Well, the NHL Draft Lottery is now officially behind us, which means we can set our sights on the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, where the Canadiens will select fifth overall. The Canadiens, fortunately, did not move down, despite that being the most likely outcome, and instead stayed put at number five. The Chicago Blackhawks we’re the big winners, moving up from third to get the chance to select Connor Bedard.
This is the first time since 2005 in which the Canadiens will select fifth overall when the Canadiens used that pick to draft Carey Price. It will be the seventh time in franchise history that the Canadiens will draft fifth, barring a trade, something Kent Hughes has said is unlikely.