This year’s NHL Draft in Buffalo felt like one of those weekends where expectations and reality don’t always line up.
Leading up to it, there was plenty of speculation that the Montreal Canadiens might be one of the big players. Fans wondered if general manager Kent Hughes would package their first-round pick with prospects to make a blockbuster trade, or take another major step toward turning this team into a legitimate Stanley Cup contender.
Instead, Montreal had a much quieter weekend than many expected, adding some intriguing prospects, making a couple of depth trades, and shuffling around some late-round draft picks. When the dust had settled, Montreal largely stayed out of the frenzy while other teams around the league grabbed the headlines with needle-moving deals.
Fans are now left to ponder: Was that the right approach?
Did the Canadiens accomplish exactly what they set out to do, or was this a missed opportunity to make the kind of move that could have accelerated the team’s progress? And with a tumultuous set of big trades in the upcoming days, much less free agency just around the corner, is the biggest piece of Kent Hughes’ offseason plan still waiting to happen? Maybe more importantly, can it still happen or are the Canadiens now relegated to pursuing Plan ‘B’?
This Week’s Show
On this week’s episode of the Canadiens Connection podcast, we tackle those questions and discuss scouting reports of the eight prospects added to the Montreal pipeline.
NEW PODCAST: What the Montreal Canadiens Did, and Didn’t Do, at the NHL Draft | Canadiens Connection ep 406
We also discussed these important topics on this week’s episode of the podcast:
- Montreal Canadiens select a power forward in the first round of the NHL Draft.
- Hockey Hall of Fame, Order of Canada, and Citizen of Honor recognition for Canadiens this week.
- A preview of free agent frenzy and the summer trade market for the Habs.
CC Question of the Week: What grade would you give the Canadiens’ performance at the 2026 NHL Draft? Are you still hopeful that Kent Hughes will make a major trade this summer?
It is our eighth season, with a new episode of the podcast dropping every Saturday afternoon. Be sure to subscribe using your favorite podcast app! Or watch our episodes on YouTube!
Canadiens Connection Podcast: What the Montreal Canadiens Did, and Didn’t Do
Catch up on any missed episodes here at HockeyHotStove.
