MONTREAL — It’s the beginning of a week that could be transformational for the Montreal Canadiens, and not just because they have two first-round picks Friday and 10 other picks at their disposal for Rounds 2-7 Saturday to make their team better.
They’d love to come away from the draft having done more than just replenished their pipeline, and there’s a good chance they’ll be able to do exactly that.
The fifth-overall pick gives the Canadiens an opportunity to secure a future core piece. And every pick that follows has the potential to help their long-term plan.
But it’s no secret the Canadiens will be exploring trades that help improve the here and now to push their rebuild into its next phase.
The market is heating up and it’s safe to assume general manager Kent Hughes has at least a few irons stoking its fire. He’s got the aforementioned picks to play with, a loaded left side of his NHL defence to move from, and there may be a prospect or two he’d be willing to part with to help net the Canadiens the type of player they’re after.
A bona fide top-six forward is the target. We’ll see if Hughes hits it before week’s end.
If not, trades will continue to transpire through the off-season and free agency is around the corner.
