Lukas Vejdemo – McKeen's Hockey

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Montreal Canadiens Top 20 Prospects

Thu, 03 Dec 2020 11:47:51 +0000

McKeen's Top 20 Montreal Canadiens prospects for the 2020-21 season. You can read an organizational assessment prior to the draft in Ryan Wagman's article found here. Following the draft we provided a review on each teams performance based on our rankings found here.

Cole Caufield, RW (15^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Despite standing only 5-7”, 163, Caufield is built stocky and is very strong for his size, pound-for-pound and inch-for-inch. Some would say that he has an additional black mark – besides his frame - to his prospect status now, despite leading the Big 10 in scoring as a freshman. He had a disappointingly flat performance for Team USA at last year’s WJC, with only two points as the US bowed out early. Caufield was pretty nondescript at the tournament, and his stats were not the result of poor luck. On the other hand, that tournament represented a two-week slice of a fantastic season that showed he was still the world class sniper that Montreal drafted. He times his release to perfection and can place the puck exactly where he wants. More than a one-trick pony, Caufield is a fine skater, with sharp cutting ability and he can play the puck at his top speed as well. He plays almost fearless, although he doesn’t go out of his way to take unnecessary risks. He will be spending next year back in Madison but will likely be ready to go straight to Montreal at the completion of his sophomore season. - RW

Alexander Romanov, D (38^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Romanov is strong as an ox and plays a physical brand of hockey. He hits with authority and punishes opponents with every chance. He puts pressure on quickly and uses his stick well to break up plays. He battles hard in the corners and along the boards. He is alert, focused and very responsible in the defensive zone. He makes a very good first pass out of the zone and sends precise bank passes off the boards. He does not make many plays with the puck that would jump off the page, but he is highly reliable and highly consistent. He has a hard, accurate slap shot from the point and he keeps it low to create rebounds. Romanov is a powerful skater with good balance and footwork. He moves well in all directions and trusts his skating when defending opposing rushes. He will occasionally join the rush to create additional options for his team. He looks NHL ready physically and has a lot of upside as he is terrific in his own end and smart in possession. I think he has a chance to develop into a strong middle-pairing NHL defenseman who contributes in a variety of ways. – MB

Kaiden Guhle, D (16^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

At 6-3”, blessed with strong mobility, and a desire to assert himself physically, Guhle is projected to provide elite level play in the defensive end. In open ice he looks to close his gap and finish plays with a big open ice hit as opponents approach the blue line. He is assertive along the wall, initiating contact and pins effectively to separate players from the puck. He is also a strong mover, which allows him to be more aggressive as he is able to recover. Offensively, he uses his first step quickness to evade forecheckers, start the breakout and push the pace of play moving forward. He uses his size and reach to protect the puck through the neutral zone. Guhle is also effective running the point, with a powerful point shot. He is a good passer and overall facilitator, but not a great one. He has good hands, but he occasionally looks uncomfortable handling the puck under duress. While he is not likely to be a number one powerplay quarterback, his ability and offensive IQ, combined with his defensive prowess, make him a potential minute eater and should be able to help balance out a future top four. – BO

Jesse Ylonen, RW (35^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 3)

Ylonen is a highly talented winger whose skating and puck skills are near elite. He has quick hands, and his first touch is excellent: he can corral difficult passes smoothly and get the puck under control quickly. His wrist shot features an accurate and quick release. Scoring goals seems to come naturally to him, yet he is also a good set-up guy with playmaking skill. He moves and skates with his head up to scan the ice and shows awareness with the puck. His offensive numbers declined in the past Liiga season, however he made progress defensively. Ylonen's backchecking has greatly improved, as he uses his strong acceleration to catch opponents. He has shown signs of becoming a more complete player and he has adapted well to the pro game in the last two seasons. He has learned to use his offensive skill set and skating to his advantage, he uses his teammates for passing options and he does not make nearly as many careless decisions as he used to. Therefore, I am confident that he will adapt to the North American game as well and develop into a strong, productive NHL winger. - MB

Mattias Norlinder, D (64^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Norlinder is both fast and elusive on his skates. He travels with ease and is very smooth. He also has strong puck skills and control of the puck. He passes the puck well and has some nice dekes where he goes to his backhand close to his feet and then travels around opponents. He is also a good goal scorer. While he doesn’t possess a dangerous bomb from blueline, he has a quick wrist shot and likes to join the attack and skate across the slot before shooting. Norlinder has been a late developer and is still growing physically. He signed a two-year deal with Frolunda but I he might be able to step over and compete for a spot in North America after the first year. As he can combine his skating with good puck handling, he does not need to play top pair minutes to be effective. His weaknesses are in the defensive zone and he won’t be a shutdown defenseman or a strong penalty killer but could still be an effective second or third pair defenseman as he is a strong possession player and his zone exits are as strong as his entries. – JH

