Turn of events and a defenseman at the 5th spot for the Canadiens?

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David St-Jean
June 19, 2024 (5:51 PM)

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Kent Hughes has stated clearly that he intends to improve his offense through a trade and will select a forward with his 5th overall pick.

In an ideal scenario, both objectives will be met, as the Canadiens have a pressing need for help in their top 6. While having a decent first line is nice, the second line is lacking.

Kirby Dach will be alone on the second line. I like Alex Newhook, but he hasn't proven himself as a top-6 player yet and hasn't secured his spot.

I also like Joshua Roy, but he's young and currently fits better on the third line. They need at least one forward to support Dach.

It seems that there's still a chance for the Canadiens to select a defenseman with the 5th overall pick this year. David Reinbacher is a good defenseman, but his selection felt like a cold shower.

Here's what Grant McCagg, the former Canadiens scout who still has strong NHL connections, mentioned:

«This from an NHL source this morning.

"There's a lot of talk that it's going to be either Demidov or Buium at five but it's hard to pin down. The Denver staff thinks he could go as high as 5. They give me the impression that Montreal loves him."

The plot thickens. I think that brings the number of possible players the Canadiens might take at five up to about eight.»

- Grant McCagg

Zeev Buium is a very solid defenseman who scored 50 points in 42 games in the NCAA at the age of 18. That's incredibly good, especially since he started the season at 17.

However, if Ivan Demidov is truly available, I don't see how the Canadiens could pass on him. The young Russian is incredible, with a much more interesting build than initially reported, he speaks very good English, and is eager to play in the NHL.

If a highly talented forward like Demidov or Lindstrom is available at the 5th spot and Kent Hughes announces a defenseman, there will be an uproar in Montreal.