Kent Hughes now has the opportunity to get two of the top ten players in the draft
The Calgary Flames' playoff run will have a minor impact on the Montreal Canadiens organisation, as we mentioned earlier today:
It will depend on the final result of the Flames in the current playoffs, but the Montreal Canadiens will draft between 27th and 32nd, for their other first round pick (in addition to the first overall pick)
What's interesting is that there's a real wild card that should be drafted exactly in that corner.
We'll get to that in a few seconds, but speaking of the Tricolore's second first-round pick, there's observer Marc-Olivier Beaudoin, who has suggested five players the Habs might be interested in.
Here's his list, as reported by Alex Desrosiers (Rumeursdetransaction.com):
1 - Luca Del Bel Belluz, Steelheads center in the OHL (6'1 and 180 pounds/76 points in 68 games)
2 - Ivan Miroshnichenko, left winger for Krylya of Omskie in the Rus-VL (6'1 and 185 pounds/16 points in 31 games).
3 - Jagger Firkus, right wing for the Warriors in the WHL (5'10 and 153 pounds/80 points in 66 games)
4 - Nathan Gaucher, center for the Remparts in the QMJHL (6'3 and 207 pounds/57 points in 66 games)
5 - Tristan Luneau, QMJHL defenseman for the Olympiques (6'2 and 174 pounds/43 points in 63 games)
Let's go back to the real hidden card of the 2022 NHL Draft here, which is second on the list: Ivan Miroshnichenko. This player clearly should have come out in the top-10 (possibly top-5), if not for his illness.
Precisely, what's the news in that sense? Our colleagues at Marker.com have done a full and detailed article on the subject.
This winter, Miroshnichenko, had to step aside from hockey to treat Hodgkin's lymphoma, just as Mario Lemieux once had to do.
In the under-18 championship, Corey Pronman had news. The reporter for The Athletic reports that the young Miroshnichenko went to make his rounds there and even had meetings with representatives of NHL teams.
Bottom line: he made a point of reassuring everyone, in preparation for the draft, that he is currently in remission! Wow!
So that means he is winning his battle with the disease, which is great.
Either way, it's clear that his draft rank will be affected, but he could be a real steal for a team with two first round picks (or a high second round pick).
According to many, Miroshnichenko even met with Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton, because yes, the CH will almost certainly have the opportunity to get their hands on the talented young skater, who is expected to come out at the very end of the first or beginning of the second round, exactly in the range of the Tricolore.
For details on the proposals for the CH's second first-round pick:
