If the selection of forward Shane Wright seems very likely for the Montreal Canadiens with the first overall pick ahead of the next National Hockey League draft, it is much more difficult to imagine the identity of the other. player who will be chosen by the CH, 26th overall, late in the first round.

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The Habs must take advantage of this other choice after trading forward Tyler Toffoli to the Calgary Flames last February.

The repechage remains an inexact science, it is logical to think that this next hope of the Canadian could be between the 11th and the 27th rank among the best skaters in North America.

At least, this is the trend observed over the past three years.

Like Jakob Pelletier

In 2021, defender Carson Lambos was drafted 26th overall by the Minnesota Wild. The Winnipeg Ice product, although ranked 11th among the best North American skaters, was shunned by several teams before being selected by the Wild.

Lambos, 19, responded with 47 points, including 10 goals, in 51 regular-season games with his junior roster in 2021-22.

The previous year, in 2020, the St. Louis Blues also picked North America with the 26th overall pick, opting for forward Jake Neighbors. He was ranked 26th in the ranking of North American skaters.

In his case, he spent most of the recent campaign with the Edmonton Oil Kings of the WHL. However, he was entitled to his first nine games in the NHL, with the Blues.

Quebec forward Jakob Pelletier was chosen 26th overall by the Calgary Flames in the 2019 draft. On the final list of the best North American skaters, he was 27th.

If the Flames did not want to rush things for Pelletier, the forward now seems ready to play in the NHL next season. For good reason, he has just scored 62 points in 66 games in the American League, with the Stockton Heat.

While waiting for the first round, on July 7 at the Bell Centre, here is the list of the 17 players appearing between 11th and 27th place on the final list of North American skaters for the next draft.

There are also three players from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, forward Nathan Gaucher, from the Quebec Remparts, as well as defenders Maveric Lamoureux (Voltigeurs de Drummondville) and Tristan Luneau (Olympiques de Gatineau). :

- Jimmy Snuggerud (right winger)

- Jagger Firkus (right winger)

- David Goyette (center)

- Denton Mateychuk (defender)

- Owen Pickering (defender)

- Nathan Gaucher (center)

- Rieger Lorenz (left winger)

- Ryan Chesley (defender)

- Sam Rinzel (defender)

- Maveric Lamoureux (defender)

- Frank Nazar (centre)

- Rutger McGroarty (right winger)

- Matyas Sapovaliv (centre)

- Tristan Luneau (defender)

- Lane Hutson (defender)

- Jack Hughes (centre, son of GM Kent Hughes)

- Adam Ingram (centre)