The Montreal Canadiens currently own the 16th and 17th overall picks at the upcoming 2025 NHL Entry Draft, a perk of having received a first-round pick in exchange for absorbing Sean Monahan’s contract from the Calgary Flames.

Before we get going, there’s a strong possibility the Canadiens may trade one or both picks in exchange for a player who could make an impact within the window that is expected to open with the current core of players. In other words, a relatively young player who is essentially NHL ready.

The 2025 NHL Entry Draft is set to take place on June 28 and 29, in Los Angeles. That gives us ample time to evaluate some of the players who could hear their names called once the Canadiens take to the podium.

Today, we’ll start taking a look at some of the players who could be available, while keeping in mind there are several other prospects worth discussing. Given what Jeff Gorton and Kent Hughes mentioned at the end-of-season press conference, we’ll focus on prospects who have a nice combination of size and talent.

ON TOPIC: Montreal Canadiens Draft Pick Order For The 2025 NHL Entry Draft

For now, we’re going to avoid discussing players who won’t be available, such as Caleb Desnoyers, Roger McQueen, and Carter Bear, however, we can absolutely circle back to prospects expected to go in the top 10 once we get closer to the actual draft, and have a better idea of how Hughes intends to approach the event.

Justin Carbonneau, 18, Right Wing, Shoots Right, 6’1″, 192 lb. Blainville-Boisbriand (QMJHL)
(62 GP, 46 G, 43 A, 89 PTS)

Carbonneau will often be mentioned leading up to the draft, and more often than not, he’ll be linked to the Canadiens. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but the reason Carbonneau should interest in the Habs is that he’s quite talented. The fact that he can speak French is simply a bonus.

Besides, when’s the last time the Habs defied pre-draft rankings to put their hands on a Francophone in the first round? It wasn’t Louis Leblanc, because he was ranked exactly where the Habs ended up picking him. Nathan Beaulieu was also a pick that lined up with draft rankings, which means we can safely stop assuming the Habs will simply pick the best Francophone available. It also means some outlets will have to work a little harder when it comes to their mock drafts.

That being said, Carbonneau fits the bill in Montreal. He has decent size, but more than anything, it’s his elite puck skills that have him ranked anywhere from 13th to 19th in most draft lists. To get a better idea of what he brings to the table, I’d like to suggest reading this in-depth profile on Carbonneau written by Hadi Kalakeche over at Elite Prospects.

Suffice it to say, he has excellent hands, elite offensive instincts, and high-end anticipation. His shot features a very sneaky release, as well as above-average accuracy. There’s a healthy chance he won’t be available to the Habs by the time the 16th overall pick is due, but if he does slide it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Canadiens jump on the opportunity.

Logan Hensler, 18, Defenceman, Shoots Right, 6’2″, 196 lb. University of Wisconsin (NCAA)
(32 GP, 2 G, 10 A, 12 PTS)

Every draft features a run on  defencemen, and though the timing in the first round tends to vary, once teams start focusing on blue liners, the options quickly start to fade away.

In that vein, Hensler may not be available, as he was once knocking on the door of the top 10 for the upcoming 2025 NHL Entry Draft, but his stock has dropped significantly in recent months. That’s a red flag to a certain extent, but it may also provide the Habs with an opportunity to take advantage of the shifting market.

One of the most notable strengths possessed by Hensler is his ability to shut down opponents who are attempting to score off the rush, and that takes even more importance than usual in the modern NHL landscape.

Teams that can score off the rush tend to make it further than most in the playoffs. Teams who have no idea how to defend the rush, like the Habs, don’t make it very far. On that note, Hensler uses a somewhat aggressive approach to defending, preferring a proactive approach rather than a collapsing strategy.

Lynden Lakovic, 18, Forward, Shoots Left, 6’4″, 190 lb. Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL)
(47 GP, 27 G, 31 A, 58 PTS)

Lakovic has the type of size that will attract a lot of attention at the draft, but I wouldn’t necessarily describe him as a rough-and-tumble player. More than anything, he’s received a fair amount of criticism about his lack of physicality from some scouts. That’s par for the course when discussing a tall player, and if I’m being honest, it’s a very archaic way of evaluating prospects.

If you are hellbent on finding negatives, you will achieve your goal. No prospect is perfect. That’s why the newer generation of scouts tend to focus on the positives, first and foremost.

Lakovic skates very well, which is very different from saying a big prospect ‘skates well for his size’. That’s code for a bad skater who can reach the mixer on the top shelf in the kitchen. Fortunately, Lakovic has great speed, full stop.

He’s a hybrid forward, putting together a nice combination of goal-scoring and playmaking. Some of his skill set falls on the raw side of things, which means he may take a little more time than others to attain his sky-high ceiling.

If you have a prospect in mind that you would like to see mentioned in the next batch of players who will potentially be available at 16th or 17th overall, please mention their name in the comments, and we’ll add them to the list.

We use several resources when evaluating prospects. The most referenced websites including Elite Prospects and Hockey Prospect.