In a little over a month, the management of the Montreal Canadiens will present themselves at the annual NHL draft in Las Vegas with two first-round picks: theirs, 5th overall, as well as that of the Winnipeg Jets, acquired in the transaction Sean Monahanin 26th place overall.
Many people believe that the DG Kent Hughes could evaluate the possibility of using his 26th overall pick to advance higher in the first round and thus select another player high on his list. A hope like Beckett Senneckewho would be ranked very high on the CH list, could for example still be available after 10th place.
But what would be the price of moving from 26th to somewhere in the middle of the first round?
This is what the journalist tried to determine Arpon Basu of The Athletic who reviewed some draft pick trades from the past, in an effort to determine the value placed by NHL GMs on advancing into the initial round of the draft.
Citing some examples during the Basu & Godin Notebookwe realize that the past exchange which comes closest to what the CH would potentially like to achieve is the one in which the Detroit Red Wings went from 22nd place to 14th in order to select the giant goalie Sebastian Cossa.
In addition to their 1st round pick (22nd overall)the Wings had to offer the Dallas Stars their 2nd round pick (47th overall) and a 5th round pick (137th overall) to improve their lot by eight ranks and find themselves at 14th rank
Unfortunately for Detroit, the Stars ultimately had the upper hand in the transaction, selecting a certain Wyatt Johnston with the Wings’ pick at 22nd overall.
If we rely on the past, this means that to move from 26th position to somewhere between 11 and 15, Kent Hughes will have to at least sacrifice a 2nd round pick in addition to another important pick, possibly a 2nd or 3rd round pick.
Would you be ready to pay this price to see CH advance to the first round on June 28?
See the podcast in question in its entirety at the bottom.
