A couple months ago, there was hope that the Canadiens could still have two lottery picks in this year’s NHL Entry Draft. Then the Panthers made the playoffs, and that dream died. But that was alright, so long as the Panthers lost in either of the first two rounds. In that scenario, the Canadiens would’ve ended up picking 17th, a very good pick in what is a deep 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Then that dream died once the Panthers defeated the Maple Leafs handily, moving into the third round of the Playoffs.
With that victory, the pick would have become the 29th, so long as the Panthers don’t advance to the Stanley Cup Finals.