The Athletic's Scott Wheeler recently released his first 2026 NHL Mock Draft [https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/7259219/2026/05/07/nhl-mock-draft-2026-first-round-mckenna-maple-leafs/]. With the Canadiens' first-round pick, he had the Habs selecting forward Simas Ignatavicius. Ignatavicius is a big, 6-foot-3 forward with good upside. The 18-year-old forward spent most of this season with Geneve Servette of Switzerland's National League, where he had seven goals, six assists, 13 points, and 43 penalty minutes in 52 games. He also played in eight Swiss League games for HC Thurgau this season, where he had seven goals and 11 points. Overall, Ignatavicius has shown promise, and he would have the potential to be a very solid addition to the Canadiens' prospect pool if they drafted him this summer. While the big forward would not be ready for the NHL immediately after his draft year, the potential for him to become an impactful NHL player later down the road is certainly there. It will be interesting to see who the Canadiens end up taking in the first round at the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. However, they, of course, are currently focused on their second round series against the Buffalo Sabres.
