Journal de Montreal article on which draft picks the Habs will be signing:
SOON:
Adam Engstrom But may not make it to Laval this season, depending on how his SHL team (Rögle) does in the playoffs
Lane Hutson
Even if BU makes it to the Championship game, Hutson could sign and play in one or both of the final two games of the season with the Habs.
Luke Tuch
This one surprises me slightly in that his offensive progression has been modest but he his size/physicality may translate well to the pros, albeit in a grinder role, that the Habs may see as a need.
SOON... or ... NEXT SEASON (i.e., not using a 23/24 contract slot)
The contract slot could a factor to allow freedom to make trades before July 1st ... the Habs currently have 5 available ... for that reason, I would slide Tuch into this category ... if Engstrom can't join Laval for their playoff run/playoffs I wudl slide him in this group as well.
Oliver Kapanen Habs could wait until June 2025, but his production as a 20-yr-old in a mens league has been solid (tied for 50th in scoring), he has also shown a strong all-round game ... he has had a strong playoff thus far (9pts, 4g in 6 games) ... but another year in the SM-liiga might fit both his and the organization's needs.
MAYBE
Cédrick Guindon Habs have until June 1st to sign him or lose his rights ... his stats didn't take a big jump from his draft year and have now regressed slightly from last year ... may be a candidate for an AHL contact.
Jared Davidson Also needs to be signed by June 1st ... his occasional flashes in Laval this season may not be enough for an NHL contract but they may extend another AHL offer.
Miguël Tourigny Another June 1st deadline ... spent the season in Trois Rivieres ... likely at most an AHL contract
LIKELY BYE-BYE-BYE
Petteri Nurmi Another June 1st deadline ... 2022 7th rounder (194th)
Blake Biondi As an NCAA player, Habs have until August 15th to sign him ... 2020 4th rounder (109th) out of high-school ... his second/sophomore season was promising, but his production has regressed ... last season he played through a left shoulder injury until mid-season when a right-shoulder injury ended his year and he had surgery on both ... slight uptake in production this season ... how much was recovery from the surgeries a factor ... but with the Habs depth in D-prospects there seems little urgency to sign him ... but RHD depth might be a factor in offering an AHL contract
NOTE: Italicized text taken from Journal article, non-italicized my comments