We've just learned what the Canadiens will need to trade to move up in the draft
We are now just a few days away from the NHL draft, and Canadiens fans have every reason to be optimistic.
As you know, Kent Hughes holds two first-round picks this year, the 5th and 26th overall, and everyone knows that the organization is looking for offensive reinforcements for the upcoming season.
However, some analysts have examined the Canadiens' current situation, and some of them wonder if the Habs could consider trading their second first-round pick to move up in the first round.
Here's what Kent Hughes should trade to move up from the 26th overall pick to draft a second time in the top 15 of the 2024 NHL draft's first round
This scenario was discussed by Marc-Antoine Godin and Arpon Basu from The Athletic, who revisited some past trades of this nature to determine the value placed by NHL general managers to move up in the first round of the draft.
In the Basu & Godin Notebook podcast, they cited the Detroit Red Wings, who in 2021, moved from the 22nd spot to the 14th spot in the first round to select the towering goalie Sebastian Cossa.
But to achieve this, Steve Yzerman also had to give the Dallas Stars a second-round pick and a fifth-round pick, and let's say this trade has so far been in favor of the Stars, who selected a certain Wyatt Johnston with the 22nd pick.
In essence, if Kent Hughes wants to move up in this year's first round, he will likely have to sacrifice his second first-round pick (26th), a second-round pick, and probably another pick in the 2024 draft.
But it's important to note that this kind of trade would allow the Canadiens to acquire another prospect available in the draft and not an already established player, which contradicts the plan proposed by several experts.
Unless Kent Hughes has another trick up his sleeve and announces an unexpected personnel move, as has often been the case since he joined the organization.
Credit: Habsolumentfan
Voici ce que ça coûterait au Canadien pour s'avancer en première ronde du repêchage
| POLL | ||
Would you trade the 26th overall pick and two second-round picks for the 14th overall pick? | ||
| Yes | 449 | 58.2 % |
| No | 322 | 41.8 % |
| List of polls | ||
