3 Paths the Canadiens Could Take with the 28th Overall Pick

The Montreal Canadiens enter the 2026 NHL Entry Draft in an interesting position. Unlike previous years, the organization is no longer drafting near the top of the first round and hoping to find franchise cornerstones. The Canadiens are now coming off another playoff appearance and are looking to take the next step toward becoming a legitimate contender.

That reality makes the 28th overall pick one of the most intriguing assets the organization owns. While many expect general manager Kent Hughes to use the selection in a trade, there are still multiple directions Montreal could take. Here are three realistic options for the Canadiens with the 28th overall pick.

Keep the Pick 

Even though the Canadiens are trying to improve immediately, that does not mean they should abandon the draft-and-develop philosophy that helped build their current core. Montreal has done an excellent job identifying talent in recent years. Lane Hutson became one of the NHL’s most exciting young defencemen. Ivan Demidov looks like a future star. Michael Hage, David Reinbacher, Jacob Fowler and several others have helped create one of the league’s strongest prospect pools. Adding another talented young player could still make plenty of sense.

The Canadiens do not necessarily need a prospect selected at 28th overall to contribute next season. Instead, they could continue building organizational depth while creating another potential asset for the future. Several interesting names could be available when Montreal makes its selection. William Hakansson is a 6-foot-4 defenceman with intriguing upside. Mathis Preston’s combination of speed and playmaking ability could make him another interesting name. Ryan Roobroeck brings size and offensive instincts that could make him an attractive option if he is still available.

Not every first-round pick needs to become an immediate NHL contributor. Sometimes the best move is simply to add another quality prospect and allow the development staff to do its work. If the Canadiens believe one of those players has significantly more upside than the alternatives available through trade, keeping the pick could be the right decision.

Trade the Pick for Immediate Help

This is probably the scenario most fans expect. The Canadiens have reached the point where improving the NHL roster should be a priority. While the organization still has plenty of young talent coming, there are clear holes that need to be addressed if Montreal wants to compete with the top teams in the Eastern Conference.

The biggest need remains a second-line centre. The Canadiens have managed to survive with internal solutions, but adding a legitimate top-six centre would take pressure off Nick Suzuki and provide Demidov with another high-end offensive player to work alongside. A player capable of producing offensively while handling difficult defensive assignments would significantly improve the lineup.

The team could also look to add more size and scoring on the wing or another defenceman capable of playing significant minutes alongside Hutson. Hughes has already shown he is willing to move premium assets when he believes the timing is right. He acquired Kirby Dach and also used his two first-round picks in 2025 to acquire Noah Dobson from the New York Islanders. Hughes understands that eventually a rebuilding team must begin converting future assets into present-day talent.

The 28th overall selection could become a valuable piece in a larger trade package. Whether it is attached to another draft pick, a prospect or a roster player, it gives Montreal additional flexibility when discussing deals with other teams. If the Canadiens identify a player who can immediately improve their chances of winning, trading the pick may be the most logical path forward.

Move Up the Draft Board

There is also a middle-ground option. Instead of trading the pick for an NHL player, the Canadiens could use it to move up in the first round and target a prospect they believe has top-line or top-pairing potential. This is a strategy Hughes has used before. The Canadiens moved up to select Hage because they believed strongly in the player’s upside. That aggressive approach could be repeated if there is a prospect the organization views as significantly better than the players likely available at 28. At some point, the focus shifts from quantity to quality.

The Canadiens already possess a deep prospect system. They no longer need to simply collect as many young players as possible. Instead, they can afford to be aggressive if they believe a specific prospect has star potential. Moving up would likely require additional assets, but it could be worth the cost if it allows Montreal to secure a player they view as a future difference-maker.

The Canadiens have reached a stage where every major decision carries added importance. Whether they use the pick to draft a player, trade the pick for immediate help, or package it to move up the board, the choice will offer another glimpse into how Hughes plans to build the next contender in Montreal.