Now that the NHL Draft Lottery is complete and the Montreal Canadiens have officially been eliminated from the playoffs in the first round, their draft position is set. The Habs will select back-to-back at picks 16 and 17 in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. With two mid-first-round selections and a pair of second-round picks at their disposal, general manager Kent Hughes and his team have an important decision to make: keep both selections, trade up, or use one to acquire immediate NHL help.
Option 1: Keep Both Picks
The most straightforward option is to hold onto both selections and add two quality prospects to the Canadiens’ already solid pipeline. While picks 16 and 17 aren’t guaranteed to produce NHL stars, history has shown that impactful players often emerge from this range. The Canadiens have built a strong development system, and this draft class offers the potential for two significant additions.
Several intriguing prospects could be available in the mid-first round. One name drawing attention is Kashawn Aitcheson, a solid offensive defenceman with elite skills and a powerful shot. Aitcheson has been climbing draft boards and would give Montreal another offensive weapon to develop. Another potential pick is Logan Hensler, a mobile two-way defenceman who projects as a reliable top-four blueliner. His skating and composure under pressure are ideal for today’s NHL.
The Canadiens could also look at Justin Carboneau, a skilled forward with a high hockey IQ. He could bring some added forward depth to the Canadiens. If Montreal opts to keep both picks, they could end up with a strong forward-defence combo or two forwards that bolster their future middle-six.
Given the organizational focus on development and the value of cost-controlled young talent, keeping both picks is a patient but potentially rewarding route.
Option 2: Trade Up
Another path worth considering is bundling the 16th and 17th picks to move up into the top 10. While it may cost the Canadiens an additional asset to move up from 16 to the top 10, perhaps one of their two second-round picks could be dealt. This strategy could allow them to land a player with higher upside.
