When the Montreal Canadiens passed on Matvei Michkov, who many analysts viewed as having the potential to be the next Russian superstar, fans were perplexed by the team’s decision to pass on a prospect considered to be a slam-dunk pick. The Canadiens took David Reinbacher with the fifth overall pick in 2023, strengthening their defence for the future. However, just a year later, they landed their very own potential Russian superstar.
The same situation arose in the 2024 NHL Draft. The Canadiens once again had the fifth overall pick, and when they saw another Russian prospect start to slide, they did not hesitate.