With an NHL-leading 24 Stanley Cups, the Montreal Canadiens are a little bit of an enigma. They’ve the pedigree, however constant success eludes them yr to yr, main followers and analysts to seek for good purpose as to why precisely. There are most likely a number of components, however a outstanding one has been a scarcity of success on the NHL Entry Draft. Look no additional than the 2010s for proof to that impact.
Throughout the 2010s, Canadiens administration has chosen quite a lot of gamers (72 between the 2010 and 2019 drafts, for instance). A few of these selections have pushed the workforce to larger on-ice success like Brendan Gallagher and Jesperi Kotkaniemi. A considerably larger quantity nonetheless haven’t panned out, which is admittedly to be anticipated, as draft picks are by no means certain issues. Nonetheless, even so, one would count on the Canadiens to have larger success than they’ve had translating excessive picks into difference-makers on the NHL degree.
Right here, we’re going to take an in-depth have a look at a number of the Canadiens’ greatest draft busts since 2008.
Danny Kristo
On the 2008 Draft, former basic supervisor, Bob Gainey determined to commerce away the workforce’s 25th general choose together with their second-round choose in 2009 in alternate for then-Calgary Flame Alex Tanguay. It wasn’t too massive of a sacrifice looking back, because the Flames used that first-round choose on Greg Nemisz (even when Washington Capitals star John Carlson was nonetheless accessible on the time). The Canadiens’ subsequent choice got here at No. 56 the place they selected ahead Danny Kristo.
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Kristo had been ranked 40th amongst North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, as one of many prime American-born gamers eligible. After being chosen by the Canadiens, Kristo made the transition to america Hockey League the place he performed for the Omaha Lancers together with Canadiens 2009 first-round choose Louis Leblanc. In Omaha, he had a terrific season, scoring 58 factors in 50 video games, which put him second on the Lancers when it comes to factors, behind solely Leblanc.
Kristo then opted to go to the College of North Dakota, the place he starred for 4 seasons, racking up 161 factors in 157 video games. Throughout that point, he received gold on the 2010 World Junior Championships and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award in 2013.
5 years after having been drafted, Kristo lastly signed a two-year entry degree take care of the Canadiens in April of 2013. Kristo reported to the Habs’ American Hockey League affiliate, the Hamilton Bulldogs, the place he scored three assists in 9 video games to finish the season. These 9 video games can be his first and final as a member of the Canadiens’ group although, as new Basic Supervisor Marc Bergevin traded him to the New York Rangers straight up for checking ahead Christian Thomas, who, despite a single NHL purpose to his identify (three factors) in 27 profession video games, would find yourself having extra of a profitable profession than Kristo. At this level, having but to play a single NHL recreation, Kristo probably by no means will.
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The 2016-17 season was his final in North America, final enjoying for the Charlotte Checkers within the AHL. In 2017 he headed to Europe and has performed for groups within the Kontinental Hockey League, Swedish Hockey League and Swiss Nationwide League A. To be honest, Kristo was not alone, because the 2008 draft was particularly horrible, with solely a handful of first-round stand-outs. General, it was a catastrophe for the Habs, with not a single choice having performed a recreation within the NHL.
Louis Leblanc
The 2009 NHL Entry Draft ended up having far more of an influence on the sport as a complete. Sadly, the Habs solely did reasonably higher, with three of their eight alternatives reaching the present. None of them had a long-lasting influence themselves, although. Followers should keep in mind Leblanc because the Canadiens’ prime choose, however, when the Habs’ fifth-round choice, Gabriel Dumont, really ended up having a longer-lasting NHL profession, with far much less identify recognition, it’s a foul signal.
By taking Leblanc with the 18th general choose, the Habs handed on gamers like Chris Kreider, chosen instantly thereafter, Kyle Palmieri (No. 26) and Ryan O’Reilly (No. 33), every of whom turned out to be wonderful NHL gamers.After all, with the occasion happening in Montreal, the Canadiens might have felt some strain to choose a homegrown expertise, particularly once they didn’t should go off the board within the course of. Leblanc, who grew up within the Montreal suburb of Kirkland, was one of many prime gamers in Quebec and plenty of would have thought he’d be a certain factor to succeed in the NHL, even star in it.
At 15 years previous, he performed for the Midget AAA Lac St-Louis Lions, a workforce well-known for creating gamers like Alex Killorn, Jonathan Drouin, Mike Matheson and Marc-Edouard Vlasic. After his rookie season with the Lions he was drafted 18th general within the QMJHL Draft by Val D’Or, and, if it weren’t for rumors swirling round about Leblanc strongly contemplating enjoying within the NCAA, he may have been chosen a lot larger. The considerations got here to be justified.
