Hughes and Gorton's plan for the next NHL draft has already been revealed: it says a lot about the organization's intentions
At a press conference on Monday, goaltender Carey Price spoke to the media and although he is not considering retirement in the short term, it is becoming increasingly clear that he will not be able to make a return to the game.
This puts the Habs in a rather precarious situation in front of the net and even if Jake Allen has given good performances since the beginning of the season, he cannot be considered as the future goaltender of the organization.
The same goes for Samuel Montembeault, Cayden Primeau and the other goalies in the organization, which means that for the first time in ages, the Habs are not really counting on a successor for Carey Price.
But it could very well be that this situation could change before too long. As reported by Keven Mawn of Fanadiens.com, tipster Eric Engels said that Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton's priority may well be to unearth the rare gem in front of the net in the upcoming NHL draft.
This means that the Habs are indeed preparing for the post-Carey Price era within the organization.
The 2023 crop could be one of the best in the last twenty years and all eyes will be on a certain Connor Bedard. As for the goaltending position, no goaltender is among the top prospects, but it would be quite surprising if the Habs decided to select a goaltender in the first round.
While it's rare to see a goalie drafted in the first round, Hughes and Gorton will have plenty of time between now and then to evaluate the team's personnel and find a new gem in net.
| POLL | ||
Will the Canadiens have to choose a goalie in the next draft? | ||
| Yes | 150 | 73.9 % |
| No | 53 | 26.1 % |
| List of polls | ||
