The Montreal Canadiens had six high 90 picks heading into the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. An excellent draft is when you will get two regulars from it, which the Habs have already got. That alone is uncommon, however three and even 4 NHL gamers from one draft class would make this a completely wonderful draft for the previous head of newbie scouting Trevor Timmins and former normal supervisor (GM) Marc Bergevin.
4 years post-draft, 4 picks from this class look as if they’ll develop into common NHL gamers. Two have already met that stage, whereas two extra have taken a while to develop however have appeared superb on the professional stage of their restricted expertise.
The 2 who’ve develop into NHL regulars (Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Alex Romanov) had been seen as reaches when the Habs drafted them and now seem like stable NHLers. Saying that this draft could possibly be the most effective for the Canadiens since 2000 could seem very daring when put into the identical class because the 2007 Draft that featured Max Pacioretty and P.Okay. Subban. But when these 4 gamers proceed to progress and develop into the gamers that they had been projected to develop into, it might even problem the impression of the 2007 Draft. Whereas some have moved on, the return on funding continues to impression Montreal’s roster.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi, third Total
Certain, there are questions that Kotkaniemi was the precise choose at third general, however he was a venture when drafted, anticipated to solely make his debut about two years after being drafted. Nevertheless, he made his debut at 18 and had a powerful rookie marketing campaign, exhibiting that he certainly may play instantly.
Sadly, his sophomore season was filled with accidents and slumps, which resulted in him having a stint within the AHL with the Laval Rocket. The stint was one of the best factor for the younger Finnish ahead, because it allowed him to dominate his competitors. However his 2019-20 season ended early when he injured his spleen.
Fortunately for him, the entire world hit pause because the COVID pandemic began, and with that, it allowed him to return to the Canadiens for the playoff play-in. It was right here that Kotkaniemi flashed the two-way centre abilities that attracted the scouting employees to him with two stable playoff performances. Within the 2020 bubble playoffs, he scored 4 objectives in 10 video games, all 4 had been key tallies. Within the 2021 run to the Stanley Cup Ultimate, he scored eight factors in 19 video games, together with an additional time objective in Recreation 6 of the first-round matchup versus the Toronto Maple Leafs.
His inconsistent common seasons, nevertheless, brought on negotiations for his first restricted free agent (RFA) contract to develop into troublesome. Finally, he selected to signal a revenge provide sheet from the Carolina Hurricanes for one yr and $6.1 million, giving the Canadiens a 2021 first-round and 2021 third-round choose as compensation. Quickly after, the Habs traded the primary for heart Christian Dvorak from the Arizona Coyotes who fills the two-way heart function they hoped Kotkaniemi would ultimately fill. Whereas this participant is now not with the franchise and his growth has been underwhelming, he’s nonetheless a daily NHL participant, elsewhere.
Jesse Ylonen, thirty fifth Total
The second choose of that draft, Jesse Ylonen, is coming into his third professional season in North America and has been the most effective gamers on the American Hockey League (AHL) Laval Rocket. In his first full season in Laval, he scored 14 objectives and 36 factors in 52 video games, in addition to two objectives and 5 factors in a call-up to the Canadiens. He completed the 2021-22 season with the fourth-highest level whole on the Rocket. At instances, Ylonen has confirmed that he can drive play on a nightly foundation within the AHL.
Ylonen took on a daily function within the NHL in 2022-23, showing in 37 video games and scoring 16 factors. He then appeared in 59 NHL video games through the 2023-24 season earlier than signing a one-year contract with the Tampa Bay Lightning and beginning the 2024-25 season within the AHL.
Alexander Romanov, thirty eighth Total
Romanov was a comparatively unknown defenseman on draft day again in 2018, however he rapidly gained notoriety by profitable the highest defenseman award on the 2019 World Junior Championships. Drafted thirty eighth, he was projected by many scouts to be picked extra within the a hundredth choose vary however has confirmed he was a second-round steal.
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The 2019 World Junior Championships had been a coming-out celebration for Romanov, placing him on the map as a bonafide NHL prospect. That very same season, he was enjoying for CSKA Moscow because the youngest participant within the KHL through the 2018-19 season, which confirmed his sport had developed past most defenders in his age group. In his two seasons in Russia, his ice time was restricted, doubtless on account of his need to go away and be part of the NHL.
His choose provides yet one more NHL participant to the listing for the Canadiens’ 2018 Draft. Nevertheless, the heavy-hitting defender is now not with Montreal as he was traded to the New York Islanders for the 2022 13th general choose that was then flipped to the Chicago Blackhawks in return for Kirby Dach. The gamble in that commerce is for the 23-year-old Dach to understand his potential as an offensively gifted top-six centerman with this contemporary begin.
Jordan Harris, 71st Total
Jordan Harris is the fourth participant chosen by the Canadiens in 2018 who may develop into an NHL common and has been named to the 2022-23 opening night time roster. With their second third-round draft choose that yr, the scouting employees took an opportunity and guess on his long-term potential.
The Northeastern College alumnus spent his full 4 seasons within the NCAA, rising and creating his sport making him a wise, two-way defenseman who can develop into a quiet but regular presence on the blue line. Throughout his last season within the NCAA, there was some debate about whether or not Harris would really signal with the group.
Below Bergevin’s regime, the priority was that Harris would wait till he may signal elsewhere as a UFA. But with new administration in place, below GM Kent Hughes, the Canadiens lastly bought Harris signed on the conclusion of his collegiate profession, making his NHL debut late within the 2021-22 season enjoying 10 video games and scoring one objective on a group that completed 32nd within the NHL. He grew to become an NHL common in 2022-23 and at the moment has 32 factors in 138 profession video games. His time with Montreal got here to an in depth after the 2023-24 season once they dealt him to the Columbus Blue Jackets within the commerce for Patrik Laine.
Having 4 NHL gamers chosen in a single draft class would make the 2018 Habs class a completely wonderful draft, presumably even one of the best one since 2000. Whereas two of the gamers have moved on, the gamers acquired in return may nonetheless develop into higher than these traded away. If all 4 remaining in a Canadiens sweater attain their potential they’ll play a key function in hastening the rebuild.
