After a dissapointing season, Montreal GM Tomayko ended up with 15 picks in this year's draft after trades. The overall goal of Montreal this draft was to replenish their weak prospect list. Quite a few players from their prospect pool has moved on to professional league play, and these 15 draft picks fulfilled their goal: (All picks are numbered as overall picks)
14. Brandon Gormley - D - Gormley could end up in the hardest shot competition in the NHL. This elite defenseman is on his way to a top-pairing in the near to mid future. After lasting longer than most at training camp with Phoenix, Gormley returned to junior hockey just a few days ago to continue development into one of Phoenix's top D-man 5-on-5, PP, and PK.
16. Jaden Schwartz - C - Schwartz fell down to the Canadiens this draft. After being seriously considered at the 14 spot, Schwartz was a trade interest among a few other teams. Montreal decided to take Schwartz and his great set-up ability. Scoring 47 points and being named to Preseason All-WCHA Team, Schwartz will continue his development in college hockey.
21. Beau Bennett - C - Beau Bennett is definately a Home-r pick. With GM Tomayko's hailing from the Pittsburgh area, Bennett was a familiar name and was picked up 1 spot behind his NHL draft position. Among many high-end prospects in the Penguins organization, Bennett was listed as the top prospect on the squad. Bennett will be exploring the pro's after this college season, but he and Schwartz are going to battle it out for the top Center spot in the Canadiens roster in a few seasons.
36. Mark Pysyk - D - Pysyk will one day share a line with Brandon Gormley on top of the Canadiens roster. A great offensive defenseman, Pysyk dropped out of the first round and into the laps of the Canadiens. Pysyk is starting this season back in the WHL, and in a year or two will be in the AHL.
53. Johan Larsson - LW - Larsson was chosen for his position and his two-way capability. Outside of the first round, Larsson was the Canadiens top Winger remaining. Larson has a large frame for his 5-10 body and uses it to his advantage. His unique scoring ability will find him on either Schwartz's or Bennett's second line.
61. Brad Ross - LW - Brad Ross was passed on numerous times in this year's draft until Montreal came in to take the agitator under their wings. Ross will push the 200 PIM every season in the NHL at his current rate, but his scoring puts him at the same level as Chris Neil and Jarkko Ruutu on a 3rd line.
67. Oscar Lindberg - C - Oscar Lindberg was not a player chosen for his offensive ability what-so-ever. Lindberg was drafted mainly for his faceoff. On a second PP unit and top PK unit, Lindberg is going to see considerable time in a Canadiens roster. After just one more year overseas, Lindberg will make the trip to play in the Rangers system.
97. Michael Bournival - C - Bournival's skills brought attention to GM Tomayko as his effort and hard-work ethic reminded him of his favorite NHL player, Tyler Kennedy. Although Bournival does not have the complete scoring potential, his gritty style is going to wear teams down and open up the ice for the next shift.
99. Petr Straka - RW - How could any team ever go wrong with a Straka on their side? Petr Straka is a development piece for the Canadiens. Having been injured, Straka is still performing at high-speed level. After seeing Straka in Columbus preseason, GM Tomayko took an interest to the fast Right-Winger. It's a high-risk pick, but Tomayko feels like Straka will fulfill his capabilities and strengthen the wing corps in Montreal
103. Fredrik Pettersson-Wentzel - G - With no goalies really left in the prospect field for Montreal, the first goalie taken by GM Tomayko in this draft is Pettersson-Wentzel. Fredrik has shown amazing ability in international play. With Jonathan Quick tending the net in Montreal for the future, Pettersson-Wentzel is that development goalie that GM Tomayko hopes will slowly make his way up to the NHL.
114. Phil Lane - RW - Phil Lane dropped this far in the draft because of his peak-potential as a 3rd line winger. Where many teams are reaching deep into the draft, the Canadiens picked up a 2nd-round winger late in the 4th round. Although he may only recieve 10 minutes a game on the ice for the Canadiens in the future, Lane will establish himself as a reliable asset on the roster.
121. Ben Marshall - D - Marshall was the Canadiens last real defensive prospect in this year's draft. Another offensive defenseman, Marshall can still lift a stick off the puck in the defensive zone. Another long-term prospect, Marshall will attend college until the Red Wings are ready to try the smaller defenseman out at the pro-level.
129 Mathieu Corbeil-Theriault - G - The only player that GM Tomayko had to look up at when handing a jersey, Corbeil-Theriault could sit in the net and have a shut-out. With his first attempt at starting this year in the QMJHL and his impressive stats in last year's Memorial Cup, Corbeil-Theriault could easily pass Pettersson-Wentzel on the prospect list on his way to the NHL.
157. Nick D'Agostino - D - Set back your Delorean 2 years and then fast-forward to the 7th round. That's where Nick D'Agostino was drafted by the Pittsburgh Penguins. Other than being drafted so late, D'Agostino's college decision made him go undrafted for 2 seasons in the BRHL2. D'Agostino is a two-way defenseman that will likely mull around the AHL for a few seasons after college before even being remotely considered for the NHL. With his college time done in 2 years, GM Tomayko decided to take him before he shines in his Junior/Senior years at Cornell.
181. Jonathan Brunelle - LW - The 2010 NHL Draft saddest picture goes to the family of Jonathan Brunelle. After not being chosen at all, his family was devastated. Only being offered try-outs, Brunelle has continued to achieve his goal as an NHLer by strengthening his game in the QMJHL. With a PPG average so far this year with Cape Breton, Brunelle can only hope that his stats and will become recognized by NHL scouts.
This draft was full of excitement in the Montreal war room. Having a top 6 draft pick originally, Montreal ended up with 4 1st rounders and 5 2nd rounders from the NHL Draft. The focus for GM Tomayko and the Canadiens was down the middle. GM Tomayko is set on establishing the Centers for the future. The Defense and Goalies future became much stronger this draft. The few wingers that GM Tomayko drafted have high-end potential, but they were drafted mostly for their depth roles on the 2nd-4th lines. It may take 5-6 years for all of the players to truly come to form for the Canadiens, but GM Tomayko plans on being there the entire way to see it through.