Jan Mysak, C (48^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

While Mysak’s international performances last year left some to be desired, he was a standout in the Extraliga and in the OHL. He was an impact player from day one in Hamilton, playing a near 40-goal pace. He excels playing North-South; is extremely aggressive in taking the puck wide, looking to drive the net. His stride is choppy, but he generates enough separation to make him dangerous. He plays much bigger than his size, protecting the puck through traffic as he looks to drive the middle. When driving wide, consistently gets by defenders, putting them on his back as he cuts back in near the crease, possessing the hands and finishing ability to score on a large majority of these self-generated scoring chances. Mysak is versatile, able to play both center and wing, kill penalties and hold his own defensively, while taking on any power play role. He is a very well rounded player but is better at creating his own scoring chances than creating for his teammates and may profile better as a winger at the NHL level. Engaging more consistently and focusing on supporting linemates would help his development as a playmaker. – BO

Cayden Primeau, G (199^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 5)

At 6-3”, Primeau stands at a good height for modern goaltenders and his in-net composure is better than even some veteran netminders. He may be a little too calm in the crease, but he keeps making saves. Starting for the Laval Rocket the majority of last season, he has been able to better adapt to faster shots and puck movement coming from both AHL and NHL shooters. He will need continued work on rebound control and activation on certain plays off of long shots and net-front scrambles in order to compete better at the highest level. However, until then his focus remains unbreakable and his positioning is strong, he sees the puck and fights well to track the play. He still needs to improve his agility and in playing the puck, both of which he can brush up next season. For a young goaltender it is so important that he get stronger in his lower half which would allow him to push harder to get across the net quicker. With Carey Price still paving the way for the Canadiens, expect Primeau to get some time up as a backup goaltender first before he can challenge for a greater role. - SC

Jake Evans, C (207^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 6)

The Montreal Canadiens have acquired a lot of good forward prospects within the past few seasons and Jake Evans is one of them. He is a smooth skating and skilled forward capable of playing in all situations. The seventh rounder has overcome huge odds and as a player with little to lose, his development within the Montreal organization has been smooth sailing. After leading the Laval Rocket for points this past season, Evans earned a brief call up to the Canadiens and should see more time up in the NHL if he gets off to the same strong start he did last season. He sees the ice well and always keeps his feet moving. He is quick enough and dominant enough on the ice to be depended on to play powerplay and penalty kill. He needs to still work on playing a tough game if he wants to be able to win battles at the next level but the pace at which he plays and skates both with and without the puck will be enough for him to find his way onto Montreal’s roster sometime in the near future as part of a rotating top nine. - SC

Jordan Harris, D (71^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 7)

Jordan Harris is one of two Northeastern defensemen in Montreal’s pipeline. He shined during his three years of prep hockey at Kimball Union Academy, impressing as one of the better defensemen in the league and was named to the USHS All-USA Hockey First Team in 2017-18. As a third-round draft pick, Harris is a promising prospect as an offensive defenseman. After joining Northeastern as a true freshman, he has since finished his second year with the Huskies and was named to USA’s World Junior team. A staple on the first power play unit, Harris has a very calm demeanor. He sees the ice well, enabling him to get the puck quickly out of dangerous areas. His quick hands allow for quick takeaways. One of Harris’ most impressive attributes is his skating - his strides are smooth and fluid. He’s still young, leaving even more room for improvement. – JS

Sean Farrell, LW (124^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A depth player in the great USNTDP class of 2019, Farrell took advantage of the chance to play a central role in the league, and blossomed with 17 multi-point games on perhaps the most dominant line in junior hockey, proving that his skill set is of top six strength. The high point of his game is his wrist shot, which is very heavy and accurate and features a tricky release. He reads the game well, allowing him to find gaps in the goalie’s positioning. Farrell carries the puck with speed and skill. He can protect the biscuit in traffic and uses his edges and quick passes to escape pressure, often creating scoring chances. Farrell is quick and agile, playing at a good pace without being a truly dynamic skater. The main drawback he will always carry as a prospect is his size, although he is at least on the stocky side and has a low center of gravity, which aids in puck possession, but he will have to prove that he can hold his own against more physically mature players. – RW

Joni Ikonen, C/RW (58^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 8)

Ikonen's last two seasons have been hampered badly by injuries. In 2018-19, he played only 13 games with KalPa in the Liiga and he then missed the entire 2019-20 regular season due to an injury which occurred in a preseason game. That said, Ikonen has many attributes that could eventually help him succeed in North America. He is a good goal-scorer with a precise wrist shot, his offensive vision is high-end, and he is slick with the puck. Moreover, he is tenacious with a high compete level. He hunts down pucks and does many things that do not show on the scoresheet. He clearly wants to be a difference maker every time he steps on the ice, one way or another. He will move to Ilves for the upcoming season. Ilves is a rising team with many skilled, young players and thus should provide a great environment and opportunity for Ikonen to take his game to the next level. – MB

Cam Hillis, C (66^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 9)

Hillis had an excellent bounce back season for the Guelph Storm after an injury plagued campaign a year ago. It was expected that the Storm would rebuild after winning the OHL Championship in 2019, however thanks to the progression of players like Hillis, they were able to maintain a strong standing. Especially impressive was the fact that Hillis finished second in the OHL in primary even strength assists with 28 (ahead of Marco Rossi, Quinton Byfield, Akil Thomas, and many others). He excels as a playmaker because of how well he protects the puck down low, and because he never gives up on a play. Hillis’ skating took a step forward last year too, allowing him to be more active as a facilitator in transition. Currently unsigned, Hillis seems likely to be signed, but is not a slam dunk. If he can continue to improve his skating and bulk up to withstand injury, he projects as a middle six playmaking center who can provide versatility to a coaching staff. - BO

