Only a few weeks remain till the NHL draft. The Canadiens, who were selected fifth overall, are hoping the teams ahead of them would select defenders in order to draft a forward.
Because Kent Hughes might just sell his pick if Ivan Demidov and Cayden Lindstrom are selected before the Habs have a chance to speak.
It’s going to be more difficult after Macklin Celebrini, but that’s nearly a given. Although it appears like the Ducks (3rd) have more defensive organization needs, the Blackhawks (2nd) and Blue Jackets (4th) might finish anywhere.
However, the notion that the Blackhawks would select a defenseman is becoming more and more popular. and Luke Richardson spoke like a guy looking to draft a big defenseman when he appeared on the Coming In Hot Podcast:
We are seeking large defenseman with space coverage, defensive prowess, and puck moving ability. — Luke Richardson
Though it was only briefly mentioned, Richardson also stated that he is searching for offensive quickness and talent. He’s made significant progress mostly on defensemen, whose significance he can clearly see in the current series.
Though Artyom Levshunov, a young player the Blackhawks have been following closely this season, has been linked to them, you’d think he’d fit Richardson’s description. Of course, this doesn’t prove the team is looking for a defenseman. Sam Dickinson and Anton Silayev are also not weaklings.
Remember that The Athletic recently published a mock draft by Scott Wheeler and Corey Pronman? Well, the latter mocked Levshunov to the Blackhawks for the straightforward reason that, given the choice between a winger and an impact defenseman you’ve watched play for two years in North America, it makes sense to choose the defenseman.
And a situation like this would make it easier for the Habs to get Demidov or Lindstrom in the fifth spot: all they need to do is hope that the teams who are ahead of them develop feelings for the defenseman or have second thoughts about the forwards.
The Blackhawks’ choice currently appears to be a genuine 50/50 between Demidov and one of the top defenseman available at the auction (Levshunov, Silayev, etc.). Luke Richardson, though, might be giving his former Montreal team a great gift if he lays his fist on the table for a defenseman.
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