2015 NHL Draft Guide for Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens fell short of the Stanley Cup Final for the second season in a row, as they were eliminated by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the second round.

The Habs have some decisions to make ahead of the draft (June 26-27) because the team needs to make a serious run next season.

The Canadiens went to the Eastern Conference Final in 2014, so this past season can be looked at as a step backwards. Montreal has done a decent job of drafting in recent years, and general manager Marc Bergevin is hoping to have similar success at this year's draft.

With that in mind, here's a guide for the Canadiens in the upcoming draft.

According to General Fanager, the Canadiens currently have the following roster players signed to a contract.

Forwards:

• Centers: Tomas Plekanec, David Desharnais, Lars Eller and Torrey Mitchell
• Left Wingers: Max Pacioretty, Brandon Prust and Jacob De La Rose
• Right Wingers: Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau, Brendan Gallagher, Dale Weise and Devante Smith-Pelly

Defense:

• P.K. Subban, Andrei Markov, Jeff Petry, Alexei Emelin, Tom Gilbert and Nathan Beaulieu

Goaltending:

• Carey Price and Dustin Tokarski

Projected Lineup

Max Pacioretty—Tomas Plekanec—Brendan Gallagher
Alex Galchenyuk—David Desharnais—Dale Weise
Brandon Prust—Lars Eller—Pierre-Alexandre Parenteau
Jacob De La Rose—Torrey Mitchell—Devante Smith-Pelly

Andrei Markov—P.K. Subban
Alexei Emelin—Jeff Petry
Tom Gilbert—Nathan Beaulieu

Carey Price
Dustin Tokarski

Top Players Drafted in Last 5 Years

2014: Nikita Scherbak, No. 26 Overall from Saskatoon (WHL)

2013: Mike McCarron, No. 25 Overall from USA U-18 (USHL)

2013: Jacob de La Rose, No. 34 Overall from Leksand (Sweden)

2013: Zach Fucale, No. 36 Overall from Halifax (QMJHL)

2012: Alex Galchenyuk, No. 3 Overall from Sarnia (OHL)

2011: Nathan Beaulieu, No. 17 Overall from Saint John (QMJHL)

2010: Brendan Gallagher, No. 147 Overall from Vancouver (WHL)

The Canadiens have made a number of quality draft picks over the last few seasons and have a couple of players who will make their debut over the next couple of seasons.

Recent selections who stand out include forwards such as Brendan Gallagher and Alex Galchenyuk, and defenseman Nathan Beaulieu.

Mike McCarron and Zach Fucale should both have an opportunity to see NHL action in the next couple of seasons.

Top Prospects

1. Dalton Thrower: Thrower is a defender who has developed nicely at the WHL level with the Saskatoon Blades and Vancouver Giants. The 6'0", 197-pound rearguard is ready to move on to the AHL and will end his WHL career with 42 goals and 147 points in 285 games.

2. Nikita Scherbak: Montreal took a talented forward in the first round of last year's draft. Scherbak spent the 2014-15 season with the Everett Silvertips of the WHL, scoring 27 goals and tallying 82 points in 65 games. The speedy and determined winger also tallied eight points in 11 playoff games and should be AHL-bound for the upcoming season.

3. Mike McCarron: The hulking 6'6", 225-pound forward improved this season with a split between the London Knights and the Memorial Cup champion Oshawa Generals. He tallied 28 goals and 68 points in 56 games, and added 18 points in 21 playoff games.

Going into the draft, the Canadiens have a couple of items on their shopping list, and they can address them by using or trading their draft picks. With that in mind, here are their biggest needs and potential fits based on the picks they have in their possession.

1. Defense: The Canadiens have a couple of older defenders on the blue line who can be replaced over the next few years by prospects like Nathan Beaulieu, Dalton Thrower and so on. That means it would be wise for the Habs to backfill as they promote prospects, and there are a number of defenders who should be available when Montreal picks in the first round (26th overall).

Potential Fits: Oliver Kylington, Jeremy Roy, Brandon Carlo or Gabriel Carlsson.

2. Center: Montreal lacks dynamic centers in the system, and at some point, it is going to need to add a legitimate pivot if Alex Galchenyuk ends up being a winger. Tomas Plekanec is also getting older, and his role could be changed in a few years. The Canadiens don't have a chance to take one of the elite centers in the first round, but there are bound to be a couple worth taking at No. 26 overall.

Potential Fits: Jansen Harkins, Alexander Dergachyov, Joel Eriksson Ek.

The Canadiens are in a less than ideal spot for the draft because of a lack of second-round picks. The second round has been a strength of Montreal's over the last few years, but it only holds picks in the first, third, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds.

There is always the chance that the Habs could package their late first for two second-round picks, or they could move some players on the roster for additional picks.

Right now, the Canadiens have a competitive team that will go far with Carey Price in net, but it makes sense to try to take advantage of one of the deepest drafts since 2003.

Draft pick history via Hockey-Reference.com, stats via NHL.com and Elite Prospects, and contract information via General Fanager unless otherwise noted.