Gianni Fairbrother, D (77^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Fairbrother is a solid all-around defender. He is a strong, powerful player that controls the boards, as well as his net front, with aggression and skill. He plays the body well but also can use more subtle plays with his feet, or poke checking to create turnovers. He is a great blue line shooter as he can handle either side of the point and is not just a one-timer guy back there. His wrist shot has great accuracy and he is a guy that consistently gets his shot past the first defender. He isn’t an amazing puck handler, but he has pretty good vision and can make passes during the transition and in the offensive zone. There is an edge to his game, but it doesn’t really define his style. He is a capable, sound defensive player with good vision and a shot. If he can find another gear, he will have a real shot at contributing to an NHL team one day. - VG

Jayden Struble, D (46^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 11)

The second Northeastern defensive prospect in Montreal’s system, Struble is a young and promising candidate. The former second-round draft pick is a big, physical defenseman who can still skate well with smooth strides, both forwards and backwards. While playing prep hockey at St. Sebastian’s, he was named to the 18-19 USHA All-USA Hockey Second Team. He entered Northeastern as a true freshman last season and was impressive but unfortunately missed the last nine games due to an injury. Even so, he proved his ability as an offensive defenseman. He has a quick shot that often finds the net from the point. Struble sees the ice well and puts power behind his passes, which helps on the rush. He also possesses quick hands with good puck handling skills. Struble is still very young and he has time to mature his game. - JS

Lukas Vejdemo, C (87^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 12)

When thinking about forward prospects for the Canadiens, Vejdemo is not usually the one that comes to mind first. He is a rather underrated player in the Montreal system as he plays a somewhat quiet game. Not overly physical or terribly aggressive, Vejdemo makes an impact in the way he reads the play and carries the puck. He is a good passer and very good at reading neutral zone plays and forechecking to anticipate interceptions, which makes him a valuable asset to have on the penalty kill. The downside to his play is the fact that he plays a physically small game, meaning that he looks like a smaller player than he is and often loses puck battles. He will most certainly have to get stronger in order to make a safe appearance in the NHL. His hands and skating are definitely assets in his play and make him the good player that he is but he needs to be more physical and aggressive in order to earn a call up as a bottom six forward. – SC

Luke Tuch, LW (47^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

A heavy player who plays a heavy game, Tuch’s style is very similar to that of his older brother Alex, who also came up through the USNTDP program. Luke doesn’t quite have his brother’s hands, but they are soft enough for him to be a viable weapon around the crease. To his credit, the younger Tuch manages to play a heavy game without spending much time in the penalty box as he is physical without being dirty. He knows how to maximize the leverage his strength provides, and is very tough to strip the puck from, or to beat in a puck battle along the boards. The Boston University commit can play with skill players, making space with his forechecking, and carrying his share of the load defensively, but is most likely a bottom six contributor at higher levels, as his feet are on the heavier side and he lacks dynamic offensive skills. – RW

Josh Brook, D (56^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 13)

Where Josh Brook was a strong and dominant defenseman in the WHL who led rushes and often skated the puck, his AHL career has been quite different. He now plays a more cautious passing game, he no longer has the time he had in major junior to set up plays and skate, which has been a minor setback in his career as he has changed his playing style a lot. In order to get his footing back and find more success next season, Brook will have to find a way to elevate his competition level and find the confidence to start rushing the puck again. As a player who was drafted due to his points and his eye for offensive plays, he will need to find a way to get to the net, be more present in rushes and in the offensive end in establishing plays if he wants a chance at a prolonged call up. Brook has the potential to scratch out a bottom four role with the Canadiens but it will not be until he can find a higher and more aggressive offensive gear to play the game that got him drafted in the first place. - SC

Noah Juulsen, D (26^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 14)

It is no secret that many think that Noah Juulsen is classic first round bust, however going by points and stats to evaluate him is simply not enough. Juulsen is not a point-producing defenseman, as he plays a great defensive game, but his mindset and playing style is that of a cautious, occasionally offensive blueliner capable of rushing the puck but who prefers to pass it instead. Juulsen has had some bad games with the Montreal Canadiens and has made some bad errors, however his skill is that of an NHL quality defender. He is a smooth and powerful skater, a good passer and a physical force. The only important aspect of his game that remains unpolished is his decision making. Unfortunately, for Juulsen making repeated bad decisions and bad plays has placed him at the bottom of the list for call ups and he will have to be next to perfect with the AHL’s Laval in order to get another chance at cracking the bottom four with Montreal. - SC

Rafael Harvey-Pinard, LW (201^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

Harvey-Pinard has seen his stock rise significantly thanks to his hard work and ability to put points on the board. He will be rewarded as an AHL regular next season, as the farm club in Laval inked him to a one-year deal. While he is undersized for the pro game, he is a smart player, and has shown a willingness to find the dirty areas to score. A strong playoff run in a Memorial Cup championship last season in Rouyn-Noranda and a second one in the making for his hometown Chicoutimi squad would have iced the cake for his amateur career. He was the captain of both teams, which shows his great leadership skills. While Harvey-Pinard might be a long-shot, he is willing to do anything to make it. Alex Belzile just made his NHL debut at 28 in a similar fashion, and Harvey-Pinard has the same desire and work ethic. – MS

