The Montreal Canadiens own a bevy of draft capital heading into the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. They currently own 12 draft picks, though the fifth overall pick will carry much more weight than the rest, seeing as it’s the team’s best chance to add a game-changing presence to the lineup.

With the help of Bob McKenzie’s final draft rankings, we now have a better idea of how the top prospects are viewed by various scouts around the NHL. It’s important to note the list is not a mock draft, but rather, a consensus ranking, which means it won’t necessarily line up with the draft lists from teams making those selections.

Bob McKenzie Top 10 2024 NHL Entry Draft

The top player on the list is the only one who is guaranteed to be drafted at a pre-determined position. Unless there’s a major shakeup or an unforeseen trade, the San Jose Sharks will draft Macklin Celebrini with the first overall pick at the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. Once Celebrini is off the board, the real fun begins.

1 – Macklin Celebrini, Boston University (NCAA)

2 – Ivan Demidov, St-Petersburg (MHL)

3 – Artyom Levshunov, Michigan State (NCAA)

4 – Anton Silayev, Nizhny Novgorod (KHL)

5 – Cayden Lindstrom, Medicine Hat (WHL)

6 – Sam Dickinson, London (OHL)

7 – Zeev Buium, Denver (NCAA)

8 – Zayne Parekh, Saginaw (OHL)

9 – Konsta Helenius, Jukurit (Liiga)

10 – Tij Iginla, Kelowna (WHL)

Given that the Canadiens have strongly suggested they’re intent on drafting a forward at the upcoming draft, it’s safe to say Artyom Levshunov and Anton Silayev are not the team’s ideal targets when it comes to the fifth overall pick, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they’re not being considered. If there’s an early run on the top forwards, the best player available could very well be a defenceman.

You’ll also note that one of the most talented players at the draft, Ivan Demidov, is ranked second, but as we already discussed, pre-draft nerves may come into play. Despite every top Russian prospect quickly making his way to North America in recent years, there’s a narrative surrounding young players emerging from the MHL, VHL, and KHL. Statistically speaking, there are much better odds an NCAA player will complicate the process down the road, as was the case recently when it was revealed Rutger McGroarty and the Winnipeg Jets have been unable to find common ground, leading to trade discussions that include the talented winger.

MUST READ: Canadiens Trade Talk – Top Prospect Could Be Available To The Habs

Cayden Lindstrom rounds out the top five, which confirms he’s a legitimate target for the Montreal Canadiens. He’s got the size, the talent, and the net drive to become a power forward, though there has been some concern as to his ability to remain healthy. The Canadiens will surely perform due diligence in his case, especially since they’re not in a hurry to set more records for the most man games lost in an NHL season. The Canadiens have remained tight-lipped about their intentions, but there’s no doubt Lindstrom projects as the type of forward general manager Kent Hughes tends to target in both trade talks and entry drafts.

As for the other player who has garnered much attention in Habs-related draft discussions, Tij Iginla ranks 10th on McKenzie’s list, one spot ahead of Konsta Helenius. Iginla has the pedigree, and he plays a rough-and-tumble game, however, there are concerns whether he can develop into an elite player rather than just a high-end complementary piece.

For those wondering, Cole Eiserman, perhaps the best-goal scorer available in 2024, is ranked 15th on McKenzie‘s list. The Habs need goals, and he certainly fits the bill, but unless the team decides to move down from fifth overall, picking Eiserman in the top five seems like a stretch when discussing the Canadiens draft strategy.