Big clue: a new target of Kent Hughes and the CH at the 5th overall pick has just been revealed and it's a surprise

The countdown is well underway for the next NHL draft, and since the result of the lottery, most experts have put forth their renowned Mock Drafts.

While the identity of the players who will be drafted in the first two positions is nearly unanimous, the different expert lists are starting to vary, and this is where it becomes quite interesting.

As the Canadiens will pick fifth, we've been hearing names like Leo Carlsson, Will Smith, Matvei Michkov, and defender David Reinbacher for weeks, but as reported by Marco Normandin from Habsolumentfan.com, another prospect could very well interest the Canadiens' management.

A new clue

According to Marco D'Amico from Montreal Hockey Now, the young prospect Ryan Leonard is currently among the players that could greatly interest Kent Hughes at the fifth pick. He has been targeted by the organization.


The 6-foot, 192-pound right winger has played for the American development program in 2022-2023, and according to D'Amico, he regularly talks with Kent Hughes, whom he knows very well.


Seen as a prospect who could be picked between fifth and tenth, Leonard has just had an exceptional tournament at the U18 level, with an impressive haul of 17 points in seven games, even scoring the game-winning goal in overtime to give the United States the gold medal.


Even though we still don't know who will become the Canadiens' property with the fifth selection, the team's management could have a tough choice with the prospects who will be available when Kent Hughes steps onto the stage in Nashville in a few weeks.