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In Hainsight: What About that Pick Now? |
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Follow me @KarineHains for all updates about the Montreal Canadiens and women's hockey
The NHL playoffs always bring their dose of surprises, and this year is no exception. In the same evening, both the defending champions Colorado Avalanche and the Presidents trophy winning Boston Bruins were bounced from the tournament. While Colorado’s upset has got no ramification for the Canadiens, the fact that the Panthers overcame the Bruins does.
As you know, the Habs acquired the Panthers’ first round pick at the next draft in the Ben Chiarot trade. Since the Panthers were the last team to qualify for the playoffs, that pick should be the 17th unless of course the Cats manage to upset the Leafs as well in the 2nd round. To be fair, next to know one expected Florida to beat the Bruins in the first one and yet, they pulled it off. Are they the favorites in their 2nd round match-up against the Leafs? Of course not, but the playoffs have a way to give us Cinderella stories as well as surprises…
If the Panthers qualify for the Conference finale, the pick automatically becomes the 29th one and will be even lower should they move on to the Cup final. So, Habs fans, I’m sorry but for the good of your team, you might have to sacrifice part of your belief system and do the unthinkable…root for the Maple Leafs.
As I’ve said in the last few weeks, it’s quite possible that Kent Hughes entertains the idea of trading the Panthers’ first round pick and if he does want to do that, the market value of the said pick will take quite a dive if the Panthers live to fight another round. I don’t know about you, but I’ll be following the Toronto vs Florida series with keen interest.
Whatever happens in that match-up though, kudos to the Cats for bouncing a team that broke both the points and wins record this season and looked primed for a long post-season run. It’s also worth mentioning that with an assist on the series-winning goal, Matthew Tkachuk tied Jonathan Huberdeau's record for the most points by a Panthers player in a single regular and post season with 120. Needless to say, Tkachuk should be able to set a new record with at least another round to play, talk about making people forget about the guy you were traded for.
Finally, watching the game last night and seeing Patrice Bergeron hugging and shaking the hand of all of his teammates once the Bruins had been eliminated, I couldn’t help thinking about Shea Weber at the end of the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, it sure looked like a farewell. Post game, Bergeron said that he hadn’t made a decision yet, but if this is hit for the Bruins’ captain, he can skate off in the sunset with his head held high, he was a great player, captain and role model.
Montreal Canadiens Blogger • 
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