The panel discusses what the Montreal Canadiens should do with Jake Evans.

As I continue to look at the 2025 NHL Draft I’ve come to a conclusion. This has been something I’ve whispered for three to four years now. Teams need to draft for organizational needs especially when they’re drafting in the top 10.

The days of “best player available” are gone. It may be easy to say a team needs “everything” when they are rebuilding but all that means is there isn’t a defined plan for the future. Once you’re out of the first round, things change, your player might get selected two or three times before you select again, so that’s understandable. But let’s say you pick 10, you should be able to predict what most teams will do.

With a potential five centers going in the Top 10 this year, it would be easy to decide that the organization needs to draft a center. Even if Nick Suzuki is a top-line center, that’s fine. By the time this center gets to the NHL, Suzuki will be 28 or 29. So, whoever they select will still need development time, and starting at second or third-line center is acceptable.

Let’s assume Dach isn’t a great second-line center. That’s not that hard to foresee. That might make this pick more important to possibly correct that and put him on the wing. That could solidify two positions with one pick. The Canadiens are getting to the point where they have to address specific future needs.

There’s a lot of time between now and when I start writing more draft profiles. The draft in Los Angeles will be very important for Montreal. All I know is they need to get into the top 10. The higher you climb in the standings the worse your lottery chances are.

The Canadiens Have Organizational Needs