Each year without fail there’s talk from fans about wanting their favorite team to trade up or down in the first round of the NHL draft.
Last year, there was speculation about whether the Canadiens would trade down from No. 3 due to the lack of a top center being ranked in the top five. Montreal kept the pick and selected Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who was ranked No. 6 among European skaters by NHL Central Scouting. Kotkaniemi made the team out of training camp and scored 34 points (11 goals, 23 assists) in 79 games.