The 2012 NHL Entry Draft was a pivotal moment for the Montreal Canadiens, holding the third overall pick and the opportunity to inject high-end talent into their prospect pool. More than a decade later, it's time to revisit that draft class and assess its impact on the organization.

The Top Pick: Alex Galchenyuk

With the third overall selection, the Canadiens chose Alex Galchenyuk, a highly skilled center with offensive upside. At the time, he was exactly what the Canadiens were looking for, a hole they had been trying to fill for years. While Galchenyuk showed flashes of brilliance during his tenure in Montreal, he never quite reached the superstar potential many had projected. He had some good years with the team, and was a consistent offensive presence, but was ultimately traded after struggling to consistently perform at a high level. After bouncing around several teams, Galchenyuk's NHL career fizzled out, making him a "what if" story for the Canadiens.

The Supporting Cast: A Mixed Bag

After Galchenyuk, the Canadiens made several other selections, with varying degrees of success. In the second round, they picked Sebastien Collberg (33rd overall) and Dalton Thrower (51st overall). Collberg never made it past the AHL level, and his offensive tools never translated to North America. Thrower also failed to make an impact. With the benefit of hindsight, Colton Sissons, who was picked after Thrower, would have been a better pick, given his staying power as a consistent third-line center.

The Canadiens selected Tim Bozon in the third round. Unfortunately, Bozon's promising career was derailed by a serious illness, preventing him from reaching his full potential. Other picks from that draft, such as Brady Vail, Charles Hudon and Erik Nystrom, never became impactful NHL players. Of this group, Hudon had the most impact, playing parts of four seasons with the Canadiens.

Hindsight is 20/20

Looking back, it's clear the Canadiens could have made different choices that would have significantly altered the trajectory of the team. While drafting is an inexact science, several players selected after the Canadiens' picks went on to have successful NHL careers. For example, Damon Severson was drafted shortly after Thrower, and he went on to play nine seasons for the New Jersey Devils.

Overall Assessment

The 2012 draft class is generally considered a disappointment for the Montreal Canadiens. While Alex Galchenyuk had some moments, the lack of significant contributions from the other picks left the team wanting more. The Canadiens missed out on several players who were drafted later and went on to have more successful careers. This draft underscores the importance of not only hitting on early-round picks but also finding value in the later rounds to build a strong and deep team.