Habs to Pick 16th and 17th in 2025 NHL Entry Draft
While Montreal’s first-round pick was locked in heading into Monday’s Draft Lottery, there was still some intrigue for the Canadiens as the outcome of the lottery would dictate which first-round pick they’d receive to complete the Sean Monahan trade.
As part of the trade, one that featured likely the longest list of conditions and protections in NHL history, the Habs could wind up with Calgary’s first rounder or Florida’s. For the lottery, the Flames went in with the 16th pick and the lowest odds to move up while the spot the Panthers would be picking from has yet to be determined as they’re still in the playoffs.
Calgary entered the night with only a 0.5% chance to move up with just five of a possible 1,000 combinations. In the end, following the lottery drawing being done live for the first time (instead of Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly turning over the cards with the actual draw being done in a secure room elsewhere), the Islanders moved up from 10th overall to 1st in the first draw. In the second, one of Calgary’s combinations was in it before the end but it was another significant upset winning the draw as Utah won from 14th. With teams only being allowed to move up 10 spots, their victory only moved them to 4th.
With none of the extra picks the Habs hold this year being from playoff teams, their full drafting order is now set. Here is where they will be picking from next month (round-overall) with how the pick was acquired if it’s a selection from another team.
1-16 (from Calgary in the Monahan trade)
1-17
2-41 (from Pittsburgh in the Jeff Petry trade)
2-49
3-79 (from Vancouver as part of the return for Casey DeSmith)
3-81
3-82 (from New Jersey in the Jake Allen trade)
4-108 (from Detroit in the other Jeff Petry trade)
4-113
5-145
6-177
7-209
Montreal has held the 16th pick four times in franchise history, most recently in 2020 when they picked Kaiden Guhle. Their other three selections at that pick were Marcel Hossa (2000), Eric Chouinard (1998), and Tom Chorske (1985).
As for the 17th selection, the Habs have made that pick a total of seven times. The last time they had that pick, they chose Nathan Beaulieu back in 2011. The other picks there were Brent Bilodeau (1991), Andrew Cassels (1987), Alfie Turcotte (1983), Dave Hunter (1978) Glenn Goldup (1973), and Jude Drouin (1966).