Whereas enjoying for the Lancers within the USHL in his draft yr, Leblanc tallied 59 factors in 60 video games which put him 11th amongst all USHL gamers and solidified his possibilities of being chosen within the first spherical of the NHL Draft. Nonetheless, main as much as the draft, many weren’t offered on Leblanc due to his dedication to go to Harvard College. Positive sufficient, he performed for Harvard in 2009-10, however made the swap to main junior for the 2010-11 season, becoming a member of the Montreal Juniors.
Leblanc turned professional in 2011-12 season, getting referred to as up from the Bulldogs to the Canadiens in November. He performed a complete of 42 NHL video games that season the place he notched 10 factors, with which many had been happy. Nonetheless, it didn’t final. His improvement took a success the next 2012-13 season, throughout which he spent the whole season within the AHL, scoring simply 18 factors in 62 video games.
He did handle to get in eight NHL video games in 2013-14, however they had been scoreless, and after one other mediocre season on the AHL degree, he bought traded to the Anaheim Geese in June 2014 for a conditional fifth-round choose. He by no means noticed any motion with the Geese and remained within the AHL the next season. On the finish of the season, Leblanc and the Geese parted methods, with Leblanc signing a one-year take care of the New York Islanders in 2015. He did not make the roster although, and his contract was terminated.
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With no NHL contract, Leblanc examined the waters in Europe to revive his profession. Nonetheless, it might be his final, as he couldn’t persist with anyone workforce, enjoying for 3 completely different squads throughout the identical variety of leagues. The final of which was a four-game stint in Switzerland for HC Lausanne, the place he scored just one purpose and added 25 penalty minutes. Leblanc then retired from hockey on the age of 25, at the least as participant. Since retiring, the previous Habs choose returned to Harvard to finish his diploma, whereas additionally volunteering as an assistant coach on the lads’s ice hockey workforce.
Jarred Tinordi
With the 22nd general choose within the 2010 NHL Entry Draft, the Canadiens selected 6-foot-6 defenseman Jarred Tinordi from the US Nationwide Group Growth Program. The son of NHL defenseman Mark Tinordi, he was projected to develop right into a top-four shutdown defenseman, regardless of admittedly being pretty uncooked. Enamored along with his potential, the Canadiens handed on such gamers as Kevin Hayes (No. 24), Evgeny Kuznetsov (No. 26), Charlie Coyle (No. 28) and Brock Nelson (No. 30).
To be honest, neither of the above are defensemen, and, if the Habs had their coronary heart set on one, there weren’t many alternate options. Sadly, they ended up losing the choose altogether on Tinordi, who has failed to determine himself as an NHL participant to this point. After two seasons with the London Knights within the Ontario Hockey League and 4 seasons break up between the minors and the NHL, Tinordi clearly couldn’t sustain with the sport within the latter.
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In 2016, the Canadiens traded him together with Stefan Fournier to the Arizona Coyotes for Victor Bartley and John Scott. Technically, the commerce was one, with Scott having been voted into the All-Star Sport, albeit underneath doubtful circumstances.
For his half, Tinordi appeared in solely seven video games with the Coyotes that season, finally getting suspended for violating the NHL/NHLPA Efficiency Enhancing Substances Program. He then languished within the minors. He finally signed with the Nashville Predators for the 2018-19 season, getting one other probability within the NHL and scoring his first NHL purpose and tallying 4 assists in 2019-20. The 28 video games he performed that season stay a career-high to at the present time, with him having since been claimed off waivers by the Boston Bruins in 2021, persevering with in his position as a reserve defenseman.
Sebastian Collberg
Bergevin’s first probability at establishing his legacy got here quickly after having been employed in 2012 at that yr’s NHL Entry Draft. After taking Alex Galchenyuk at No. 3, the Canadiens’ subsequent choose was at No. 33. They used the choice to choose Swedish ahead Sebastian Collberg.
Heading into the draft, Collberg was one in every of Sweden’s prime prospects and was a member of the 2012 World Junior workforce that received a gold medal. The World Juniors match usually consists of 18 to 19-year-olds, however Collberg was solely 17 and amassed a formidable seven factors in six video games en path to the gold medal.
On the power of his match, in NHL Central Scouting’s ultimate rankings Collberg was ranked third amongst European skaters, forward of Anaheim Geese defenseman Hampus Lindholm and San Jose Sharks heart Tomas Hertl. In consequence, Habs followers and administration thought that they’d an actual expertise on their fingers in Collberg, however he by no means lived as much as expectations. Fortunately, Bergevin maximized his worth by leveraging his potential in one in every of his higher trades as GM.
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The closest Collberg ever got here to enjoying for the Canadiens was in April of 2013 when he joined the Bulldogs for a two-game stint on the finish of their season. In 2014, Collberg was the primary piece within the commerce that introduced Thomas Vanek to the Habs from the New York Islanders forward of the Canadiens’ deep playoff run to the third spherical that spring. For probably the most half, Vanek turned out to be a key element for these Habs, so no hurt no foul with regard to Collberg, at the least from the Canadiens’ perspective.
