Fan-Picked Canadiens Options For 16th & 17th Overall At Draft

The Montreal Canadiens own back-to-back first-round picks at the upcoming 2025 NHL Entry Draft, which means they’ll have the opportunity to cover a few bases at a point in the draft when there’s usually some discrepancy between pre-draft rankings and real-time selections.

We’ve already discussed three prospects who may end up being chosen by the Canadiens with the 16th or 17th overall pick: Justin Carbonneau, Logan Hensler, and Lynden Lakovic.

ON TOPIC: NHL Draft Prospects Habs Could Target 16th & 17th Overall

Today, we’ll discuss a few more options that were popular among the comments in the first article, as well as on social media, while keeping in mind certain players are unlikely to be available once the Montreal Canadiens are under the gun to make the 16th and 17th overall picks of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.

There’s always a possibility the picks may be used to move up in the draft, which means we will end up taking a look at a few players that are ranked a little higher than mid-round.

Braeden Cootes, 18, Centre, Shoots Right, 6’0″, 183 lb. Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)

(60 GP, 26 G, 37 A, 63 PTS)

There’s a wide discrepancy when evaluating the pre-draft rankings for Cootes, ranging from 13th overall to 24th among various trusted outlets. Craig Button has him outside the first round, 38th overall, which seems to be a clear outlier.

Regardless, it’s safe to say scouts aren’t quite sure where Cootes will be picked, but they do agree that the captain of the Thunderbirds is a meat-and-potatoes type player, who uses his high-end work ethic to command respect, while producing a reasonable amount of offence for a player used on a first line in the CHL.

That being said, despite Cootes’ relatively long list of intangible qualities, 26 goals in 60 games is far from impressive, verging on underwhelming for a potential first-rounder.

He’s a determined forward, a strong skater, and has been used to kill penalties, suggesting we must weigh this versatility alongside his production, because he wasn’t always used in a role conducive to scoring.

Cootes is the type of player the Montreal Canadiens could take a flyer on, especially if they end up drafting a player with high potential at 16th overall, giving them an opportunity to take a risk with the 17th overall pick.

Cameron Reid, 18, Defenceman, Shoots Left, 6’0″, 174 lb. Kitchener Rangers (OHL)

(67 GP, 14 G, 40 A, 54 PTS)

Reid was ranked outside the first round for a significant portion of the season, but an excellent year as a U-18 led to an impressive thrust up the pre-draft rankings.

Scouts expect him to be drafted somewhere between 12th and 25th overall, putting him in the exact range where the Habs own two picks. Unfortunately, Reid shoots left, making him a less attractive option for the Canadiens, but as we all know, you can never have enough defensive prospects.

Reid is best described as a hybrid defenceman, with a focus on excelling in the defensive zone. He’s not an overly physical player, preferring to use his anticipation and positioning to shut down the rush.

He’s also quite adept and driving the play, either via controlled exits, or quick outlet passes, with the former counting on his exceptional skating to maintain control of the puck when he leads the rush.

Cole Reschny, 18, Forward, Shoots Left, 5’11″, 187 lb. Victoria Royals (WHL)

(62 GP, 26 G, 66 A, 92 PTS)

Reschny doesn’t have the ideal size for a first-round pick, especially if we consider Kent Hughes has specifically mentioned he’s looking for a good combination of talent and size.

That being said, we also have to remind ourselves that 5’11” doesn’t mean a player will suddenly move to Smurf Village. Sidney Crosby is 5’11”, as is Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki. In other words, we probably shouldn’t lose any sleep about Reschny being roughly the same height as many elite forwards currently evolving in the NHL.

Reschny is a cerebral player who does a good job covering all three zones. His intelligence allows him to make quick decisions that are often overlooked in the grand scheme of things. He does a good job protecting the puck, and is blessed with high-end awareness in the offensive zone.

He’s an excellent playmaker, to the point that some scouts argue he’s among the best passers in the draft class.

His pre-draft rankings are varied, but clearly leaning toward the second-half of the first round, with most outlets suggesting he’ll go somewhere between 20th and 30th. With that in mind, he may not be an ideal pick at 16 or 17, but if the Montreal Canadiens drop down to accumulate more assets, Reschny could end up being the best player available.

Carter Bear, 18, Centre/Left Wing, Shoots Left, 6’0″, 176 lb. Everett Silvertips (WHL)

(56 GP, 40 G, 42 A, 82PTS)

Carter Bear is yet another prospect hailing from the WHL, and judging by Montreal’s recent draft history, it may be a little ambitious to populate these lists with Western Hockey League players. The Canadiens have only chosen two players from the WHL since picking Kaiden Guhle 16th overall in 2022 (Tyler Thorpe, 130th, 2024, and Jared Davidson, 130th, 2022).

Bear possesses the type of talent and potential that could lead to a top-10 pick, however, some outlets think he may drop to the 20th overall range.

He also fits the bill when it comes to combining physical play and high-end talent. He’s dominant with the puck on his stick, driving the play with great hand-eye coordination and anticipation.

Most suggest he’s a well-rounded player, however, some scouts have told me he projects as a defensive-orientated player should he make his way to the NHL. With all due respect, his goal-scoring is difficult to ignore, as is his ability to quickly parse the play and select the best option to create shooting lanes for himself, or passing lanes for his teammates.

The most apparent aspect of Bear’s tool kit is his endless energy reserve, which he combines with a chaotic, yet impactful approach to physical play. In other words, Bear tends to dictate the play, both defensively and offensively.

We should note he suffered a significant season-ending injury, a lacerated Achilles heel. This could lead to him dropping into Montreal’s range, however, they’ll have to do their due diligence as to his recovery timeframe and the long-term impact of the injury.

Victor Eklund, 18, Left Wing, Shoots Left, 5’11″, 161 lb. Djurgardens IF (Allsvenskan)

(42 GP, 19 G, 12 A, 31PTS)

Eklund’s name was suggested by our readers on more than a few occasions, but we have to be aware that there are very low odds he will be available by the middle of the first round.

Every outlet projects Eklund as a top-10 pick.

That doesn’t mean Montreal won’t have an opportunity to move up to pick him, but moving up into the top 10 usually comes with a fairly high cost. For a team such as the Habs, that may be a cost they’re willing to pay, as they’ve accumulated a healthy number of picks and prospects throughout their rebuild. At this point, they must focus on quality rather than quantity.

Eklund stands out as a very smart forward who uses his elite offensive prowess to produce at a very impressive rate. I’d argue he’s a goalscorer first and foremost, but we shouldn’t discount his playmaking. Beyond his excellent release, which he uses to score whenever a shooting lane opens up, Eklund has fantastic vision, which allows him to find his linemates whenever the opportunity arises on the rush.

His work ethic is great, and though he does have work to do from a defensive standpoint, few other players in the draft can stack up in terms of offensive excellence.

If you have a prospect in mind that you would like to see mentioned in the next batch of players available to the Montreal Canadiens, please mention their name in the comments, and we’ll add them to the list.

We use several resources when evaluating potential Montreal Canadiens prospects. The most referenced websites including Elite Prospects and Hockey Prospect.