As December approached, Montreal Canadiens fans clung to hopes of a top-five draft pick, a prospect that has dimmed. The team still has opportunities for an early pick in 2025, especially due to the conditional first-round pick from the Sean Monahan trade. While the Florida Panthers are playoff-bound, the Calgary Flames’ uncertain fate may benefit the Canadiens. With two first-round picks, General Manager Kent Hughes has the opportunity to draft strategically, despite general managers’ caution regarding the 2025 draft class.
The Montreal Canadiens’ Draft Prospects: What Lies Ahead
As December rolled around, fans of the Montreal Canadiens found solace in the possibility of securing a top-five pick in the upcoming draft. However, that hope has since faded. Despite this, the Canadiens still hold the potential to draft early in 2025, even as the spring season stretches ahead.
It’s essential to remember that the acquisition of Sean Monahan in the summer of 2022 not only brought him to Montreal but also secured a crucial first-round pick from the Calgary Flames, laden with various conditions. Rather than diving into the complexities of these conditions, let’s focus on the key takeaway: if the Flames and the Florida Panthers’ draft picks for 2025 fall outside the top ten, the Canadiens will receive the better of the two options.
Flames’ Playoff Hopes and the Canadiens’ Strategy
The Florida Panthers are almost certain to make the playoffs, but the fate of the Flames remains uncertain. While it seems likely that the Flames will miss the playoffs, they may not fall to the bottom of the standings—a situation that could work in the Canadiens’ favor.
In a twist of fate, if the Flames happen to win the lottery, the Canadiens would receive the Panthers’ pick instead. Ideally, for the Tricolore, the Flames would struggle in the standings and narrowly miss the playoffs, positioning their pick just outside the top ten after the lottery concludes.
Currently, the Flames occupy a precarious position as one of the 16 teams in the NHL without a guaranteed playoff spot, boasting 82 points from 73 games. They are closely pursued by teams like the Vancouver Canucks and Utah HC, making their playoff journey challenging. With their sights set on the postseason, the Flames trail the St. Louis Blues by five points, a team that has been exceptionally strong lately. However, the Flames have two games in hand, leaving their fate still up in the air.
Ultimately, even if Martin St-Louis’s squad performs well and clinches a playoff spot, the Canadiens still have a viable chance to draft within the top 15. With two first-round picks at their disposal, General Manager Kent Hughes could maneuver strategically to target a player of interest in the top ten or even the top five.
It’s worth noting that general managers seem hesitant about the 2025 draft class. The recent acquisition of several picks for 2026 during the last trade deadline signals this caution.
Understanding the Draft Order
The process for establishing the draft order is as follows: positions 1 to 16 are allocated to the teams that miss the playoffs, arranged in reverse order of the regular season standings. A lottery is then conducted for the first and second overall picks, with a rule that prevents any team from moving up more than ten spots.
Positions 17 to 32 are assigned to playoff teams. Specifically, positions 17 to 28 go to the 12 teams eliminated in the first two rounds, ranked similarly to the non-playoff teams, while division champions follow. Positions 29 and 30 are reserved for the teams losing in the conference finals, with the 31st spot going to the team that falls in the Stanley Cup finals, and the champions claiming the 32nd position.