Alexandre Alain, C/LW (UFA: Apr. 24, 2017. Previous ranking: 17)

Like Harvey-Pinard, Alain was a oft-overlooked offensive force in the QMJHL, who didn’t really hit his stride until his final, over-aged season in the league, which culminated in shooting out the lights in the postseason, finally earning an NHL contract. He has played more of a supporting role in his two seasons in the AHL since, but he has at least demonstrated some traits that would allow him to fit in the NHL, albeit in a depth role at best. He skates quite well and has shown the ability to read the game at a pro pace, giving him some projection to fit on the penalty kill. He has also flashed solid puck skills, although nothing truly dynamic. On the downside, Alain did not show much progress from his rookie season at Laval to last season and the Canadiens will want to see more in the final season of his ELC before bestowing an extension on him. Without additional assertiveness, his next step could be overseas. - RW

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – MONTREAL CANADIANS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 8

Fri, 25 Sep 2020 14:35:05 +0000

Montreal Canadiens

With our compiled grades for all systems now complete, Montreal finds itself comfortably within the top ten prospect systems. It is quite an accomplishment, given that the Habs were ranked 12^th in our 2019 Ranking prior to last season, and then some of their best prospects graduated, according to our standards.

Nick Suzuki (#2) played every game and was fifth in team scoring when the COVID-19 pandemic halted the season. Neither Ryan Poehling (#3) nor Cale Fleury (#15) were as impactful as rookies, but each also played enough in the NHL to lose prospect eligibility. Development stagnation dulled the glow of some other prospects who had once shined more brightly, such as 2015 first rounder Noah Juulsen (#8), who played only 13 games for AHL Laval, after injuries also limited him to 24 combined games in 2018-19. Former second rounder Jacob Olofsson (#17) was likewise limited to 24 games for Skelleftea in the SHL and failed to make the Swedish WJC roster as a 19-year-old after playing at the prestige tournament the prior year.

Even with those organizational depth hits, the system remains strong. I haven’t even mentioned that Montreal hasn’t even dipped their toes into the prospect free agency pool yet this season.

A lot of the regard in which I hold the Montreal system goes into the positive trajectories many of their prospects have found themselves this season. For every prospect who backslid (more could have been expected during the AHL rookie campaigns Cayden Primeau and Otto Leskinen), at least other Montreal hopefuls exceeded expectations and improved their projected future roles (see the three Europeans near the top of the list below in Romanov, Ylonen, and Norlinder, who all increased their respective projected OFPs between the start and the sudden end of the current season.

A few other players basically held serve, but on the whole the Montreal system saw a lot more success stories in the past season than not. Whereas with a team like the Minnesota Wild, who had the opposite experience, we could pinpoint the weak spot in their development chain to the way players developed once they hit the AHL affiliate, with Montreal the answer is more scattered.

Their AHL affiliate, in nearby Laval, Quebec, was not always seen as a strength, with more than a few AHL veterans badmouthing the coaching staff after walking away from the team. Either way, the recent work by the AHL coaching staff has been fine, with prospects assigned to the level doing more or less what has been expected from them.

The players who have taken notable positive steps this year have been everywhere. When a select group of young prospects from the corners of the hockey playing globe, from Russia, Sweden, Finland, the NCAA, the QMJHL and other stations, all improve in a short period and their only obvious connection is the team that drafted them, the most reasonable answer is that the Canadiens have been scouting and drafting very well, recognizing players with room for growth and a path to achieving it. I, for one, will be paying closer than usual attention to the players the Habs select in the 2020 draft. - RW

BROSSARD, QC - JUNE 26: Look on Montreal Canadiens right wing Cole Caufield (36) during the Montreal Canadiens Development Camp on June 26, 2019, at Bell Sports Complex in Brossard, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

Cole Caufield, RW (15^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 1)

Going into last year’s draft, Cole Caufield had one significant black mark next to his name, his size. That was overblown then and it is still overblown now. The Canadiens were fortunate to steal him with the 15^th pick in last year’s draft. He is no bigger now after a year with the Wisconsin Badgers than he was coming out of the USNTDP, but it should never have been a real concern. There was no similarly skilled player in last year’s draft – or really going a number of drafts back – who also had a traditionally solid NHL frame. Despite standing only 5-7”, 163, Caufield is built stocky and is very strong for his size, pound-for-pound and inch-for-inch.

Some would say that he has an additional black mark to his prospect status now, despite leading the Big 10 in scoring as a freshman. At mid-season Caufield was selected to represent Team USA at the Word Juniors and he had a disappointingly flat performance, with only a single goal and one helper as the US bowed out early. It’s a fair criticism. Caufield was pretty nondescript at the tournament. On the other hand, that tournament represented a two-week slice of a fantastic season that showed he was still the world class sniper that Montreal drafted.

He times his release to perfection and can place the puck exactly where he wants. More than a one-trick pony, though, Caufield is a fine skater, with sharp cutting ability and he can play the top at his top speed as well. He plays almost fearless, although he doesn’t go out of his way to take unnecessary risks. He will be spending next year back in Madison but will likely be ready to go straight to Montreal at the completion of his sophomore season. - RW

Alexander Romanov, D (38^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 6)

Romanov is strong as an ox and plays a physical brand of hockey. He hits with authority to defend and punishes opponents with every chance. He does not give forwards much room to operate as he puts pressure on quickly. He uses his stick well to poke pucks away and break up plays. He battles hard in the corners and along the boards and shows the willingness to win pucks.

