Habs Daily: Montreal Canadiens Draft Position, Slafkovsky Analysis

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news, highlights, and stories you may have missed on Tuesday.

Montreal Canadiens News

• It’s finally official! The 2024 NHL Draft Lottery revealed that the Montreal Canadiens will pick fifth overall at the upcoming entry draft. Statistically speaking, the Habs were more likely to drop a spot than they were to maintain the fifth pick, making this a favourable result for Kent Hughes’ team. As an aside, Chicago did not win the first overall pick, which means the rest of the NHL won on Tuesday night. [2024 NHL Draft Lottery Unveils Canadiens Draft Pick Position]

• Please welcome Cam Weitzman to the MHN team! Cam will use his solid hockey background to offer insight into specific plays, player growth, and more. His first article discusses the improvements made by Juraj Slafkovsky in 2024. [Canadiens Analysis: How Slafkovsky Improved His Overall Play]

• The Habs should be able to put their hands on three players with NHL potential this summer.

The Sharks win the draft lottery and win the rights to draft Macklin Celebrini.

While the stars are most likely to get a star out of this draft, Utah has the highest draft slot with 13 picks and 3.18 expected NHLers.

Anaheim, Calgary, Chicago, Montreal, San Jose and Utah… pic.twitter.com/LnC6sr5P6g

— Byron Bader (@ByronMBader) May 7, 2024

• Slafkovsky is currently in Czechia taking part in the 2024 World Championship for Team Slovakia.

Looks like Juraj Slafkovsky is having fun playing for his country pic.twitter.com/JgLClSwtxR

— Cam Weitzman (@Cweitz99) May 7, 2024

National Hockey Now Network

• The Florida Panthers had Sam Bennett back on the ice Tuesday afternoon with coach Paul Maurice saying the team’s second-line center could return to game action against the Boston Bruins. Perhaps as early as Wednesday. [Florida Panthers]
• All the fans at Colorado Avalanche games that chanted “MVP!” at Nathan MacKinnon multiple times throughout the season are looking pretty good right now. In about a month and a half, I think there’s a very good chance they end up being correct. On Tuesday, MacKinnon was announced as one of three finalists for the Hart Memorial Trophy. [Colorado Avalanche]
• Boston Bruins rookie defenseman Mason Lohrei has been building toward a breakout game in his first foray into the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and it came in the fifth-ever playoff game on Monday night. [Boston Bruins]