pick (second overall) from the Sharks (previously acquired from the Lightning), along with their third-round pick (85e) of 1998, in return for their 1998 first-round (third) pick and their second-round pick (29e) of 1998.
1993: Hartford, Chris Pronger
Whalers acquire first-round pick (second overall) from Sharks for Sergei Makarov, their 1993 first-round pick (sixth overall), 1993 second-round pick (45e) and their 1993 third-round pick (58e).