The Montreal Canadiens hold the fifth overall pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, aiming to secure a top talent. While they may not land the projected first overall pick, Macklin Celebrini, historical precedence suggests that picking fifth can still yield exceptional players, sometimes even surpassing the first overall pick.
In the 1965 NHL Amateur Draft, the Canadiens selected defenseman Pierre Bouchard, who won five Stanley Cups over 12 seasons. He wasn’t a Hall of Famer, but was more successful than many of his draft peers.
Focusing on the NHL Entry Draft from 1979 onwards, it’s not uncommon for fifth-overall picks to outshine the top picks. Here are some notable examples:
**1980: Darren Veitch vs. Doug Wickenheiser**
Wickenheiser, picked first by the Canadiens, had a modest career compared to third overall Denis Savard. However, when compared to Darren Veitch, picked fifth by the Capitals, the difference in production was slight, with Veitch having a comparable points total as a defenseman.
**1982: Scott Stevens vs. Gord Kluzak**
Scott Stevens, chosen fifth by the Capitals, became a Hall of Famer, playing 1,635 games and scoring 908 points. In contrast, first overall pick Gord Kluzak played only 299 games with 123 points.
**1983: Tom Barrasso vs. Brian Lawton**
Tom Barrasso, taken fifth by the Sabres, had a stellar career with 777 games and two Stanley Cups. Brian Lawton, the first overall pick, played 483 games but never made a significant impact.
**1990: Jaromir Jagr vs. Owen Nolan**
Jaromir Jagr, drafted fifth, amassed 1,921 points in 1,733 games, far surpassing first overall pick Owen Nolan’s 885 points.
**1993: Rob Niedermayer vs. Alexandre Daigle**
Rob Niedermayer, selected fifth by the Panthers, played 1,153 games and scored 469 points. Alexandre Daigle, the first overall pick, played 616 games with 327 points, falling short of expectations.
**1999: Tim Connolly vs. Patrik Stefan**
Tim Connolly, the fifth pick, had a decent career with 431 points in 697 games. Patrik Stefan, chosen first, struggled with injuries and underperformed with 188 points in 455 games.
**2006: Phil Kessel vs. Erik Johnson**
Phil Kessel, selected fifth, played over 1,000 consecutive games and scored 992 points, winning three Stanley Cups. Erik Johnson, the first overall pick, had a solid career but didn’t match Kessel’s achievements.
**2012: Morgan Rielly vs. Nail Yakupov**
Morgan Rielly, drafted fifth by the Maple Leafs, became a cornerstone defenseman with 446 points in 682 games. Nail Yakupov, the first overall pick, struggled and played only six seasons in the NHL.
The Canadiens’ fifth overall pick holds promise, potentially landing a player who could surpass expectations and significantly impact the team’s future, just as many fifth picks have in the past.
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