Canadiens On the Verge of Losing a High Draft-Pick Due to Flawed NHL Rule
Photo credit: Habsolument Fan
The Montreal Canadiens have drafted a significant number of players over the last few years.
This situation allows for more chances to make good picks in each draft class, but it also comes with a long-term concern.
NHL teams have a limited number of contracts they can offer to players, with a maximum of 50 agreements, which complicates the task and forces difficult decisions by the management.
The more players the organization drafts, the more it will have to decide at some point among the selected prospects when it comes time to offer them a contract.
The Canadiens might lose a high draft pick
One of the young talents that Kent Hughes will need to closely examine soon is Luke Tuch, a second-round pick of the Canadiens in 2020.
Tuch, who is the brother of Alex Tuch, the Buffalo Sabres forward, is having a good season in the NCAA, in his fourth year at Boston University. He has accumulated 23 points in 26 games this year. However, his progress has not been as remarkable as anticipated at the time of his selection.
According to Simon "Snake" Boisvert, who discussed his case in a recent episode of the Process podcast, he does not deserve a contract from the Canadiens.
"The easy answer is to say you offer him a contract, send him to Laval, and see. He's a big player with an NHL physique like his brother, but the comparison stops there. He's a guy with practically no offensive talent, except for a poor shot, but teams are limited to 50 contracts, there's a limit, and the Canadiens have drafted a lot of players over the last few years so they have to make a selection. Can Luke Tuch play in the NHL? If he can play in the NHL, it's as a 12th/13th forward and that's in the best-case scenario. I wouldn't sign him."
- Simon Boisvert
This is quite direct in the case of Tuch. It must be said that the club's senior management knows him very well, since he plays on the same team as Lane Hutson and Jack Hughes, the son of Kent.
Since the Canadiens currently have 45 contracts within their organization, which should soon add those of Hutson and Adam Engstrom, there's not much margin for maneuver for the general manager.
It's rare to see a team give up so early on a second-round pick, but the ordinary development and the Canadiens' situation might force Hughes's hand.
However, it should be noted that if the organization renounces Tuch's rights, the Canadiens would obtain a 3rd round pick in 2025, which might possibly tip the decision-making balance.
| POLL |
11 FEVRIER | 501 ANSWERS Canadiens On the Verge of Losing a High Draft-Pick Due to Flawed NHL Rule Should the Canadiens sign Luke Tuch? |
| Yes | 290 | 57.9 % |
| No | 211 | 42.1 % |
| LIST OF POLLS |
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