He is alert, focused and very responsible in the defensive zone. He makes a very good first pass out of the zone and sends precise bank passes off the boards. He does not make many plays with the puck that would jump off the page, but he is highly reliable and highly consistent, both of which are important attributes for a defenseman.

He has a hard, accurate slap shot from the point and he keeps it low to create rebounds. Romanov is a powerful skater with good balance and footwork. He moves well in all directions and trusts his skating when defending opposing rushes. He will occasionally join the rush to create additional options for his team.

The 20-year-old blueliner has the makings of an excellent second round pick for the Canadiens. He looks NHL ready as far as his physicality is concerned. He has a lot of upside as he is terrific in his own end and smart in possession. I think he has a chance to develop into a strong middle-pairing NHL defenseman who contributes in a variety of ways. - MB

Jesse Ylonen, RW (35^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 4)

Ylonen is a highly talented winger whose skating and puck skills are near elite. He has quick hands and his first touch is excellent: he can corral difficult passes smoothly and get the puck under control quickly. His wrist shot features an accurate and quick release. Scoring goals seems to come naturally to him, yet he is also a good set-up guy with playmaking skill.

He moves and skates with his head up to scan the ice and shows awareness with the puck. His offensive numbers declined in the past Liiga season, however he did make progress defensively. Ylonen's backchecking has greatly improved, as he uses his strong acceleration to catch opponents. When discussing his point totals, it must be remembered that Pelicans was not a very strong team in 2019-20. They eventually missed the playoffs by a fair margin after selling many of their top players late in the season.

Ylonen has shown signs of becoming a more complete player and I think he has adapted well to the pro game in the last two seasons. He has come a long way from where he was in the U18 league at one point. He has learned to use his offensive skill set and skating to his advantage, he uses his teammates for passing options and he does not make nearly as many careless decisions as he used to. Therefore, I am confident that Ylonen will adapt to North American game as well and ultimately develop into a strong, productive NHL winger. - MB

Mattias Norlinder, D (64^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 10)

One of the best skaters in Swedish hockey. Norlinder is both fast and elusive on his skates. He travels with ease and is very smooth. He can use his skating to his advantage in all situations. He also has strong puck skills and control of the puck. He passes the puck well and has some nice deking moves where he goes to his backhand close to his feet and uses his mobility to travel around opponents.

Norlinder is also quite a good goal scorer. While he does not possess a dangerous bomb from blueline, he likes to join the attack where has a quick release wrist shot. Even in goal scoring the skating helps him as he likes to skate across the slot before shooting.

He played in Allsvenskan this season and had 18 points in 34 games. He had some injury issues and also had a short slump after the WJC, a tournament where he only played in a disappointingly limited role. Norlinder has been a late developer and is still growing physically. He signed a two-year deal with Frolunda but I think he could be able to step over and compete for a spot after the first year.

As he can combine his skating with good puck handling, he does not need to play top pair minutes to be effective. His weaknesses are in the defensive zone and he won’t be a shutdown defenseman or a strong penalty killer but could still be an effective second or third pair defenseman as he is a such a strong possession player and his zone exits are as strong as his entries. – JH

Cayden Primeau, G (199^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 5)

As it stands right now, Cayden Primeau is the future for goaltending in the Montreal Canadiens organization and that is a good thing. At 6-3”, Primeau stands at a good height where modern goaltenders are concerned, and his in-net composure is something that even some veteran netminders have not yet mastered. Some may say he is a little too calm in the crease but as long as he keeps making saves there are few complaints.

Starting for the Laval Rocket the majority of this season and even earning two starts with Montreal, Primeau has been able to better adapt to faster shots and puck movement coming from the AHL and NHL shooters. He will need to continue working on his rebound control and activation on certain plays off of long shots and net-front scrambles in order to compete better in the NHL. However, until then his focus remains unbreakable and his positioning is strong, he sees the puck and fights well for vision.

He has pretty large shoes to fill in Montreal when it comes to agility and playing the puck, both of which he can also brush up heading into next season. For a young goaltender it is so important that he get stronger when it comes to his legs and being able to push harder to get across the net quicker. With Carey Price still paving the way for the Canadiens, expect Primeau to get some time up as a backup goaltender first before stepping into the starter role eventually. - SC

Jake Evans, C (207^th overall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 11)

After leading the Laval Rocket for points this past season, Evans earned a brief call up to the Canadiens and should see more time up in the NHL if he gets off to the same strong start he did last season. He sees the ice well and always keeps his feet moving. He is quick enough and dominant enough on the ice to be depended on to play powerplay and penalty kill.

