3 players the Canadiens should target in the first round of the 2026 NHL Draft

The last time the Montreal Canadiens selected in the first round, fans were ecstatic to hear Ivan Demidov's name be called with the fifth overall selection. After not having a first-round selection in 2025, the Canadiens are back and slated to select 28th overall if they do indeed keep the pick.

There are plenty of names the Canadiens will be taking a long look at in a stacked draft class. However, this list will contain players who are more likely than not to be available near the end of the first round. Players like Oliver Suvanto, Oscar Hemming, and Nikita Klepov are three great prospects who have been talked a lot about in Canadiens fans' circles; however, as we get closer to draft day, these three players become more and more likely to be selected before Hughes and his staff are on the clock.

It is no secret that the Canadiens have one of the best and deepest prospect pools in the NHL, and no position is in dire need of a prospect. Meaning it is likely the Canadiens will take whoever they feel is the best available prospect, rather than being set on a specific position. That makes this potienal selection all the more interesting.

Without further ado, here are three prospects the Canadiens should select with the 28th pick in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Maddox Dagenais, C

Dagenais, a six-foot-four center playing for the Quebec Remparts of the QMJHL, is a project prospect, but the raw talent he possesses makes the sky his ceiling. Dagenais is only 18 years old, but with how many prospects the Canadiens have who are close to competing for a roster spot, selecting a younger player and letting him work his way up the ranks could be great for this team. The selection ensures another blue-chip prospect will be waiting in the wings as the team blossoms into a contender in the near future.

Dagenais recorded 62 points in 62 games in his second season with the Remparts, numbers that should only increase as he improves his game. Dagenais is big-bodied and physical, something that really helps him at the center position. But the key to his game is his playmaking and offensive awareness. Dagenais seems to always know where his teammates are and where they are headed to on the ice. He is incredibly fast with the puck and is ever so dangerous in transition.

The Canadiens' lack of star talent at the center position makes Dagenais all the more interesting as a potential first-round prospect.

Juho Piiparinen, D

A lot of talk has been made about the Canadiens' defensive depth, specifically the lack of right-shot defencemen. That makes Piiparinen an ideal prospect for the Canadiens blueline.

Scouts have called Piiparinen the best defensive defenseman in this draft. If he is available at 28, certainly the Canadiens will have a long discussion involving his name. The Finnish defenseman who stands at six feet three is an intriguing prospect because of the desperate need for big, stay-at-home, puck-moving right-shot blueliners in this league.

Piiparinen is very skilled at starting up a breakout and ensuring his team gets a clean head of steam up ice. He is very calm under pressure, having minimal trouble breaking out pucks with forechecks pressuring him. He is a pass-first defender who clearly values his defensive ability. He also brings pro experience at 17 years old, having played this past season with Tappara in Finland's pro league, "Liiga".

Liam Ruck, F

Liam Ruck is quite the intriguing forward prospect. Ruck had an amazing season with the Medicine Hat Tigers of the WHL, finishing second in the league in scoring with 104 points. The interesting thing is he trailed only his twin brother Marcus, who scored 108 points. Marcus also plays for the Tigers, and the twins have said they prefer to play in the NHL together, making the Ruck brothers' situation quite an interesting storyline.

Liam Ruck is a versatile, do-it-all player who can score from just about anywhere on the ice, proven by his 45-goal campaign in the WHL. What is fascinating about Ruck is his elite movement without the puck. He seems to always be in a position to not only get a great shot off, but to score as well.

Standing at six feet tall, Ruck is not overly physical; it is his off-puck movement that makes him so dangerous, as defenders consistently lose track of the quick-footed winger. Ruck has also proven to be far from afraid of playing down the middle and taking control of the middle of the ice.

Ruck does anything necessary to get into position to take a pass and rip a quick shot past the goaltender. Adding him to a line with a strong playmaker like Demidov could create a scry line for a decade plus in a perfect world.

Both Ruck brothers are expected to go in the first to early second rounds, although Liam is currently being projected higher by most scouts. However, their desire to play together makes this quite the storyline to watch out for.

As Draft Day continues to inch closer, the Canadiens have a tough decision to make late in the first round, but not for the lack of options. This is a great draft to have a late pick in, as the depth in potentially impactful players goes all the way down the board in what should be a great first-round draft class in 2026.