Green Bay Gamblers defenseman Cooper Cleaves (93) takes a shot against the Waterloo Black Hawks on Saturday, Jan. 25, 2025, at the Resch Center in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin. Waterloo won the game 6โ3. Tork Mason/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
With the No. 93 pick, the Montreal Canadiens selected Cooper Cleaves from Dartmouth College of the NCAA.
Elite prospects
The Canadiens, a plus-two draft pick, clearly liked what they saw from the 20-year-old in his first year of collegiate hockey. His production in the USHL is pretty much the same as last year, so it’s easy to see why they were intrigued by his move.
Cleaves is another sharpshooting guard, and that appears to be the position the organization is targeting on Day 2 of the draft. Cleaves is closer to joining the pro ranks than the typical draft prospect, which may have influenced this selection.
Despite trading away their fourth round pick to move up in the second round, the Canadiens are back in the game with the Winnipeg Jets in 103rd place.