He needs to still work on playing a tough game if he wants to be able to win battles at the next level but the pace at which he plays and skates both with and without the puck will be enough for him to find his way onto Montreal’s roster sometime in the near future as part of a rotating top nine. - SC

Jordan Harris, D (71^st overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 16)

A staple on the first power play unit, Harris has a very calm demeanor. He sees the ice well, enabling him to get the puck quickly out of dangerous areas. His quick hands allow for quick takeaways. One of Harris’ most impressive attributes is his skating - his strides are smooth and fluid. He’s still young, leaving even more room for improvement. - JS

Joni Ikonen, C/RW (58^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 12)

He is a good goal-scorer with a precise wrist shot, his offensive vision is high-end, and he is slick with the puck. Moreover, he is tenacious with a high compete level. He hunts down pucks and does many things that do not show on the scoresheet. He clearly wants to be a difference maker every time he steps on the ice, one way or another.

He will move to Ilves for the upcoming season. Ilves is a rising team with many skilled, young players and thus should provide a great environment and opportunity for Ikonen to take his game to the next level. - MB

Cam Hillis, C (66^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 13)

Especially impressive was the fact that Hillis finished second in the OHL in primary even strength assists with 28 (ahead of Marco Rossi, Quinton Byfield, Akil Thomas, and many others). He excels as a playmaker because of how well he protects the puck down low, and because he never gives up on a play.

Hillis’ skating took a step forward this year too, allowing him to be more active as a facilitator in transition. Currently unsigned, Hillis seems likely to be signed, but is not a slam dunk. If he can continue to improve his skating and bulk up to withstand injury, he projects as a middle six playmaking center who can provide versatility to a coaching staff. - BO

Gianni Fairbrother, D (77^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 13)

He is a great blue line shooter as he can handle either side of the point and is not just a one-timer guy back there. His wrist shot has great accuracy and he is a guy that consistently gets his shot past the first defender. He isn’t an amazing puck handler, but he has pretty good vision and can make passes during the transition and in the offensive zone.

There is an edge to his game, but it doesn’t really define his style. He is a capable, sound defensive player with good vision and a shot. If he can find another gear, he will have a real shot at contributing to an NHL team one day. - VG

Jayden Struble, D (46^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 14)

While playing prep hockey at St. Sebastian’s, he was named to the 18-19 USHA All-USA Hockey Second Team. He entered Northeastern as a true freshman last season and was impressive but unfortunately missed the last nine games due to an injury. Even so, he proved his ability as an offensive defenseman. He has a quick shot that often finds the net from the point. Struble sees the ice well and puts power behind his passes, which helps on the rush. He also possesses quick hands with good puck handling skills. Struble is still very young and he has time to mature his game. - JS

Lukas Vejdemo, C (87^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: UR)

He is a good passer and very good at reading neutral zone plays and forechecking to anticipate interceptions, which makes him a valuable asset to have on the penalty kill. The downside to his play is the fact that he plays a physically small game, meaning that he looks like a smaller player than he is and often loses puck battles. He will most certainly have to get stronger in order to make a safe appearance in the NHL.

His hands and skating are definitely assets in his play and make him the good player that he is but he needs to be more physical and aggressive in order to earn a call up as a bottom six forward. - SC

Josh Brook, D (56^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 7)

In order to get his footing back and find more success next season, Brook will have to find a way to elevate his competition level and find the confidence to start rushing the puck again. As a player who was drafted due to his points and his eye for offensive plays, he will need to find a way to get to the net, be more present in rushes and in the offensive end in establishing plays if he wants a chance at a prolonged call up.

Brook has the potential to scratch out a bottom four role with the Canadiens but it will not be until he can find a higher and more aggressive offensive gear to play the game that got him drafted in the first place. - SC

Noah Juulsen, D (26^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 8)

He is a smooth and powerful skater, a good passer and a physical force. The only important aspect of his game that remains unpolished is his decision making. Unfortunately, for Juulsen making repeated bad decisions and bad plays has placed him at the bottom of the list for call ups and he will have to be next to perfect with the AHL’s Laval in order to get another chance at cracking the bottom four with Montreal. - SC

Rafael Harvey-Pinard, LW (201^st overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Harvey-Pinard has seen his stock rise significantly thanks to his hard work and ability to put points on the board. He will be rewarded as an AHL regular next season, as the farm club in Laval inked him to a one-year deal.

While he is undersized for the pro game, he is a smart player, and has shown a willingness to find the dirty areas to score. A strong playoff run in a Memorial Cup championship last season in Rouyn-Noranda and a second one in the making for his hometown Chicoutimi squad would have iced the cake for his amateur career. He was the captain of both teams, which shows his great leadership skills.

While Harvey-Pinard might be a long-shot, he is willing to do anything to make it. Alex Belzile just made his NHL debut at 28 in a similar fashion, and Harvey-Pinard has the same desire and work ethic. - MS

Montreal Canadiens Prospect System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Sat, 15 Sep 2018 18:12:12 +0000

If you have been reading my work for any length of time, whether here at McKeen's, or previously with Hockey Prospectus, you will know that one of my common refrains when it comes to the draft, right after “don’t draft goalies in the first round”, is to not draft for positional need.

Between trades, free agency, and the non-linear development paths taken by the vast majority of prospects, it is impossible to say what your NHL team will need once the players drafted today are ready for the NHL.

As only three to six players in any given draft class are ready to move directly to the NHL, it is beyond folly to presume what your weaknesses will be once they are ready. Include in the facts that most prospects never make it at all and that even the good ones generally need two or three more years of development after being drafted to have a handle on how they are trending, and the concept of drafting for need looks more and more ridiculous.

