Two Burning Questions
June 6, 2024
By Bob Trask
There is a lot of excitement and debate among Canadiens’ fans concerning which player Kent Hughes will choose at fifth overall in the upcoming entry draft. But all of that hoopla should be put into perspective when it comes to the upcoming season. In the long run, this yet unknown player should become a key contributor but let’s tap the brakes a little when it comes to next season. History tells us that it is highly unlikely that the Habs’ first choice in the draft will make the team for the 2024-25 season and even if he does, he would probably be eased into the lineup in the same way the Slafkovsky was or even like the situation with Quinton Byfield of the LA Kings. If fans are looking at next season two burning questions would be, who plays RW on Kirby Dach’s line and who among defencemen stays and who goes. The current roster has a plethora of players well suited to third and fourth line roles but desperately lacks a sniper… not another playmaker or role player but someone with a knack for putting the puck into the net. On defence, almost every fan recognizes there are more players than positions available even if Lane Hutson fails to make the team. And if Hutson wins a spot, the picture becomes even more clouded. Yes, the draft will be important and exciting but the payoff will likely be down the road a bit. In the meantime, Kent Hughes will be continuing to build the Canadiens into a competitive team and to do so, these two questions will have to be answered.