The top 5 picks in the upcoming NHL draft are expected to be highly competitive, but as of now, the Canadiens are not projected to be in that ranking.
Macklin Celebrini is expected to be the first player selected, while Cole Eiserman is projected to be second. However, there is a twist.
According to former Canadiens scout Grant McCagg, Eiserman may have slipped to the 12th position because he is not very strong without the puck. While he possesses incredible strengths, such as a lightning-fast shot, other aspects of his game are lacking.
McCagg is not alone in not placing him in the top 10. With 54 goals in 51 games in the U.S. Under-18 program, Eiserman is compared to none other than Auston Matthews for his strengths, but the Leafs' star is also excellent without the puck.
Therefore, Eiserman may have dropped from the 2nd to the 12th position according to several draft rankings, which is becoming concerning.
Nevertheless, the Canadiens are likely to draft between the 7th and 10th positions. If Eiserman is still available, it could be a very strong move for Montreal.