So here come the Montreal Canadiens, sour at having missed the postseason for the second time in three years, a feat of ignominy the franchise has not seen since the 2001-2003 stretch. Beyond the injuries to Carey Price (yes, he was taken with a high first round pick, and on balance, he has worked out), which prevented them from stopping goals, the team and the local media had long been harping on their lack of centers, both high end and depth, and their lack of size.

Thanks to their favorable results in the NHL Draft Lottery, the team was slated to draft third overall this past June. Everyone who had ever laced up skates knew that Rasmus Dahlin would go first overall, while everyone who had held a hockey stick in anger had pegged big Russian winger Andrei Svechnikov to go second. Pundits and other know-it-alls figured that Czech winger Filip Zadina would be the third pick, with a reasonable chance that the newest Tkachuk, Brady, could slip into the bronze spot.

Then again, rumors leading into the draft had connected Montreal with big Finnish center Jesperi Kotkaniemi, who had impressed playing as a 17 year old in Liiga and then dominated at the WU18s, a talented player without doubt, albeit one with flaws. Canadiens’ brass was known to be enamored with the player who provided a solution to both of the club’s clearest weaknesses.

On the other hand, they also seemed to acknowledge that Kotkaniemi was not the best player likely to be available at third overall, as other whispers had them trying to trade down, hoping to gauge how low they could go with their favorite draft eligible player still on the board. I guess they never got a satisfactory answer, as we all know by know that the Habs kept the pick and drafted Kotkaniemi, who was signed to an ELC less than two weeks later.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi meets a need on the current Montreal roster. He is also talented enough, and physically mature enough, to have a strong case to spend the entire 2018-19 season in the NHL, likely in a third line role at least to start. By the time he hits his peak, however, the Canadiens will have different needs, and they may see other centers emerge that would make Kotkaniemi, if not superfluous, at least lead to questions about what if they had taken Zadina, or Tkachuk, or whoever is behind door #3.

Jesperi Kotkaniemi

1 Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C (3^rd overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Between his excellent hands, fantastic ability to protect the puck and advanced hockey sense, the Canadiens see their presumptive fist line center for the foreseeable future. If they are right, he will quiet all doubts about their selection of the big Finn with the third overall pick. The other side of the coin is the unmitigated concern about his lack of foot speed. While his first few steps are powerful, his top speed is around average. As the game gets faster and faster, that deficiency could bite into his overall effectiveness. OK speed can be mitigated if all of a player’s other attributes are high end, and, to his credit, Kotkaniemi is close in that regard. He performed exceptionally against men in Liiga and was dominant for Finland at the WU18s. He is an accomplished penalty killer and has a plus physical frame and game. If the sating issue gets in his way, there is still no reason why he could not end up a very good second line center.

2 Ryan Poehling, C (25^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 1^st) As a freshman, Poehling’s lack of offensive impact for St. Cloud State could be brushed away by his youth, as he was one of the youngest players in NCAA at the time. That was no longer the case as a sophomore, but he didn’t need any excuses anyway, as he was one of the offensive drivers for one of the best programs in the country. He is a very strong skater, with hands that can keep up with his feet for quickness. His two-way game was already advanced when he was drafted and has continued to impress as he can play a shutdown game in his own zone. His offensive game is not dynamic, but strong enough to be a factor and earn some power play time going forward. He projects as a middle six center on a very good team.

3 Nikita Scherbak, RW (26^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 4^th) In his third AHL season, Nikita Scherbak, Montreal’s forgotten first rounder from 2014, took a few significant steps forward in his game, proving for once and for all, that he has nothing left to gain in the minor leagues. The question remains how much he can produce in the NHL and how soon he can do it. He has good size and skates well. He has a strong shot and his puck skills show high level top end in the AHL, although he has not been as assertive in the NHL. He also plays a smart, composed game, which suggests that he will step up if given consistent ice time at the top level. Scherbak won’t be gifted a roster spot, but he has the tools to stick if he shows enough in camp.

4 Jake Evans, C (207^th overall, 2014. Last Year: 8^th) In Notre Dame’s long history on ice, the have appeared in the Frozen Four four times. The last two of those have come in Evans’ junior and senior seasons. He ends his collegiate career ranked third in scoring since the turn of the century. He will never be a dynamic skater, but has improved his pace significantly during his collegiate career. Good edgework helps his skating play up. The strength of his game is as a playmaker. The puck has a way of finding his stick and he has a way of setting up linemates with prime scoring chances with pinpoint accuracy. He has great anticipation, indicative of his ability to read what opponents are trying to do in all three zones. Almost without fail, he then makes it more difficult for them to execute. Evans might have to spend some time in Laval first, especially depending on his recovery from an offseason hernia surgery, but he has top six upside.

Jesse Ylonen

5 Jesse Ylonen, RW (35^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) With a late 1999 birthdate, Ylonen’s chance to shine internationally was in the 2017 WU18 tournament. And he shone, with nine points in seven games on the way to a Silver Medal for Finland. Born in Arizona when father Juha was playing with the Coyotes, the young Jesse spent is first season playing against men last year, and was one of the only teenagers to accomplish anything at all in Mestis, Finland’s second league. A dynamic, smooth skater with magnificent puck skills, work well together to make him a constant threat when his team is on the offensive attack. One of his bigger development sin the last 12 months has been his willingness to play in a team structure and utilize his linemates more in the attack. He still has a ways to go physically, and will be moving on up to play in Liiga, with Pelicans, as his next stop.

