No less than five offers on the table for Canadian pick #5

We know that the Canadiens could move down in the draft. If that happens, it will be on the cow floor, provided the first selections of the auction allow it. In other words, if the CH guy is taken, he’ll think about it.

If Matvei Michkov is available, we don’t expect the CH to select him. That’s nothing new.

Unless Kent Hughes is a legendary poker player ♠️♣️♦️ https://t.co/K3eao35r7M

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) June 28, 2023

Even though Marc-Antoine Godin reports that the Habs didn’t get the impression that the young man was interested in leading the conversation with a view to being drafted or not by certain teams.

All of which is to say that we’ll find out this summer whether the Russian will be heading to Montreal or not.

But as we know, it would be more than surprising if the Habs decided to take their #5 pick to get their hands on the Russian, who will surely be available at that time.

Maximizing the value of the pick will therefore be the Habs’ challenge… and that’s why a trade down makes sense, given current market circumstances.

And there’s news on that front.

According to Frank Seravalli, the Habs currently have five offers on the table for their prized draft pick. Five is a big number.

Big day. Lots percolating. Here’s the latest: #GoHabsGo weighing as many as five offers for No. 5 overall pick.#pens Petry, #LGRW Zadina, #SeaKraken Geekie, #GoBolts Bogosian and #TimeToHunt Duclair all added to the board.

Top 50 Trade Targets🎯:https://t.co/1xaVbEHjbq

– Frank Seravalli (@frank_seravalli) June 28, 2023

With five offers, the Canadian can keep his pick, but he can also create an overbid. That way, it would be easy to drive up other teams’ prices to, once again, maximize the pick’s value.

The CH could also (if that’s what it wants) choose the offer that would allow it to draft the best possible prospect.

I imagine that the Philadelphia Flyers (pick #7) are among the teams with an offer on the table… and that it’s more tempting to say yes to them than to a club outside the top-10.

Note that the Sharks would like to keep their pick.

In gusto

– Really?

Louis Robitaille was seen in Nashville this week. He’s clearly looking for a new challenge, and has made no secret of his desire to coach professionally one day. He was at the top of the list of candidates for the Cape Breton Eagles, I’m told.

– Anthony Marcotte (@anthonymarcotte) June 28, 2023

– Speaking of Philly.

It will be interesting to see if Danny Briere can find a trade partner. Travis Sanheim continues to draw attention. Perhaps, the Flyers upgrade their pick at 22 as part of a deal. 7th overall isn’t moving unless part of something much, much bigger.

– Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) June 28, 2023

– Makes sense.

I’m told Ryan Graves will test the autonomous player market on July 1.
The #Devils love him, but Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec are knocking on the #NHL door.
–
I’m told that Ryan Graves will hit the market on July 1st as a UFA.#NHL #NJdevils

– Raphaël Doucet (@raphdoucet) June 28, 2023

– Coyotes: the club knows it’s not loved.

Season Two of Inside Access is now live! See Bill Armstrong and his staff prepare for the upcoming NHL draft in Episode 1.

FULL EPISODE: https://t.co/MHlrA2tiU5 pic.twitter.com/Z4o6nq6iEN

– Arizona Coyotes (@ArizonaCoyotes) June 28, 2023

– Speaking of the draft.

Yanic Perreault played a few seasons with the CH and confided something about it to his son, who will be drafted tonight. https://t.co/L61pKhD5qp

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) June 28, 2023