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Who Might Habs Select at 16&17 per Bob McKenzie’s Final Draft Rankings?



Bob McKenzie’s final 2025 NHL draft rankings are out, who should the Montreal Canadiens be looking to select with 16th & 17th overall picks?

#habs #montrealcanadiens #gohabsgo

42 Comments

  1. I'd love Bear, but I have my doubts he'll be there at 16. Also Carbonneau, who is more likely. Beyond that, I'm thinking of Lakovic or Hensler. In a pinch, Reschny or Potter. At 41 and 49, I'm thinking of Ryker Lee, Cameron Schmidt, Alexander Zharovsky.

  2. I saw enough highlights of Carbonneau to feel like he's a legit top end talent. I know size matters but not at the expense of skill or work ethics. That said, I feel Cootes has some bite to him and he's a leader. He was captain of his team. Reschney seems like an all round good hockey player who excels in the playoffs. So my preference goes as follows:
    Carbonneau
    Cootes
    Reschny
    Lakovic
    Nesbitt

    I'm really not sold on Nesbitt. Other than being tall, I don't get the hype. I see the potential in Lakovic but I get this gut feeling he's not as motivated as the other guys. I can't stand players who disappears on any given night.

  3. Just picked up my 2025 Hockey News Draft Preview magazine last week. Based on your commentary, I’d go with Nesbitt and Reschny but I have to put my trust in whoever the Habs decide on or if one or both picks are used as part of a trade. I really like how you show the players names and stats when you discuss them!
    Well done, again!

  4. A french player for sure you can bet on it and just like I predicted Hage I predict Carbonneau.
    I do like Carbonneay for one reason he has a mentality to get pucks to the net something that MTL does not have enough of.We have far too many perimeter players guys that over handle it make dumb passes when already in perfect shooting positions.However I feel management will take him just becuase he is a local homegrown.
    I have not yet done enough looking at other later picks to figure out whom else they might like maybe in a day or two I will over the top 30 projected.

  5. Lakovic isn't a heavy player, he's just tall. He was thrown into things when MJ's championship players were drafted. He's too high here imo. I'd have him into the 25-30 range but he could be amazing later, who knows.

  6. that russian goalie semyon frolov –i think hes good—-montreal probably have to trade up in the second to get him———–also winger danill prokorov in the second and zharovsky

  7. To be Bob get's his info from top scouts. The'se guys are 6'4 but weight less then 5'11 guys lol. Yeah I know they can beef up but Habs need toughness with skill not big guys that play 2 feet.

  8. #1) Bear, because other teams will shy away from his injury, #2) Reschny because his production is skyrocketing, and may project to be another 5'11" Suzuki.

  9. Who will the Habs pick at #16 & #17? Normally there are names that get zeroed in on each year but bc they are drafting later than their usual top 5, obviously a lot more difficult to predict. I've also heard the same names discussed (I'll add Carter Bear)…but you just don't know how the draft will fall bc you know there will be some teams picking off the board…and I feel the Habs may do the same with at least one of their picks (Mason West? Maybe someone else know one has talked about?). What I will be interested to see is if J Carbonneau is available at #16, can Hughes pass on picking him for other players his scouts are higher on? He would obviously take a lot of heat but I want him choosing the best possible players for the Habs, birth place should have no consequence. As we get closer to the draft, I have a feeling Hughes will not be making any significant trades…just bc there are so many buyers, few sellers AND the teams drafting ahead of the Habs, many of which are looking to do the same things the Habs want to do. Hughes has never made a panic move, nor does he overpay (altho he did mention that he may have to)…I just feel he will make some moves, maybe a couple UFAs, but nothing earth shattering. He will remain patient and not sacrifice just for the sake of appeasing fans&media. But we shall see…Hughes always likes thinking outside the box! Should be an interesting upcoming few days!

  10. Nesbitt, is another in a long line of players who's size seems to seduce talent evaluators. I have followed Nesbitt and he clearly lacks the foot speed to succeed at the NHL level. Last thing we need is another slow, large player.

  11. I would try and trade for Shergachev back. I would have no problem giving up Hutson, Struble pick 16 . Would probably never happen but as much Hutson put great numbers up i doubt he repeats it

  12. Reschny is too small unfortunately for the habs who already have small players, unless you trade Newhook

  13. any duo combinaisons from

    Bear (if he falls because of injury!?), Lakovic, Nesbitt, Carbonneau, Reid, Spense, Reschny !!!

  14. Me i like Carbonneau or Bear they have to move up to catch them 😢
    Forward Cootes-Lankovic or Mcqueen
    Defenseman Aitcheson or Hensler

  15. What's up Drew!
    I know Bear is not there but I would go for..
    1. Bear & Carbonneau
    2. Bear & Cootes/Lakovic
    3. Bear & Hensler/Nesbitt
    Any combination as long as we have at least one of Bear, Carbonneau or Lakovic for the upside.
    And for the safe pick I really love Cootes.. but since we have Beck who's a bit like him, I think they would go for Nesbitt or Hensler
    See you soon buddy!

  16. Habs will use their 2 picks for the rights to my deceased grandmother

    Then they’ll trade that for Eric Lindros’s little known remaining contract value

    In turn that will be traded to the not yet announced Hamilton NHL team

    Which in a three way deal allows Connor Mcdavid to come to montreal with Edmonton retaining $10million/year in cap space

  17. Management has my faith in them, but for Schitts and giggles if we do end up using both picks? I would like to see Bear and Carbonneau if both are on the board.
    My senses tell me Bobrov will have some influence on grabbing Prokhorov somewhere early in the 2nd , that is the home run player for the Habs IMO

  18. Hey Drew, nice to see your face once again. I trust in HUGO. I believe strongly that other can bring in some immediate help that will fit in the Habs philosophy, these picks may be done with some young assets. I think the current craziness around contract amounts and the numbers of teams wanting ton improve, may mean that we won’t see more than one huge trade by the Habs to bring help on the second line.Other than that, some grit for the 3-4 line and I would not be surprised to see Primeau and Strubble in their way out. I can’t wait to see Engstrom in their NHL, but we have too many left ads right now. We do have one more year of Laine to deal with, so the fireworks may come next summer.

  19. Let’s not forget, Jans only have around 8,6$M in cap space until the get ride of Price’s contract or wait u til next summer when the contract is off the books. Next summer, we should have a much larger amount of cap space to play with…..

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