The Canadiens won the No. 3 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft lottery, but they might not hang onto it.
Montreal general manager Marc Bergevin said the team is looking for a player who will make an immediate impact, regardless of whether he gets there via draft or trade.
"At three you get a player [from the draft] that's probably going to play sooner than later," Bergevin told reporters Saturday, adding that the Canadiens haven't decided whether to deal the No. 3 pick to another team or keep it for themselves. "Anything's possible, but you suffer a lot to get that pick so it has to be a pretty good offer to move that pick."
MORE: Sabres win No. 1 pick; Hurricanes, Canadiens jump into top 3
The pressure to land an elite centre is largely driving the direction Montreal goes, but a disappointing 2017-18 season also has an impact. The Habs finished with a dismal 29-40-13 record and totalled 71 points, ranking above only the Senators and the Sabres in the Atlantic Division.
Of the three teams remaining in the #NHLDraftLottery, Montreal would definitely be the most fun winner, mostly because they'd spend the first eighteen or so months trying to convert Rasmus Dahlin into a centre
— Jeff Veillette (@JeffVeillette) April 29, 2018
The 2018 NHL Draft will take place June 22-23 in Dallas. The first round will be held Friday, June 22, with rounds 2-7 following Saturday, June 23.