Scott Wheeler’s latest look back at the 2023 NHL Draft puts a sharp spotlight on just how well the Canadiens came out of that class.
In The Athletic’s revised re-draft, Montreal’s goaltending prospect Jacob Fowler rockets all the way up to 10th overall, a huge leap from where he was originally taken at 69th. It’s the kind of jump that turns heads, and for the Canadiens it looks like the kind of value swing teams dream about.
The top of the board doesn’t move. Connor Bedard, Leo Carlsson, Adam Fantilli and Will Smith still hold the first four spots, in that order.
Montreal was on the clock next at fifth overall, and in Wheeler’s new version the Canadiens would land Matvei Michkov there. That’s a pick that would still draw plenty of support, especially since Michkov was the preferred choice for many observers at the time and the debate around him is still very much alive three years later.
Fowler’s rise is the headline, though. Wheeler’s re-draft has him climbing from 69th to 10th, which makes him one of the biggest winners in the entire exercise.
The Canadiens’ actual first-round selection in 2023, David Reinbacher, also slides in this re-ranking. Instead of going fifth overall, he comes in at 16th, a placement that still reflects a strong showing in a draft class that didn’t offer many high-end defensemen.
For Montreal, the takeaway is hard to miss: Fowler now looks like the top goaltender in the class, and Wheeler’s re-draft suggests Kent Hughes and the Canadiens may have found a major steal.
In Other News...
Canadiens Face A Real Xhekaj Decision In New Trade Proposal
Arber Xhekaj keeps lingering in the center of Montreals offseason conversation, and the latest trade idea only adds another layer to it. Calgarys interest in the young Canadiens defenseman has been floating around for months, and the discussion has resurfaced again as Montreal continues sorting out its blue line and weighing what kind of move would actually make sense for the roster it wants to build.
The appeal from the Canadiens side is straightforward enough: they have been looking for a right-handed defenseman who can handle meaningful minutes, and the proposal being kicked around would address that need while forcing Montreal to decide how much value it is willing to attach to Xhekaj. Depending on how the deal is structured, the price could climb beyond a simple one-for-one swap, which is exactly why this has become one of those talks worth watching rather than dismissing. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Suddenly Have A Real Shot At The Young Center They Need
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Fantilli, 21, turned in a strong season with 59 points in 82 games, enough to make him the kind of center any team would at least have to think about. Montreal has not been confirmed as a club preparing an offer sheet, but the possibility alone is enough to keep the idea alive, especially if Columbus finds itself in a spot where matching becomes difficult. [Read more 🡒]
NHL Expansion Buzz Just Put The Nordiques Dream In Jeopardy
The NHL expansion conversation has started to sharpen, and for Canadiens fans with one eye on the old Nordiques rivalry, the latest chatter is not exactly encouraging. Doug McLean and other hockey voices have been pointing toward Houston as the next city in line for an expansion franchise, with Austin also being mentioned in the mix before quickly fading from view.
For Montreal followers, the significance goes beyond another market on the league map. If Houston is indeed the destination, it would make the long-discussed idea of the Nordiques coming back look even more remote, even if the NHL has not made anything official yet. For now, it is still just buzz, but it is the kind of buzz that can change how people talk about hockey in Quebec. [Read more 🡒]