Unless Kent Hughes pulls out yet another draft trade, the Montreal Canadiens will be picking twice in the first round. Once at number 16 in place of the Calgary Flames, thanks to the Sean Monahan trade in August 2022, and a second time with their pick.
In their history, the Canadiens have picked 16th four times. Were there good players in the lot? Were there some busts? Does history give us hope as to the value of the first of the Canadiens’ two first-round picks?
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Montreal used the 16th selection in 2020, 2000, 1998, and 1985. Nobody will be surprised to hear that they selected Kaiden Guhle with the pick in 2020 and that he has since become a part of the Habs’ young core. If it weren’t for all the injuries, he would have been close to a perfect pick.
In 2000, they opted for Marcel Hossa, Marian’s younger brother. Unfortunately for the Canadiens, the name was pretty much all they shared. Marcel didn’t have the talent or NHL longevity his brother was blessed with. He played 59 NHL games in Montreal, gathering 19 points before being traded to the New York Rangers for Garth Murray. He then spent three years with the Rangers and one with the Phoenix Coyotes before retiring from the NHL after 237 games and 61 points.
In 1998, the Canadiens used the 16th overall pick to choose Eric Chouinard, son of coach Guy Chouinard. The big winger had dominated in the QMJHL, posting seasons of 83, 109, and 104 points. His skills didn’t translate very well to the NHL, and after two and a half seasons, he was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers in return for a second-round pick at the following draft, which became Maxim Lapierre. In the end, Chouinard only played 90 games in the NHL, picking up 26 points in the process before heading overseas to play there.
Finally, in 1985, Montreal picked Tom Chorske. The American needed a few years before making the jump to the pros, but he broke into the Canadiens' lineup in 1989-90, skating in 14 games and picking up four points. Then, in the following season, he skated in 57 games with the Canadiens, registering 20 points. He was a promising player, but the following September, he was sent to the New Jersey Devils along with Stephane Richer for Roland Melanson and Kirk Muller. Overall, Chorsle played 596 games in the NHL across 11 seasons, scoring 237 points.
It's not the largest sample, but it does illustrate how hit-and-miss drafting can be, even in the first round. We'll have a look at picks number 17 in the coming days.
Photo credit: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
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