Successful 6-foot-1 acquisition by the Canadiens draws big praise: 'He's got one heck of an attitude'

With their third-round pick, 81st overall, Kent Hughes set his sights on Bryce Pickford, who was in his second year of draft eligibility.

Pickford, who plays for the Medicine Hat Tigers in the WHL, is off to an excellent start this season with 27 points, including 13 goals and 14 assists in 25 games. He was also a key piece for his team last year during the WHL playoffs.

He posted an impressive 24 points, including 13 goals, in 18 games and helped lead his team all the way to the Memorial Cup final, held in Rimouski this past spring.

However, few experts mention Pickford when discussing the Canadiens' top defensive prospects. Many focus solely on David Reinbacher or Adam Engstrom, which pushed a well-known journalist to go meet him in recent days.

Nicolas Cloutier of TVA Sports spoke with the 19-year-old, and it's clear he doesn't hold back when something doesn't sit right with him.

After the 2024 NHL Draft - where he was overlooked by all 32 teams - he was invited to the Detroit Red Wings' camp. Let's just say he didn't mince words.

The Canadiens took advantage of his renewed eligibility in 2025 to select him in the third round, and Bryce Pickford could very well develop into a true offensive dynamo in the coming years. Furthermore, after his WHL season, Pickford is expected to join the Laval Rocket in the AHL, and he says he's more than ready for the challenge.

Yes, it's already fair to say that Kent Hughes and the Canadiens may have struck gold again with the acquisition of Bryce Pickford