Quote:
Originally Posted by getbak
Each of the last 4 times the Habs picked first overall, they either won the Cup that same year or the year prior. 2 were acquired in trades and 2 because of the first priority on Quebec players that the Habs had for a couple years early in the draft.
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Every time the Habs have drafted first overall post-expansion (the pre-expansion drafts were generally minor because so many players were already controlled by teams under the sponsorship system):
- 1968 (French-Canadian priority) - Lost Final in 1967, Won Cup in 1968
- 1969 (French-Canadian priority) - Won Cup in 1968, Won Cup in 1969
- 1971 (Trade with California, May 1970) - Missed playoffs in 1970, Won Cup in 1971
- 1980 (Trade with Colorado, September 1976) - Won Cup in 1979, Lost second round in 1980
- 2022 - Lost Final in 2021, Missed playoffs in 2022
Also, every time the Habs have drafted first overall, the draft was (or will be) held in Montreal (every draft until 1984 was in Montreal).