NHL Draft 2024: bad news for the Canadiens from the Blue Jackets

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Elias Edmonson
June 2, 2024 (9:51)

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At the end of the month, Kent Hughes and the Canadiens will make a major acquisition in the first round of the National Hockey League draft.

Ideally, with the fifth overall pick, Montreal would have the opportunity to select a high-quality forward, like Cayden Lindstrom or Ivan Demidov, which would be truly extraordinary for the rebuild.

However, the Columbus Blue Jackets apparently intend to throw a wrench in the plans of Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton.

Their new general manager, Don Waddell, who is also the man behind the offer sheet made to Jesperi Kotkaniemi (and victim of the Canadiens' offer sheet to Sebastian Aho), has just made a major statement.

Don Waddell and the Columbus Blue Jackets could really draft a forward with the 4th overall pick in the first round of the 2024 draft

While most experts believed they were going to draft a defenseman, which would have been ideal for the Canadiens, Waddell just mentioned this:

"It is much easier to clean up your defensive zone than to try to find pure goal scorers. I think that's where we need to focus from the start."

- Don Waddell, who added that it wouldn't be surprising if his team drafted a forward

This will obviously have a major impact on the Canadiens, especially if they see a Cayden Lindstrom or an Ivan Demidov taken with the 4th overall pick, just before their 5th pick.

So this will be a story to follow!

Credit : HABSolumentFan - Les Blue Jackets pourraient repêcher un attaquant si on se fie aux paroles de Don Waddell