Simulation : Habs could trade 5th overall pick to Calgary?

The Editor-in-Chief and prominent journalist of The Athletic, Arpon Basu, proposed a trade a few hours after the unveiling of the NHL Draft Lottery for the June draft in Vegas.

The order of the top 16 teams is now known. Speculations about potential trades can now begin until June 28. The subscription-based internet media outlet assigned a journalist from San Jose for the Sharks, a journalist from Chicago for the Blackhawks, a journalist from Montreal for the Canadiens, and so on, to establish a realistic simulation of the upcoming draft.

Unlike the speculations seen here in Montreal by various journalists, this exercise has the merit of having a local context. Journalists assigned to each team's activities have the opportunity to interact with the organization's management during the season. This means they have a better understanding of their mindset. Local journalism is unparalleled!

This allowed the organization to make a very interesting trade proposal between the Montreal Canadiens and the Calgary Flames.


MOCK TRADE: A trade between the Montreal Canadiens and the Calgary Flames

And as part of this exercise, only one transaction was concluded, and it involves the Montreal Canadiens!


Essentially, Arpon Basu, acting as the designated "General Manager" for the Canadiens in the simulation, saw Ivan Demidov and Cayden Lindstrom being selected by teams with picks before the Canadiens'.

With this in mind, Kent Hughes' stand-in decided to move back to the ninth position.

MOCK TRADE: The Canadiens trade the 5th overall pick to the Calgary Flames in exchange for the 9th overall selection as well as the Vancouver Canucks' first-round pick

The Flames acquired this first-round pick when they traded Elias Lindholm to the Vancouver Canucks. Even though the first-round pick should be close to the Winnipeg Jets' pick, you can never have enough talented young players in the minors. You never know who will emerge in 3 or 4 years.


Are the fans in agreement with such a trade? Would you be happy to see Kent Hughes make a similar trade at the amateur draft on June 28?

It would be an incredible twist for Flames fans, who dream of seeing Jarome Iginla's offspring succeed in Calgary as his father did. We remember the incredible run of the Flames in 2004 when the team fell in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Fiction or reality? Only time will tell...

Credit: HABSolumentFan - The Athletic predicts a catastrophe scenario for the Canadiens in the draft