Before drafting defender David Reinbacher fifth in June 2023, the Canadian received at least two offers to move back a few places in return for an additional choice that we guess is in the second round. Montreal said no. A year earlier, CH tried unsuccessfully to climb a few ranks at the end of the first round. He drafted Filip Mesar at 26e rank.
Every year, a team or two, sometimes three, use strategy to get their hands on a favorite or accumulate additional picks. Opinions are divided on this method. It sometimes gives rise to spectacular strokes of brilliance, but also resounding failures.
The previous administration, under Marc Bergevin, was not very fond of sacrificing choices to move forward. Under Bob Gainey and Pierre Gauthier, in 2010, the Canadian offered his 27e pick at the end of the first round and a pick at the end of the second round, at 57e rank, to get your hands on Jarred Tinordi at 22e.
The strategy was not costly as the Coyotes inherited two marginal players with these picks. The Canadian just didn’t bet on the right horse: Kevin Hayes (24e), Charlie Coyle (28e), Brock Nelson (30e) and Justin Faulk (37e) were still available. *Evgeny Kuznetsov (26e) as well, but we were at the height of fears with the KHL players and the Capitals, with a leader like Alex Ovechkin, were ready to take the risk.
In two vintages, the new administration has not yet had the opportunity to reveal to us which strategy it favored. But we can guess which one given his efforts to advance to the end of the first round in 2022.
VP of hockey operations Jeff Gorton and his accomplice Nick Bobrov have also done the trick twice with the Rangers. In 2018, New York traded its second-round pick, 48e overall, to the Ottawa Senators to move up four spots and draft defenseman K’Andre Miller at 22e rank.
The Senators drafted defenseman Jacob Bernard-Docker at 26e rank and Jonny Tychonick at 48e. At almost 24 years old, Bernard-Docker remains a marginal defender in Ottawa. Tychonick plays in the ECHL. Miller, 6-foot-5 and 210 pounds, is one of the pillars on defense in New York. Only Adam Fox plays more in the playoffs among the backs.
Two years later, same strategy. Gorton surrenders to the Calgary Flames on 71e choice, ninth in the third round, to move from 22e at 19e rank and draft another defenseman, Braden Schneider. This 6-foot-3, 211-pound right-handed guard isn’t known for his offensive prowess, but he’s already been a regular in New York for two seasons, at just 22 years old.
The Flames fell back again in the 22nde rank. They received another third round pick to move up to 24e rank. The Capitals drafted Hendrix Lapierre in 22e place, Calgary Connor Zary at 24e Ranking, defenders Jérémie Poirier and Jake Boltmann with third-round picks. Time will tell who will come out on top.
Consider this hypothetical scenario. After being drafted in fifth place, the Canadian benefits from another choice, at 26e rank, that of the Winnipeg Jets obtained for Sean Monahan. Los Angeles prepares to speak on 21e rank. The Kings are more or less packed with available players and don’t have any second or third round picks. Montreal realizes that at this rank there is always among the competing hopes a player classified in the top 10 on his list. Should he take the chance and give up the 57e choice in total, at the end of the second round, to advance five places and get your hands on your favorite?
However, you need to have flair to pull off such shots. In 2019, the Arizona Coyotes, under GM John Chayka, traded their 14e choice and the 45e to the Philadelphia Flyers to move to 11e rank and draft defenseman Victor Soderstrom. Philadelphia drafted Cam York at 14the rank and used the second-round pick to move up and get his hands on forward Bobby Brink early in the second round. York is already at the heart of the Flyers’ success, with Soderstrom still in the American League.
Among the best moves, the Dallas Stars trade 29e choice in 2017, and the 70e to the Chicago Blackhawks to draft goaltender Jake Oettinger at 26e rank. Oettinger quickly became one of the best goalies in the NHL. Henri Jokiharju, the Hawks’ choice at 29e rank, is not a bad defender, but he was probably traded too quickly to Buffalo for Alexander Nylander. The choice at 70e rank, a certain Andrei Altybarmakyan, will never play in the National League.
In 2016, the Coyotes advanced for the first time under Chayka. This one exchanges his 20e and 53e choice to draft defender Jakob Chychrun at 16e rank. The Red Wings are not making the right decision in 20e place with Dennis Cholowski but catch up at 53e rank with Filip Hronek.
That same year, the Blues traded the 28e and 87e (in the third round) to draft Tage Thompson at 26e rank. Thompson served as bait a few years later to get Ryan O’Reilly from the Sabers and became a premier center in Buffalo. The Capitals drafted Lucas Johansen and Garrett Pilon with the St. Louis picks. Both are American League players.
In 2015, the Flyers gave a second round pick to the Maple Leafs, at 61e rank, to move from 29e at 24e rank. Travis Konecny is still their best striker today. Toronto fell back again and ended up with Travis Dermott, Martins Dzierkals and Jeremy Bracco. Only Dermott reached the NHL, in a supporting role.
A year earlier, Chicago this time gave its 27e and 61e choice (third round) to draft Nick Schmaltz at 20e rank. Schmaltz has since been traded to the Coyotes for Dylan Strome, but he is a premier forward in the National League.
Rare example of failure, in 2013, San Jose gave up its choices at 20e and 58e rank to draft defender Mirco Mueller at 18e rank. The Red Wings get their hands on Anthony Mantha and Tyler Bertuzzi with these picks. Mueller has been playing in Switzerland for three years after 185 lackluster games in San Jose and New Jersey.
If given the opportunity, Montreal will undoubtedly try to improve its position at the end of the first round.
Quote of the day
When we arrived in Carolina, it was the same. We had good pieces. It wasn’t like we had to change everything. There are enough good elements here, you just need to understand why [les Blue Jackets] had such a record last year. We can relaunch this team quickly.
Don Waddell, the new president and general manager of the Blue Jackets.
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