Posted May 8, 2023 9:08 PM ET
MONTREAL — The Montreal Canadiens won’t stand a chance at coveted youngster Connor Bedard, but they will still be able to sign a top young talent after picking up the No. 5 pick in the NHL draft on Monday have.
Montreal, which had an 8.5 percent chance of landing the top pick, will have the highest pick of any Canadian team in this year’s draft, taking place June 28-29 in Nashville.
The Vancouver Canucks (11th) and Calgary Flames (16th) round out Canada’s teams entering the top 16. The Ottawa Senators send their 12th overall pick to the Arizona Coyotes after trading their first-round pick to Arizona defenseman Jakob Chychrun at the March NHL close.
The Chicago Blackhawks won the lottery and are selected first overall. The Anaheim Ducks will pick second and the Columbus Blue Jackets will pick third.
Bedard, a 17-year-old center from Lynn Valley, BC, is set to finish first overall as the most anticipated draft pick since Edmonton Oilers star Connor McDavid was drafted in 2015.
Bedard had 143 points (71 goals, 72 assists) in 57 games for the Regina Pats of the Western Hockey League that season, the league’s highest single-season total since 1996.
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