Corey Pronman’s latest 2024 redraft has sparked some interesting conversation around two of Kent Hughes’ most notable selections for the Montreal Canadiens.
The biggest headline is Ivan Demidov, who lands near the top of Pronman’s board. Even there, the analyst says the Canadiens prospect probably should be placed even higher. That part of the list doesn’t come as a surprise.
The real debate begins at No. 2, where Beckett Sennecke of the Anaheim Ducks comes in ahead of Demidov. Pronman says he prefers the Ducks forward, which matches the view he already laid out in his U23 ranking from last week, when Sennecke was also ahead of Demidov.
Another familiar name shows up just behind Demidov at No. 4: Cole Hutson.
Montreal fans know that name well. He’s Lane Hutson’s younger brother, and he’s currently with the Washington Capitals.
The other Canadiens pick drawing attention from the redraft is Michael Hage. Pronman has him 24th, which is below where Montreal originally took him at 21st overall in the actual NHL Draft.
That slide suggests Pronman didn’t see Hage as one of the stronger value picks from the class, or at the very least believes the Canadiens could have done better with that selection. It’s not a massive drop, but it’s enough to make people look twice.
Hage is set to return to school for the 2026-27 season, which only keeps him in the conversation a little longer.
So the question now is simple: was Michael Hage a good pick by Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens at 21st overall?
In Other News...
Slafkovsky And Demidov May Be Key To Montreals Biggest Line Puzzle
The Canadiens preseason has already offered a familiar sight in the reunion of the Kid Line, with Juraj Slafkovsky, Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield back together and looking like the kind of trio Montreal can build around. The top line picture also shifted with Chris Kreider added into the mix, giving the coaching staff another forward combination to study as it sorts through what the opening-night alignment should look like.
Beneath all of that, the real puzzle may be less about the headline line and more about the pieces behind it. Montreal has been experimenting with where Ivan Demidov fits best and how that affects the rest of the forward group, while the second-line centre spot remains one of the most important decisions left before the regular season begins. For a team trying to balance talent, chemistry and depth, those next tweaks could wind up mattering just as much as the reunion everybody noticed first. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Face One Big Question In Potential Blue-Line Upgrade
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For the Canadiens, the appeal is obvious enough. Montreal has been looking to add to a young blue line, and Nikishins size and offensive upside fit the kind of profile teams covet. The question is less about whether he would make sense and more about how the Canadiens would make the deal work, with cap space to clear and real assets likely required before anything could move beyond speculation. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Still Shut Out Of Dylan Larkin For One Frustrating Reason
Dylan Larkins situation has become one of the more frustrating side stories around the Canadiens, especially for a team that would have liked to get in on the sweepstakes if the Red Wings captain truly does move on. The interest made sense on paper: Montreal has been looking to add impact talent, and Larkins name naturally fit that conversation once word spread that he wanted out of Detroit.
Instead, the roadblock has remained the same. Larkins no-trade clause gives him control over the process, and Montreal has not been among the teams he has been willing to list as an acceptable destination. The Canadiens have since moved to address the need elsewhere by signing Chris Kreider, but Larkins preference for other landing spots has left Montreal on the outside looking in for now. [Read more 🡒]