Bergevin: Chances remote will move No. 3 selection

DALLAS - General manager Marc Bergevin fully expects the Canadiens to step up to the microphone at No. 3 come the opening round of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

"The third-overall pick, the chances we're going to trade it are very, very, very small," affirmed Bergevin, who met with members of the media on Thursday evening in Dallas following discussions with the rest of the league's general managers at a local hotel. "I would be very, very surprised if we trade it."
Like assistant general manager Trevor Timmins earlier in the day, Bergevin wasn't about to give away any clues as to which player the Canadiens' brass has set their sights on early in Round 1.
He would only say that long-term potential is a top priority and that "talent is really, really important, and the position, too."
"At the end of the day, it's the player we think has the most potential long-term. For a 17 or 18-year-old player, you're looking four or five years ahead, you're looking at the finished product," he explained. "The goal of a draft is to evaluate players long-term and what they'll become… At the moment we're talking, I'm leaning more towards patience than a short-term fix."

At No. 3, Bergevin envisions securing the services of a prospect who most definitely meets the abovementioned criteria.
"If you look at the past, key players have been chosen early in the Draft," he mentioned. "We believe we'll be getting a good, key player. It will be important for the future of the organization."
Even though Bergevin believes the Canadiens will ultimately hold on to their highest pick since 2012, he still expects to be rather busy on Friday evening at American Airlines Center with four second-round picks at his disposal as well. In short, there could be some movement over the weekend.
"I think because of the four picks in Round 2, we'll get a lot of calls," he said. "At the end of the day, we'll see what's available. If a player slides that we think we should go out and get, if that team wants to move back, we'll definitely be very busy on Friday and Saturday."
Bergevin called this year's NHL Draft "an exciting time" for the organization and Habs fans alike, noting that his staff has been hard at work over the last several days finalizing their draft board.
"We're well-prepared. We've been here for four days now," he said. "It's a hefty price you pay to get that pick, and we did our homework and we're ready to go."