Insider Reveals the Surprising Price Canadiens Must Pay to Land a Top-8 Pick at This Year's Draft
Photo credit: NHL
Journalist Marco D'Amico, who broke the news of Ivan Demidov's arrival in Montreal, has just revealed new information ahead of the draft.
First, he confirmed that some teams are indeed holding discussions to move into the top 8 of the draft.
We mentioned this a bit earlier.
However, he also added a very interesting detail regarding the asking price and what teams are looking for in these draft-related trades.
Unprotected 2026 first-round picks in high demand across the National Hockey League
Here's what he reported:
"Been hearing that unprotected 2026 picks could be the asks from certain teams, rather than using picks from this draft.
Also being told that teams have prepared the notion of asking for 2026 picks to move down as well."
- Marco D'Amico
Also being told that teams have prepared the notion of asking for 2026 picks to move down as well."
- Marco D'Amico
Interesting!
So if Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens want to acquire a top-8 pick for this June's draft, it's clear their chances of getting a deal done would increase if their offer includes an unprotected 2026 first-round pick.
Clearly, NHL teams are doing everything they can to maximize their chances of landing the phenom Gavin McKenna.
In short, on the current trade market, 2026 first-round picks appear to hold more value than 2025 first-rounders, which is quite unusual.
And you, would you take the chance of trading an unprotected 2026 first-round pick to acquire a top-8 pick in this year's draft?
| POLL | ||
MAI 17 | 1877 ANSWERS Insider Reveals the Surprising Price Canadiens Must Pay to Land a Top-8 Pick at This Year's Draft And you, would you take the chance of trading an unprotected 2026 first-round pick to acquire a top-8 pick in this year's draft? | ||
| Yes | 940 | 50.1 % |
| No | 937 | 49.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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