The Montreal Canadiens stole the show at the 2024 NHL Draft on Friday night, and not only because they landed one of the most talented players in the entire draft class.
With all due respect to every other franchise, few, if any draft selections can match the star power we witnessed when the legendary singer Céline Dion was invited on the stage by the Habs. We do have to give some consideration to the Tim Stützle pick announced by Ottawa native Alex Trebek, in 2020, however, Dion’s appearance in Las Vegas was the perfect combination of Vegas lore and Québécois pride.
While it’s true that NHL players lack a certain spice to their personality, the Habs came up with a great alternative to add a little excitement to the mix while also maintaining the integrity of the draft as they flexed their celebrity muscle. It remains to be seen if the NHL will eliminate the in-person draft going forward, as has been suggested, but if they do return to The Sphere in the near future, it would be fantastic to see other franchises follow suit when it comes to the presentation of their top draft picks.
Amateur video of Celine Dion arriving to select Ivan Demidov for the Montreal Canadiens
Pretty wild stuff pic.twitter.com/tBfsCtstP6— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) June 28, 2024
Montreal Canadiens Draft Picks In 2024
As for the actual picks made at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, it’s safe to say the Canadiens are leaving Las Vegas with one of the most talented players available, Ivan Demidov. Pre-draft nerves led to Demidov dropping to the Habs, though it should be noted that most of the worries regarding top Russian prospects are unfounded. When’s the last time a Russian prospect refused to report to the NHL team that drafted him? The answer is never. On the other hand, NCAA players dictate their future with more regularity every year. I fully support the idea that prospects should have more power to make career choices, or at the very least, have some input, but we should perhaps re-evaluate our perception when it comes to prospect loyalty from various leagues.
INSTANT ANALYSIS: Montreal Canadiens Hit Home Run With Ivan Demidov Pick
Demidov has one year left on his contract with SKA St-Petersburg, and he’s expected to join the Habs thereafter. We don’t want to shovel too much coal into the hype train, but Canadiens fans are in for a treat once he’s ready to come to North America. Demidov is the epitome of an elite talent, which is exactly what the team needed to push their prospect pool to the top of the NHL rankings. With Demidov in the system, not to mention Michael Hage, the Canadiens now have depth and talent at every position, a very comfortable situation given they’re preparing to take the next step in the rebuild.
Good morning.
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) June 29, 2024
Ivan Demidov is a member of the Montreal Canadiens.
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Hage projects as a great value pick at 21st overall, bringing a well-rounded skill set to the table that includes strong offensive instincts. You could consider him a late bloomer, as he significantly improved his play during his draft year. That was a recurring theme for the Canadiens this weekend, they banked on a few overagers and players who found their rhythm a little later than most. Aatos Koivu, son of Saku, is another prime example of betting on recent growth as the strongest indicator of someone’s overall potential. It’s not an ironclad strategy, but many scouts will suggest the second half of the draft season is more indicative of their value than the rest of their junior careers combined.
Koivu doesn’t have to follow in the footsteps of his father, as no one is expecting him to one day carry the weight during some of the darkest years in franchise history, but his mere presence in the organization is sure to put a smile on the face of Canadiens fans who never had a chance to watch the dynasty teams of yesteryear.
You’ll note that many outlets will give the Canadiens a good grade for their top picks, and rightfully so. Demidov is arguably the most talented prospect in the modern era of the franchise, while Hage and Koivu represent two players with relatively healthy odds to carve out a permanent job in the NHL. Statistically speaking, that’s a good result for any player picked outside the top 15.
Closing Out The Draft
Admittedly, day two lost a lot of its steam once the Montreal Canadiens chose Koivu with the 70th overall pick, though the scouts I spoke to during and after the draft suggested the Canadiens hit on a few good players when they chose Logan Sawyer (78th overall), Owen Protz (102nd overall), and Tyler Thorpe (130th overall). Sawyer isn’t as big as his 6’4″ and 6’5″ counterparts, nor is he as truculent, but he has the type of work ethic that should quickly endear him to his coach at any level, yet another recurring theme for the 2024 draft class.
Simply put, if the Habs called your name at the podium this weekend you either possess elite talent, a great work rate, or an above-average frame, the three things general manager Kent Hughes tends to weigh the most in every player-related decision.
