Possibly it isn’t the 12 months to make daring predictions that the Montreal Canadiens will make out like bandits at No. 5 total on the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. They’re little doubt in nice place to select a prime expertise. Nevertheless, with a projected-to-be-elite participant like Macklin Celebrini set to go first to the San Jose Sharks, the Canadiens seemingly gained’t find yourself with the participant of this draft class, like for instance on the 1965 NHL Novice Draft, after they took defenseman Pierre Bouchard (son of Corridor of Famer Emile).
Bouchard ended up profitable 5 Stanley Cups, all with the Habs over 12 NHL seasons. Over 595 profession video games with them and the Washington Capitals, he scored 106 factors. Contemplating the gamers with whom he performed, these aren’t Corridor of Fame credentials, however he was solely one among two gamers taken that draft 12 months to a lot as play even a single NHL sport. Winger Michel Parizeau, taken tenth by the New York Rangers was the opposite (58 NHL video games, three objectives, 14 assists).
Associated: Montreal Canadiens’ Historical past with the No. 5 Draft Decide
Sticking to the NHL Entry Draft (1979 on), which is extra according to the occasion followers acknowledge at this time, it’s really frequent for the fifth-overall choose to surpass the accomplishments of the highest choose. When the 2 play totally different positions there’s an admitted diploma of ambiguity. Nevertheless, listed here are all of the cases the place it was pretty clear, ranked in chronological order:
1980: Darren Veitch (Washington Capitals)
The alternative of the above instance might be true too, with the Canadiens having chosen Doug Wickenheiser first total in 1980. They infamously made the error of taking him over native-son Denis Savard, who went third to the Chicago Blackhawks. Whereas Savard developed right into a high-scoring point-per-game participant (and Stanley Cup champion, finally with the Canadiens in 1993) over a 17-year profession, Wickenheiser didn’t stay as much as expectations to place it gently.
Wickenheiser performed simply 556 video games over 10 NHL seasons, scoring 276 factors. Nevertheless, this isn’t a comparability between him and Savard however moderately him and Darren Veitch, chosen fifth that 12 months by the Capitals. Veitch’s 257 factors in 511 video games virtually mirror Wickenheiser’s manufacturing. The distinction is he was a defenseman.
Mockingly, simply as Wickenheiser performed in Savard’s shadow, Veitch did the identical relative to Paul Coffey, on whom the Edmonton Oilers used their sixth-overall choose. Coffey clearly went on to take pleasure in vital Corridor of Fame success, whereas Veitch did simply success of the extraordinary selection, sadly extra so than Wickenheiser (for Canadiens followers).
1982: Scott Stevens (Capitals)
Defenseman Scott Stevens may very well have been one of the best participant taken within the High 5 in 1982, as the one Corridor of Famer of the bunch. There’s even a case he was one of the best participant of that total class, however that’s a wholly totally different, tougher argument (Doug Gilmour).
Again to Stevens, the Philadelphia Flyers took Ron Sutter instantly earlier than him. The Toronto Maple Leafs took defenseman Gary Nylund at No. 3. The Minnesota North Stars took Brian Bellows, who really could be thought-about as extra useful than Stevens in some circles at No. 2 (perhaps). Nevertheless, in no world does fellow-defenseman Gord Kluzak benefit getting taken first by the Boston Bruins looking back.
Kluzak performed 299 video games to Stevens’ 1635, scoring 25 objectives and 98 assists. In distinction, identified primarily as a hard-hitting, defensive presence, Stevens scored 196 objectives and 712 assists, really nearing the millennium mark by way of factors in his profession, throughout which he performed on three championship New Jersey Devils groups (which he captained).
1983: Tom Barrasso (Buffalo Sabres)
That is one occasion the place the staff that drafted first total, the North Stars, might be forgiven for not taking the participant drafted fifth, Tom Barrasso. Whereas the North Stars most likely may have used a goalie of Barrasso’s calibre, they clearly wished a ahead as an alternative, taking Brian Lawton.
The issue is, the three gamers in between have been all forwards too. All of them bought progressively higher: Sylvain Turgeon (Hartford Whalers), Pat LaFontaine (New York Islanders) and Steve Yzerman (Detroit Pink Wings).
Whereas beneath regular circumstances it could be construed as tough to evaluate what separates first and fifth-overall picks at totally different positions, right here not a lot: Corridor of Fame credentials for starters. Barrasso went on to play 777 video games within the NHL, finally backstopping the Pittsburgh Penguins to 2 straight Stanley Cups (1991-92). To be honest, Lawton had a comparatively profitable profession with 483 video games performed, however he didn’t a lot as make it out of the primary spherical previous his rookie season. That’s laborious to defend.
