Canadiens, Kings swap first-round NHL draft picks

The Montreal Canadiens have traded up to pick 21 in the 2024 NHL Draft, sending the Los Angeles Kings picks 26, 57 and 198 in return, per Dennis Bernstein of The Fourth Period.

Montreal, who also owns No. 5, brings their two Day 1 selections just hours before they’ll take the podium. And they may not be done, per TSN’s Darren Dreger, who shares that the team is interested in finding another way into the Top 10, even if it means moving down from fifth overall. Dreger also mentions that Montreal is involved in player trade talks, potentially opening the team up to an incredibly eventful day as they settle into Vegas.

The 2022 NHL Draft marked the first time Montreal has had two first-round picks since 2007, when they drafted Ryan McDonagh and Max Pacioretty. The team succeeded those picks with Juraj Slafkovsky and Filip Mesar in 2022 — and is now looking to make the most of the pair of picks in a strong 2024 first round. The class features talents at every spot, with players like Cole Eiserman and Berkly Catton bringing high skill to the wings, Michael Hage and Trevor Connelly standing as high-scoring centers, and Carter Yakemchuk and Anton Silayev potential fallers on defense. Even at five and 21, the Canadiens should have plenty of opportunity to bring impactful lineup pieces.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles builds out their pool of future assets without losing too much stock on Day 1. It will be L.A.’s first time in the first round since 2021 when they selected Brandt Clarke eighth overall. The Kings now have six picks in this year’s draft, more than they wielded in either 2021 or 2023, though three of their selections come in the sixth and seventh rounds. The Kings could afford some robust additions to their prospect pool, with little to look at besides Clarke and Jordan Spence. That should set the team up to take the best player available at each selection, regardless of positioning, as they look to find players who can quickly support their drive back to the postseason. At 25, they could be within reach of hardy forwards like Emil Hemming, Cole Beaudoin, and Jett Luchanko.

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