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The Montreal Canadiens have the fifth overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, marking the second consecutive season they will pick at that position – they selected defenseman David Reinbacher fifth overall last year.
With several enticing prospects like Ivan Demidov, Cayden Lindstrom, or Tij Iginla likely available at their selection, the team is poised to select an extremely promising player to add to an already-deep prospect pool. In addition to their fifth-overall pick, they acquired the Winnipeg Jets’ first-round pick in exchange for Sean Monahan in February in a terrific display of asset management from General Manager (GM) Kent Hughes.
Their second first-round pick is slated to be 27th overall. The last time the Canadiens boasted two first-round picks was in 2022 when they drafted Juraj Slafkovsky first overall and added fellow Slovak Filip Mesar at pick no. 26. Slafkovsky has developed into one of the NHL’s best young players, and Mesar looks promising, scoring 103 points in 97 games with the Kitchener Rangers of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL).
This season’s draft class is talented, highlighted by Hobey Baker Award-winning Macklin Celebrini, who will presumably be selected by the San Jose Sharks with the first overall pick. An array of talent exists in the range of the Habs’ later first-round pick, though there may be a couple of maneuvers Hughes and company have up their sleeves to bolster their roster.
Option 1: Trading Up for Sennecke/Others
Despite being ranked much lower across the bulk of draft rankings, the Canadiens have expressed interest in Oshawa Generals forward Beckett Sennecke with their fifth-overall pick. The 18-year-old forward recorded 68 points in 63 OHL games during the regular season and has added ten goals and 22 points in 16 playoff games.
While he is an enticing prospect, he ranks 20th in THW May Draft Rankings and is expected to be selected in that range. TSN’s Bob McKenzie has him ranked 14th. The best thing Hughes, President of Hockey Operations Jeff Gorton and company can do in this situation is to use the Jets’ first-rounder to trade up to that range. There will be more enticing prospects available at fifth overall than a player who barely cracked point-per-game production in his draft-eligible season.
However, progression is never linear (as evidenced by Slafkovsky’s development), and management may see something in Sennecke that others have not. Ultimately, Hughes and Gorton are knowledgeable, and if they do indeed select Sennecke at fifth overall, the fanbase will have to be patient and trust that management is making the right decision for the team.
Other options in Sennecke’s pick range include Trevor Connolly, Cole Eiserman, and Carter Yakemchuk.
Option 2: Draft Andrew Basha
A scenario where the Canadiens draft Medicine Hat Tigers forward Andrew Basha likely relies on their confidence that fellow Tigers forward Cayden Lindstrom will be available with their first pick. Should they draft the Western Hockey League (WHL) teammates, it will follow a similar narrative to their 2022 first-round selections when they drafted Slafkovsky and Mesar — two countrymen who have experience playing together.
Lindstrom’s availability at fifth overall is a bit fuzzy — he’s projected to go fifth by McKenzie and ranks as high as fourth across other draft rankings. Should the Habs select Lindstrom (who scored 27 goals in 32 WHL games before he got injured) at fifth, they will be thrilled to pick Basha later in the first round.
Basha recorded 30 goals and 85 points in 63 regular-season games, which topped Sennecke’s production. Having established chemistry with a blue-chip prospect like Lindstrom is an added bonus to his impressive draft-season production.
While Hughes and company will surely have their work cut out for them in a highly unpredictable and deep draft class, they are almost guaranteed to select an extremely talented player at fifth overall. What they do with their late first-round pick poses further question marks. Management will likely utilize this extra pick to move the needle as the team enters a new phase of their rebuild as expectations have begun to grow.
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TODAY'S BEST
Gavin McKenna No Longer a Lock to Be No. 1 Pick in 2026 NHL Draft
Gavin McKenna has long been touted as the consensus best available prospect in the upcoming 2026 NHL draft and a potentially generational talent worth tanking for. His supreme skill set has drawn comparisons to some of the best wingers in the game, like Nikita Kucherov and prime Patrick Kane, and the production at such a young age has backed that up. While he hasn’t all of a sudden lost his ability, things haven’t come as easily to start his college hockey career with the Penn State Nittany Lions, and that has created more of a debate over who will go first in June’s draft, according to prospect analyst Corey Pronman. “After a less-than-stellar first month in his freshman season at Penn State, Gavin McKenna isn’t a lock to be the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL Draft,” Pronman wrote. “If the draft were held today, I still think he would go first, but the debate among NHL scouts and front offices over him would likely be far more intense than most observers imagined it would be in the summer. I’ve talked to seven NHL scouts who said they would have a different name at the one slot on their list. Ten scouts I’ve talked to argue he’s still clearly the guy, though, emphasizing his body of work over a dozen college games,” Pronman added. The 17-year-old has tallied 15 points (four goals, 11 assists) while being a -7 rating through his first 14 games of the NCAA season. While that is still productive, it’s not quite up to the standard McKenna has set throughout his junior hockey days. Who Could Surpass McKenna? The question then becomes, who would leap ahead of McKenna should he not go first overall? As Pronman mentioned, McKenna remains the clear top choice for many, but there is at least a conversation to be had about a few other prospects. Those would be defensemen Keaton Verhoeff, 6-foot-5, 226-pound winger Ethan Belchetz, and Swedish center Ivar Stenberg, all of whom you could make a case belong in the same tier. There remains plenty of hockey to be played this season to determine how the draft order will ultimately shake out, but given how far ahead McKenna appeared to be just months ago, it’s interesting to see that not everyone feels the same way in mid-November.
