Before the start of training camp, the Montreal Canadiens’ management had set expectations, stating the team would be “in the mix.” However, things haven’t gone as planned.

Since the season began, the Canadiens are among the NHL’s worst-performing teams. If this trend continues, GM Kent Hughes could once again secure a top-five draft pick in the upcoming draft.

As reported by DansLesCoulisses, the 2025 draft class is shaping up to be outstanding. According to a well-respected insider, the Canadiens should focus on positioning themselves to win the draft lottery.

Elliotte Friedman: Canadiens Must Aim for James Hagens, Not the 2025 Playoffs

This is precisely the opinion of Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman. On the latest episode of the 32 Thoughts podcast, Friedman suggested Kent Hughes should aim for the bottom of the standings to increase their chances of drafting James Hagens, widely regarded as the top prospect for the 2025 draft.

In short, Hagens, not a playoff push should be Montreal’s real target.

 

Friedman explained that finishing at the bottom of the standings would give the Canadiens a better chance of drafting the best player. He emphasized that Montreal needs another elite pick to advance their rebuild.

«If you’re a Canadiens fan, you might not like what I’m about to say. But I think now, you have to hurt for James Hagens.. The one thing you’re seeing now is that (coach Marty and the Habs players) are in a great mood in the morning..and after (the game) they just look so defeated. That’s a really tough place to be in at the beginning of November.. The Canadiens are not one big trade away.»

«I would have a big conversation about, are we really sure that the way we’re playing or the way we’re doing things is helping the players enough?’»

«Next year you could have a high pick coming, you could have Ivan Demidov coming and all of a sudden things could start to look a little rosier.»

«It is really hard to rebuild in this league.»

– Elliotte Friedman

 

Hagens, currently playing for Boston College in the NCAA, the same team as Canadiens top prospect Jacob Fowler, is regarded as the top prospect for the 2025 NHL Draft, scheduled for next June.

Some experts have even compared Hagens to Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils, the first overall pick in the 2019 draft.

Earlier this month, James Hagens opened up on the possibility of joining the Canadiens, confirming his interest.