A look at what Canadian teams might do in the first round of the NHL draft
DALLAS — With four of Canada’s seven NHL teams set to select in the top 10 of the draft, The Canadian Press takes a look at how Friday’s first round might play out at the American Airlines Center in Dallas.
MONTREAL CANADIENS
With the No. 3 selection, the Habs are in desperate need for help in a number of areas, but perhaps nowhere more than at centre. Assuming the Buffalo Sabres draft star Swedish defenceman Rasmus Dahlin first overall before the Carolina Hurricanes take Russian winger Andrei Svechnikov second, look for Montreal to go after centre Jesperi Kotkaniemi. The only problem with that plan is the Finn was just the sixth-ranked European skater in the NHL Central Scouting Bureau’s final draft list. Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin could elect to trade down to gain more assets and grab Kotkaniemi later in the first round.
OTTAWA SENATORS