With the team the Habs have on paper, it's still surprising to see them with a positive record and 28 points after 27 games. However, one should not expect too much from Martin St-Louis' team, which is 21st overall in the Bettman League standings and is not expected to make the playoffs, unless there is a surprise. Speaking of surprises, a trade Kent Hughes made at the deadline for the 2021-22 season may pay off more than he hoped. Ben Chiarot was traded to the Florida Panthers for Ty Smilanic, a fourth round pick in 2022 and a first round pick in 2023. The upcoming NHL draft promises to be the strongest in a very long time and the first round pick acquired by Kent Hughes from the Panthers is not protected. The most recent President's Trophy winners, the Florida Panthers, are having a season that has fallen well short of expectations, which could be good for the Tricolore. Florida is 20th in the NHL standings, two points ahead of the Habs with two more games played. <div align='center' style='padding-top:20px;padding-bottom:20px;'><img src='https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/i/photo/207347.jpg' width='100%' border='0' alt='image' loading='lazy' defer /></div> If Barkov's team were to continue to slide down the standings, it could be a godsend for the CH, who weren't asking for so much. Imagine the scenario if the Canadiens and Panthers first round picks were to be in the top 10!