Key Colts Takeaways Entering Final Seven-Game Stretch
The Indianapolis Colts' best season in over 15 years has quickly transformed from a hot start into a premier storyline for the 2025 NFL season. Back on the field after their bye week, several key takeaways help frame the outlook for the rest of the year. Competition for AFC's First Seed The Colts entered their Week 11 hiatus as the AFC's first seed, a title they have since lost to the Denver Broncos. Indianapolis defeated Denver in Week 2 thanks to a last-second field goal, but Denver has only dropped one game since, sitting at 9-2. Their record is tied for the league's best with the New England Patriots. The Patriots and Broncos are the first two teams to reach nine wins this season. Teams like the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams (along with the Colts) have suffered only two losses but hold an 8-2 record, having already had their bye weeks. The Broncos and Colts are both 6-0 at home this year, the only teams in the league yet to lose a home game. Most recently, Denver took down the reigning AFC champion Kansas City Chiefs at Mile High. The win moved the Chiefs to their first .500-or-worse record past the 10-week mark since 2015 and 3.5 games back from the AFC West lead. Looking ahead, the Colts won't be afforded much leeway if they want to contend for the conference's first seed. Their remaining strength of schedule ranks as the fourth hardest in the league and the hardest in the conference, according to Tankathon. The only fellow AFC teams in the top ten are the Houston Texans and Los Angeles Chargers, ranking fifth and eighth, respectively. Comparatively, the Broncos and Patriots have smooth sailing. Denver's remaining schedule comes in as the 12th easiest in the league and the 5th easiest in the conference. New England's remaining opponents' average win percentage is .371, the 2nd easiest mark in the league, only behind the New Orleans Saints. The Colts are not currently slated to play a single team .500 or worse for the rest of the season. Of the team's final five opponents, three are current playoff teams. Of the non-playoff teams, one is the back-to-back AFC South champion Houston Texans, who are currently allowing the lowest EPA per play of any team in the league defensively, per rbsdm.com. The other has played in five of the last six Super Bowls and will host the Colts this week in Arrowhead. As of right now, the Colts' 6-1 record against AFC teams would grant them the tiebreaker over New England if they were to finish with the same record. The Patriots are 5-2 in conference play with four AFC matchups to go, while five of Indianapolis's remaining seven games are in-conference. Unfortunately for the Colts, the team won't get the chance to play the Patriots this season for the first time since 2020. New England is led by MVP-hopeful quarterback Drake Maye, who has the easiest path in the conference to the first seed, an accomplishment that could very well be enough to earn him the award. Defensive Resurgence Essential to Colts' Playoff Hopes Running back Jonathan Taylor and the Colts' offense have been the story of the season, but solid defensive play has helped the Colts maintain above-average output on both sides of the ball. The unit ranks top ten in EPA allowed per play for the first time since 2020, when linebacker Shaquille Leonard was named to the AP's All-Pro first-team. Indianapolis has allowed the third-fewest rushing yards in the league through ten games, only more than the Jaguars and Texans. Two weeks ago in Berlin, the team held Atlanta Falcons star running back Bijan Robinson to 84 yards on 17 attempts. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has flashed his creativity this season, like sending linebacker Zaire Franklin to blitz more frequently than at any point in his career. On 53 pass rush snaps from Franklin, he's generated 11 pressures, 6 hurries, and recorded 2 sacks, per Pro Football Focus. The Colts' linebackers have struggled in coverage despite the general success of the defense. Of the three players to take at least 40 snaps at the position for the team this season, none have a coverage grade over 53, per PFF. The massive addition of cornerback Sauce Gardner ahead of the trade deadline will attempt to bolster a secondary that has been riddled by injuries. In Gardner's debut with the team, he allowed just one reception across three total targets, per PFF. The Colts hope to get back cornerback Charvarius Ward this week, who is eligible to return from IR after missing the last four games. A reloaded secondary for the team's final stretch will help to combat a subpar Colts pass rush so far this year. Through eleven weeks, just one Colts' pass rusher has notched a top 50 pass rush grade at the position, according to PFF. Second-year edge Laiatu Latu has been a bright spot on a rather unproductive defensive line; his 38 pressures lead the team. He joins DeForest Buckner as the only two Colts with more than 30 on the season. His six sacks also lead the team. Two of the Colts final five opponents rank top ten in offensive EPA per play, per rbsdm.com. The Chiefs rank third, while the San Francisco 49ers rank ninth. Both the Jaguars and Texans sit outside the league's top half. Star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner landed on IR ahead of the team's trip to Berlin, but Adetomiwa Adeboware has already provided solid production in limited playing time this season. According to PFF, his 14 pressures are good for the fifth most on the team. He's also notched 2 sacks and 11 quarterback hits. Their depth has been