1990: Jaromir Jagr (Pittsburgh Penguins)
Most years, Owen Nolan would have been a justifiable first-overall choose (Quebec Nordiques). He completed his 1200-game profession with 885 factors, mockingly good for fifth-best of all gamers drafted in 1990. There wasn’t even all that a lot variance between his and the totals of Keith Tkachuk (1065), Doug Weight (1033) and Peter Bondra (892).
Enter Jaromir Jagr, who bought drafted fifth total. The Pittsburgh Penguins choice actually greater than doubled Nolan’s factors with an all-time, second-place 1921 over maybe an much more astonishing fourth-most 1733 profession video games.
Now clearly, it is a best-case situation of which even the wildest minds couldn’t dream. Between Celebrini and whoever the Canadiens take, the previous is infinitely extra seemingly be the one to shatter data, however let’s get critical. Even he’s a longshot to have a profession as illustrious as that of Jagr.
1993: Rob Niedermayer (Florida Panthers)
In distinction to the earlier entry, that is the primary of two straight cases of the primary total choose having ended up a infamous bust, with the Ottawa Senators having infamously chosen Alexandre Daigle first total in 1993.
Rob Niedermayer could have the popularity of merely being Scott’s youthful, less-successful brother, however he did play 1153 video games within the NHL himself. And, whereas Daigle was undeniably extra gifted, the youthful Niedermayer scored 469 factors to his 327. Daigle solely performed 616 video games within the league, pointing to a better point-per-game common. Nevertheless, it’s abundantly clear Niedermayer was the extra reliable of the 2 by a large margin.
1999: Tim Connolly (New York Islanders)
The 1999 Draft is legendary for 2 issues.
- Then-Vancouver Canucks GM Brian Burke’s behind-the-scenes engineering to get each Sedin twins at Nos. 2 and three
- The Atlanta Thrashers taking Patrik Stefan at No. 1, with the Czech ahead happening to turn out to be an enormous bust, scoring simply 188 factors in 455 video games
All in all 1999 was a weak draft class, to the purpose you didn’t must be a world beater by any stretch to have loved extra success than Stefan (or most different first-round picks). For instance, the fifth choose, Tim Connolly, neared a degree per sport in a number of of his 11 seasons. Nevertheless, scoring 431 factors in 697 video games, he too largely disillusioned (concussions admittedly taking part in a component).
2006: Phil Kessel (Boston Bruins)
If the St. Louis Blues have been offered on taking a defenseman, they most likely made the appropriate alternative going with Erik Johnson at No. 1 total in 2006. Solely Jeff Petry (No. 45) has scored extra factors of their profession. Johnson is in the meantime just some video games shy of 1000 in his profession.
After all, the Blues traded Johnson a number of seasons later to the Colorado Avalanche, with whom he gained a Stanley Cup in 2022 (albeit as a depth piece). So, they most likely weren’t as enamored with him as they’d been initially, and will most likely have stood to draft one of many 4 forwards who adopted instantly afterward, together with Phil Kessel at No. 5.
Now, Kessel is a polarizing determine. Nevertheless, even if you happen to take difficulty together with his conditioning/work ethic, nobody ought to argue with the tip outcomes, which embrace a return from most cancers and a file 1064 straight video games performed. Additionally they embrace 992 factors in a profession that includes three championships, the final in 2022-23 with the Vegas Golden Knights. He hasn’t secured a deal since, however, if that is how he goes out, he goes out on prime, having are available at No. 5 (even when he most likely may have gone larger).
2012: Morgan Rielly (Toronto Maple Leafs)
The 2012 NHL Entry Draft will go down in Canadiens historical past because the one wherein then-GM Marc Bergevin took Alex Galchenyuk third. Nevertheless, if hindsight is something to go by, the Habs ought to have picked Morgan Rielly as an alternative… comparatively latest reviews additionally suggesting Bergevin wished the Toronto Maple Leafs rearguard, however deferred to his new scouting employees so quickly after getting employed.
Looking back, the Oilers most likely ought to have taken Rielly with their No. 1 choose too. He’s a minimum of probably the most prolific of the primary 10 gamers taken that 12 months by a large margin. He may not have singlehandedly spared the Oil years of introspection concerning their defensive points. Nevertheless, he may properly complement their high-octane offense as we communicate.
With that in thoughts, it isn’t laborious to think about Rielly staying with the Oilers similar to he has with the Maple Leafs all this time. Contemplating Bergevin’s at-one-time reliance on stay-at-home defensemen, the identical isn’t essentially true of the Canadiens. That’s neither right here nor there, although. The participant the Oilers did take, Nail Yakupov, solely lasted 4 seasons with the Oilers and 6 within the league total. Anybody would have been higher, however Rielly? A lot.
