Now that we finally know the ranking at which the Canadiens will speak during the next draft, many fans have already started to speculate on the decisions Kent Hughes should make.
While experts say it is crucial to always take the most talented player available, some external factors can sometimes mix up the cards.This is particularly the case with the young Russian forward Matvei Michkov.
He is considered by many to be the forward with the second-best potential in the 2023 class, but his contractual situation with SKA St. Petersburg and the geopolitical circumstances in Russia seem to scare off many general managers.
Former Canadiens head coach Michel Therrien was asked about the subject during his appearance on the La Poche Bleue show. According to him, there is no doubt, an organization must absolutely select the player with the most talent.
"In a situation like this, the important thing is to go with the best player. I would go with the guy who has the most talent and the one who can have the most impact on your team. It's delicate, but in my opinion, they will go with the player who has the most potential. They will ignore everything else. Everyone I've worked with has always gone with the best player they thought." - Michel Therrien
He also drew a parallel between Matvei Michkov's situation and that of Logan Mailloux, who had been involved in an off-ice scandal, and who had notably asked teams not to draft him.
"If we compare with Logan Mailloux, he was probably on everyone's list. At the time, I was in Philadelphia and I had personally asked the general manager, Chuck Fletcher, what rank he was on our list. He had told me between 10 and 15, but I don't remember exactly." - Michel Therrien
Wow! According to Michel Therrien, the Canadiens could have made a real steal by selecting the defenseman at 31st overall when the Flyers had him in their top 15.
Logan Mailloux has indeed made great strides this season, both on and off the ice. It is difficult to predict the impact he will have with the CH in the coming years, but one thing is certain, the Canadiens' management has added an excellent defenseman to their lineup.
Credit: Habs et LNH
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May 10 | 313 answers Major announcement regarding Logan Mailloux and the Philadelphia Flyers Do you think Logan Mailloux will play his first NHL game next year? | ||
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