The Habs trailed for a good chunk of Friday’s game in Anaheim. While they once again pulled off a multi-goal comeback in the third period, they weren’t able to come away with the win, falling 6-5 in a shootout.
While it’s unlikely that the Habs will be drafting in the top eight in June barring either a late-season collapse or a trade that puts them in that range, we wrap up our midseason rankings series with the top eight selections.
We’re now into the lottery range in our 2026 draft rankings. The Habs certainly aren’t hoping to be picking in this range come June but should some of these players slip down the stretch, they could find themselves in Montreal’s range in June.
If the Habs are able to hold onto a playoff spot, this section is where they’re likely to pick in, barring a long run to the Conference Final. With that in mind, these will be some players to keep an eye on in the coming months.
As things stand, a lot would have to go right for the Habs to be picking toward the end of the first round. However, some players in this group of rankings could vault themselves closer to the back of the lottery with a strong second half which would line them u with where Montreal should be selecting.
With the NHL on break for a while, it’s a good time to start this year’s look at the upcoming draft. As usual, we begin with a look at the potential second-round picks; the Habs still have one in this range even after moving one for Phillip Danault back in December.
The Habs capped off their pre-Olympic schedule on Wednesday night in Winnipeg. While they trailed early, they bounced back nicely with five unanswered goals and 36 saves from Samuel Montembeault to hit the break with a 5-1 victory.
Despite controlling the game from the start, the Habs and Canucks were tied heading into the third. However, Montreal potted three in the final frame to pick up the 6-3 win in the first half of another back-to-back set.
The Habs returned to home ice on Wednesday after their seven-game road trip. While there is sometimes a letdown in the first game back, that was not the case in this one as Montreal was in control early and picked up the 4-1 win.
The Habs wrapped up their 2025 schedule with a trip to Florida to take on the defending champions. Florida scored twice in the third to take the lead but Montreal pushed back to force overtime where Nick Suzuki was the hero with the winner on the power play to give the Canadiens the 3-2 win.