tested, but an otherwise solid start for the team's defense has provided ample support to Daniel Jones and company thus far. Continued consistency will make the difference in the team's playoff push and success in their final gauntlet. Lean on Taylor, Rely on Jones There is little doubt about the legitimacy of the Colts' offense this season; their 396.9 total yards per game is the highest mark in the NFL. They're the only team scoring over 30 points per game at an average of 32.1, and their point differential of +115 makes them one of just three teams with +100 or better. Daniel Jones is third in the league in passing yards, Jonathan Taylor is the only player in the league with over 1,000 rushing yards at 1,139, and tight end Tyler Warren has the third most receiving yards among all tight ends. Receiver Alec Pierce leads the league in yards per catch, and the Colts have the league's third-most-efficient offensive line, according to PFF. Jones came up clutch in overtime against the Falcons to earn the win overseas, and Taylor had nearly 300 total yards. Potentially worth concern, however, could be Jones' ability to maintain ball security. He turned the ball over twice against Atlanta, an improvement from his total of five against the Pittsburgh Steelers one week prior. Shane Steichen has been able to continually lean on Jones to start games before turning to Taylor to finish the job. Any potential success over their next seven games will be entirely dependent on the version of ball-security we see from Jones in the clutch. Next steps As Jonathan Taylor continues his MVP effort, the Colts will look to finish a historic season strong, where they've continuously exceeded expectations. Playoff scenarios and schedule difficulty aside, all Shane Steichen and his team can control is what's in front of them: an opportunity for the franchise to host their first playoff game since the 2014 season. The Colts will hit the road to face the Chiefs this Sunday at 1 p.m.. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes tries for his first career regular-season win over Indianapolis, the only team in the league he has yet to defeat before the playoffs.
In LeBron James' historic season debut, Lakers storm past Jazz
Luka Doncic scored 37 points with 10 assists and LeBron James added 11 points in 30 minutes of his season debut as the Los Angeles Lakers rallied for a 140-125 victory over the visiting Utah Jazz on Tuesday. Austin Reaves scored 26 points, Deandre Ayton added 20 points with 14 rebounds. Jake LaRavia had 16 points as Los Angeles won its third consecutive game. However, the game was historic for James and the NBA After missing the first 14 games of the season because of sciatica on his right side, James took the court to become the first player in NBA history to play in 23 consecutive seasons. Keyonte George scored 33 points and Lauri Markkanen added 31 for the Jazz, who lost for the fifth time in their past seven games. Svi Mykhailiuk and Ace Bailey each scored 13 points and Jusuf Nurkic added 10 points with 10 rebounds in Utah's only road contest in a stretch of seven games. The Lakers didn't take their first lead until going up 89-88 on a Doncic layup with 3:36 remaining in the third quarter. The basket was part of an 8-0 run that gave Los Angeles a 91-88 advantage. The Lakers dominated from there. They led 104-93 through three quarters after trailing by as many as seven points earlier in the period. Doncic scored 17 points in the third quarter alone when Los Angeles had a 37-22 scoring advantage. It was more of the same in the fourth quarter as the Lakers had a 36-32 advantage and finished with a season high in points. The Jazz led the entire first half, taking an 11-2 lead 3:19 into the game and going up 16-6 five minutes into the opening quarter. James had a turnover in the opening minute and missed his only shot of the first quarter as Utah took a 36-27 lead. James' first basket of the season came on a 3-pointer with 8:20 remaining in the first half. He scored seven points in the second quarter, while going 2 of 2 from 3-point range in the period. The Jazz led 71-67 at halftime by shooting 55.3% from the floor as George had 23 points and Markkanen added 22.
Reason for Khalil Shakir's two-day absence from Buffalo Bills practice revealed
Khalil Shakir popped up on the Buffalo Bills’ injury report leading into a Week 12 matchup and the likely reason for his non-participation was revealed on Tuesday evening. Shakir was listed as a DNP on both Monday and Tuesday, which led to questions regarding his absence. But on Tuesday, Shakir’s wife, Sayler, posted a photo to Instagram of the couple’s newborn baby girl, Sunny Haven, which quelled any uncertainty regarding his status. “11/17/25, Sunny Haven Shakir, you are oh so loved already,” posted Sayler to her IG account. The Bills wide receiver is at least the second Bills player this season to welcome a newborn into the world this season, joining long snapper Reid Ferguson, who celebrated the birth of his third child in September. Shakir has been a star for the Bills’ passing game this season, leading the team with 46 receptions and 454 yards receiving through Buffalo’s first 10 games of the season. His productive 2025 campaign comes on the heels of signing a lucrative contract extension this offseason, which will keep him with the Bills through the 2029 season. The Bills return to the practice field on Wednesday, their final day of preparation before they take on the Texans on Thursday in Houston. — Sign up for OnSI’s Free Buffalo Bills Newsletter —
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