How Can the Canadiens WIN the Draft? | The Plan for Pick 28 + Early NHL Expansion Analysis

Montreal Canadiens face a pivotal NHL Draft as Ian Boisvert and Laura Saba break down the franchise’s high-stakes strategy. With the prospect pipeline brimming and the contending window opening, should Kent Hughes target high-upside centers or prioritize market inefficiencies on defense? The duo weighs the value of trading pick 28—debating whether to move up, stockpile assets, or package it for a game-changing player like Jason Robertson. Rapid-fire trade rumors heat up, fueling questions about the Canadiens’ willingness to take big swings. As NHL expansion to Houston looms, Laura Saba delivers a passionate critique on talent dilution, while Ian warns of league-wide managerial shortcomings. Could roster protection rules force Montreal fans to say goodbye to a favorite? 00:00 Canadiens draft strategy discussion 05:40 Florida Panthers' strategic positioning 06:28 Importance of drafting centers 15:08 Draft strategy and trading up 17:52 Trading first-round picks 20:50 Discussing NHL expansion draft 25:13 NHL game quality concerns 29:09 Debating sports hiring trends 32:31 Future NHL expansion speculation Photo credit: Eric Bolte - Imagn Images Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! Hims To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, hair loss, weight loss, and more, visit https://Hims.com/LOCKEDONNHL. Odoo Great organizations win because operations matter. And that’s why you should get Odoo. Try for free today at https://Odoo.com/lockedon. Indeed Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/podcast right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply. KALSHI For a limited time, download the Kalshi app and use code LOCKEDON to get ten dollars when you trade ten. Kalshi. Trade on anything. Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. From the opening whistle to the final kick, Let There Be Goals on FanDuel. Visit https://FANDUEL.COM to get started now. 5-Hour ENERGY Get candy-flavored chaos with Fruity Rainbow 5-hour ENERGY®️ Shots - available online at https://5hourENERGY.com or Amazon FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.