Following the commerce to the Islanders, Collberg performed two seasons within the minors primarily for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers within the AHL, but in addition together with a six-game ECHL stint. He by no means cracked the Islanders lineup. He finally returned to Sweden the place he performed for 3 seasons. He’s since performed in Austria and Germany.
Michael McCarron
Possible blinded by Michael McCarron’s 6-foot-6 measurement, the Canadiens selected the potential energy ahead from the USNTDP with the twenty fifth general choose in 2013t. Within the course of, they left left-handed puck-moving-defenseman Shea Theodore, who would undeniably be a really perfect addition beside Shea Weber, to the Geese at No. 26. In distinction, whereas Theodore has obtained James Norris Memorial Trophy buzz, McCarron has did not a lot as keep within the NHL.
After being drafted, McCarron performed two seasons within the OHL. In 2015, he was traded from the London Knights to the Oshawa Generals, the place he received the Memorial Cup. Thus far, so good.
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In reality, after turning professional the following season, McCarron put collectively a quasi-impressive marketing campaign with the St. John’s IceCaps as a rookie within the AHL, the place he scored 17 objectives and 38 factors in 58 video games in 2015-16. The difficulty arose after he bought referred to as as much as the NHL. Failing to achieve traction within the lineup underneath then-head coach Michel Therrien, McCarron performed simply 11:41 per recreation, lower than the likes of career-bottom-six-forward Brian Flynn for instance.
McCarron scored only one purpose and one help in 20 video games with the Habs that season. Issues didn’t actually get higher from there on out although, together with from a developmental perspective. Going forwards and backwards between the AHL and NHL, McCarron performed even much less in 2016-17 (9:53 per recreation) with related outcomes when it comes to manufacturing. Ditto in 2017-18, throughout which he performed a team-low 8:46 per recreation in 18 NHL contests, scoring a solitary help.
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That was the final McCarron performed in a Canadiens uniform. He bought traded to the Predators in 2019-20 for Laurent Dauphin, a equally extremely touted 2013 draft choose (No. 39) who has did not pan out on the NHL degree. As an illustration, Dauphin is on his fifth NHL workforce (two stints throughout the Coyotes group).
To his credit score, McCarron has simply performed for simply the 2 NHL groups, together with six video games in 2020-21 with the Preds. Nonetheless, at 29 years previous, McCarron has an extended highway forward to determine himself as an NHLer, with simply 23 objectives and 25 assists in 228 profession NHL video games.
Nikita Scherbak
Drafted at No. 26 general by the Canadiens in 2014, Nikita Scherbak projected as a top-six ahead for the Canadiens. Nonetheless, he’s not even with the group, having since been positioned on and claimed off waivers by the Los Angeles Kings in 2018-19, displaying how far his star has fallen. As additional proof, the Kings quickly thereafter positioned him on waivers as nicely. He completed the marketing campaign within the AHL, finally leaving for the KHL.
Even looking back, Scherbak’s decline was laborious to see. Earlier than having been drafted, Scherbak performed two seasons within the Western Hockey League with the Saskatoon Blades and Everett Silvertips, the place he confirmed super offensive potential. Even with Scherbak drafted as late as he was within the first spherical there was optimism, contemplating the Boston Bruins selected famous person David Pastrnak with the earlier choice.
Alas, there was clearly an enormous drop-off in expertise from that time on within the draft. Scherbak, whereas extra of an instance of the rule than an exception, can sadly be seen as its poster boy. Whereas he confirmed progress creating within the AHL, scoring 30 factors in 26 video games in 2017-18, he couldn’t translate that success into manufacturing on the NHL degree, totaling eight factors in 37 profession video games.
After his time again in Russia, the Muscovite signed a one-year take care of the AHL affiliate of the Dallas Stars for the 2020-21 season. With 5 objectives and 15 factors in 28 AHL video games, Scherbak is much from a certain factor to a lot as stick in North America transferring ahead.
Hope for the Future
The Canadiens have undeniably made quite a lot of poor selections with their draft picks up to now, because the above alternatives show. Nonetheless, the likes of Cole Caufield and Juraj Slafkovsky are at the least current examples of draft picks which might be creating into official NHLers. It will likely be some time but earlier than all of the picks from ~2017 get an opportunity to show themselves.
With the second-youngest age amongst NHL groups, the Canadiens are within the midst of a roster turnover. Boasting a top-10 farm system on paper as of Jan. 2024, the Habs are additionally able to offer their youthful gamers extra of a shot than they’ve up to now. With a bit of luck, the Canadiens’ intention as a corporation relating to the draft has improved because the final decade.
