Montreal Canadiens Eyeing Second Consecutive Lottery Win

The Montreal Canadiens are hoping to get lucky yet again this spring, looking to be the first team to win consecutive Draft Lotteries since the New York Rangers

Unlike last season, the Canadiens are walking into the 2023 NHL Draft Lottery with the fifth-best odds of winning either lottery.

Starting last year, there are now only two lotteries and teams are limited to a maximum increase of 10 ranks by way of lottery.

This means that the Montreal Canadiens have an 8.5% chance of winning the 1st overall pick, and an 8.7% chance of winning the 2nd overall pick.

As the Canadiens continue their rebuilding phase, winning either lottery and picking first or second in the loaded 2023 NHL Draft would be an absolute game-changer for the franchise.

At the very top of this draft class is superstar-in-the-making, Connor Bedard, who has lit the junior hockey world on fire over the last three years; performing to the levels of former junior stars like Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby.

The skilled forward looks to be a guaranteed franchise player that could singlehandedly jumpstart the rebuild or retool of any of the 11 teams eligible to win the first overall pick.

For the Montreal Canadiens, getting their hands on the first overall pick for the second consecutive season would cement the foundation of their rebuild and virtually ensure that general manager Kent Hughes would be working with the best young core in the NHL.

But, there is another.

If the Canadiens were lucky enough to win the right to select with the 2nd overall pick, the likely candidate would be centre Adam Fantilli.

In any normal draft, Fantilli would have been a shoo-in for the top selection of the draft, including the last couple, but is edged out by a generational talent in Bedard.

Fantilli, a former teammate of Canadiens’ prospect, Sean Farrell, and pupil of developmental guru, Adam Nicholas, would be a perfect fit for Montreal as well.

The lanky centre also has the potential to be a franchise player for the team that selects him, projecting as a top-line forward that can play centre or wing in a pinch.

The Montreal Canadiens’ centre depth would be set for over a decade with Fantilli on board, as the Hobey Baker winner has been nothing short of dominant in the NCAA as a true freshman.

Fans will be able to feast their eyes on the talented forward in a few days, as he’s set to join Samuel Montembeault and Justin Barron in representing Team Canada at the IIHF World Championships.

It goes without saying that any outcome where the Habs were to increase their rank by way of lottery would put them on a path to greatness.

Now the Montreal Canadiens simply need Lady Luck to lean their way, one more time.