2018 NHL Draft: 5 players the Montreal Canadiens need to draft

1. F Brady Tkachuk – 1st round (3rd overall)

To put your finger on the pulse of an NHL executive, you need simply look at their transaction history. It’s clear that Bergevin covets size and grit. Shea Weber, Karl Alzner, Jared Tinordi and the recent Max Domi acquisition highlight some of the moves he’s made to address this area. At six-foot-three and nearly 200 pounds, Tkachuk presents a tempting blend of size, skill and snarl.

His game at the World Juniors was well-documented and he was played in late-game situations throughout the tournament. Tkachuk also finished fourth in team scoring in his first year at Boston University.

"He’s more of a threat in all areas of the game than I was. I was a little more offensive minded where he provides everything. He’s tougher than I am, he’s more physical than I am. From what I’ve seen he looks like he could be a step ahead of me” –Matthew Tkachuk"

Brady took the college route because he wanted to play against older competition, feeling it would be better for his development. He can make the immediate jump to the AHL next season, though a decision on that won’t be made now.

While he has played center (a huge positional deficiency for the Canadiens) he has spent most of his development years on the wing. At third overall, Montreal can’t miss with this pick and Tkachuk possesses all the tools to succeed at the NHL level. With Max Domi, the Canadiens suddenly have plenty of depth on the left wing, but there’s no guarantee Max Pacioretty will be with the team beyond this year.

Next: Top 5 center prospects in the 2018 NHL draft

Tkachuk is the complete package Montreal needs and will be the best player available at this spot with Dahlin heading to Buffalo and Svechnikov on his way to Carolina.

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