The 2022 NHL Draft begins Thursday night, but fireworks can arrive at any time, as the commercial season is also open.
The Montreal Canadiens are a team to watch, and not just because they have 14 draft picks, including the No. 1 overall pick. With a new hockey executive staff, including general manager Kent Hughes, and a rebuild already underway, there is reason to believe there will be a lot of player movement.
Now, to be clear, it’s unrealistic to expect all of these things to happen, either this week or even.
Let’s take a look at some of the more informed options.
Jeff Petry
This is most evident, since Hughes has mentioned Petry by name several times in his search for a trade. He has been adamant, including Monday, that a change will only be made if it makes Canadians move forward. Suppose they get one that works.
The chances of Petry showing up at training camp with the Canadians are slim. Not just because he called for the change, but because it will interest other teams. Half a season, no matter how bad, isn’t enough to tarnish her reputation, especially after she picked it up at the end of the year.
If Canadians want to add another first-round pick, or even come up with some pick exchanges, Petry is a pretty good commercial piece. After Ryan McDonagh was traded, the defense market has already begun.
Josh Anderson
That name is what comes and goes. I think there’s less chance of Anderson being moved than Petry, but I also think it’s more than likely that if he does, it will happen before the end of the first round on Thursday.
While Kent Hughes hasn’t shied away from negotiating with larger leads like Emil Heineman and Justin Barron, you still want to have as much control as possible over the assets you acquire. Drafts are like cars. When they are at the dealership, they are bright and new and the possibilities are endless. As soon as they get used to it or expel them from the site, they lose much of their value.
I don’t think it’s too realistic to expect a change, but a team can tempt Hughes with an offer he can’t turn down.
Christian Dvorak
For the second consecutive low season, Christian Dvorak’s name is debated in commercial rumors. This one is interesting, and I think his name that appears right now is interesting.
Like Petry, he struggled to start the year and then got injured. It didn’t live up to expectations, but it ended the season strongly.
Why I think his name looks interesting is that he can indicate who the Canadians favor with the first overall selection. If Dvorak is changed, the depth chart in downtown Montreal is Nick Suzuki, Jake Evans and Ryan Poehling. This leaves a relative opening for, say, a center. Likewise, if they add a center, then Dvorak becomes a luxury as a pivot of six means.
I don’t necessarily expect this to be a deal for a draft pick, but it’s possible that the team will recoup some of what it cost to acquire it in the first place.
Mike Hoffman
Hoffman, like so many Canadians, had a tough season. His business card is his shot and his ability to score goals. Given his age, he is likely to end his contract in a place other than Montreal.
This won’t be the most important move if it happens, but teams are always looking for players to put them on the edge, and Hoffman could attract a team that sees him as a depth scorer who can improve his strength play.
Trade up
The Canadians will not make 14 picks in the 2022 NHL Draft. Add to that the fact that they are more likely to explode as hosts of the Draft and you have the perfect recipe for the team to pack a couple of picks to climb the first round.
With elections 26 and 33, they have the opportunity to look for a player they really like. They can also use options 62, 66 or others to move up higher in the second round.
Canadians have looked at many of the best prospects, including those not in the conversation for first place overall. This indicates that they may be waiting to pounce on someone at the top of their draft board who may not be as coveted by other teams.
Downward trade
Kent Hughes raised his eyebrows when he said they are as likely to switch to No. 2 as they are to No. 1. Now, to be clear, if there were a 0% chance of both, it’s technically the same. .
It is possible that a clear first three, along with uncertainty about who the Canadians will choose, will lead a team to jump over New Jersey or Arizona (or one of those two teams) to pick the player they want instead. to leave it. destiny.
I don’t necessarily think that’s likely, and Hughes said that if the draft was Monday they would choose, but the option is there.