6 Jacob Olofsson, C (56^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) All the steak, half the sizzle. Olofsson is a mature young center drafted as part of Montreal’s concerted effort to beef up the system down the middle. A solid skater who plays with an impressive motor, he lacks dynamic puck skills, but is able to protect it from the sticks of defenders as he drives the net. Like Ylonen in Finland, Olofsson produced at a fine level in Sweden’s second division, the Allsvenskan before showing well at the WU18s. He features a tricky release on his wrist shot that allows him to generate scoring chances from the rush. As with most 17 year-olds playing senior hockey, one of his most impressive traits is his hockey sense. He reads the game very well and sticks to the team structure, with generally proper positioning in the defensive zone. With his team being promoted to the SHL, he is ready for a new challenge against better competition.

7 Noah Juulsen, D (26^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 2^nd) If only due to the 23 games he played at the NHL level last year, Juulsen is the most likely player from this list to graduate from consideration in the 2018-19 season. In his first professional season, he did not show any dynamic traits of the type that made him a first rounder and reliable source of offense from the blueline in his time n the WHL, but he was a steady presence on otherwise poor rosters in both Laval and Montreal. Juulsen is a strong skater, who has improved markedly in his game away from the puck since his draft year to the point that he could comfortably be used in defensive situations in the NHL. He still needs to fill out his frame, but he leans on his checks effectively. At this point, expectations for an offensive weapon from the blueline are diminished, but he should still be serviceable as a fourth or fifth defender.

8 Cale Fleury, D (87^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 14^th) As many had anticipated in his draft year, Fleury’s skills were being muted by playing for a bottom-feeding Kootenay club. The Ice traded their captain to Regine around mis-season and, with skilled forwards to get the puck to, his assist rate soared. He can survey the ice very well from the point, and is able to execute on passes of surprising difficulty. Fleury also has a mature frame and plays with an impressive amount of bite. He has above average mobility and it is fair to say that his horrid +/- numbers with Kootenay were more on the team than him, as that number went heavily the other way after the trade. Of the four blueliners selected by Montreal in the middle rounds in 2017, Fleury has the greatest likelihood of growing into more than a third pairing contributor.

9 Cayden Primeau, G (199^th overall, 2017. Last Year: not ranked) A goaltending project when drafted towards the end of the 2017 draft, Primeau had struggled to keep the starting job with Lincoln of the USHL, but raised eyebrows with a stellar performance at the World Junior A’s. He won a lot of believers when he stole the starting job with Hockey East side Northeastern from incumbent Ryan Ruck and proceeded to post the fourth best save percentage in the nation among starters. He stands out for his athleticism and composure and flashes high end potential in his ability to stick with the shooter. He likes to play the puck. One element he needs to show improvement in is tracking when the play is behind his net, to avoid needlessly opening up holes.

Joni Ikonen

10 Joni Ikonen, C/RW (58^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 7^th) A Finnish player drafted out of the Swedish leagues, Ikonen returned to his native land last year and finished sixth in Liiga among all U19 players. He also played a strong role for Finland at the WJC. Unfortunately, it seems highly unlikely that he will return to the WJC this year, as a knee injury suffered in a team-related practice session after the conclusion of the season is expected to keep him out of commission until December. Ikonen’s game is predicated on slipperiness with the puck on his stick, and a commitment to stay with the play across all three zones. He is strong for his size and respected for his speed, which tracks to an above average level, presuming the trait returns with health.

11 Josh Brook, D (56^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 6^th) It can be difficult to judge players on powerhouse teams, and their own contributions can be subsumed by those of their teammates. That said, it certainly does look like Brook took a step forward in his development last season, playing a smart, two-way game with a physical yet disciplined edge. He also continued to make the case that he is a very good puck distributor. After all, who is to say that Moose Jaw would have scored that much if Brook was not so adept at getting the puck to his teammates. Between his offensive production and the facets of his game that stand out well, the reason he is not ranked higher is that his mobility is middling on a good day. There is still the sense that his foot speed can be exploited at higher levels unless he adds some quickness.

12 Allan McShane, C (97^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) One of several smaller centers selected by Montreal in the 2018 draft after taking their big center at the top, McShane lacks much I the way of physical tools, but more than makes up for it with high end playmaking and a gift for processing the game. He is a sluggish skater, lacking in his first few steps and not able to get to a promising top speed. That said, his is fairy agile and has a knack for sidestepping past defenders who don’t see it coming. While not a big shooter, he does like his wrap-around attempts, and generates a good number of rebounds that way. Thanks to his understanding of game play situations, he can be used in a variety of roles. He does need to gain another half step, but his vision and style lend themselves to maintain value further up the developmental ladder.

13 Cam Hillis, C (66^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Somewhat of a late bloomer, the undersized Hillis waited until he was 17 to debut in the OHL and came in swinging, with nearly one point per game in his rookie year at the level. Between his production and his superb skating, making him a threat in one-on-one situations, he earned the attention of Team Canada, eventually suiting up for his homeland at the WU18. He is also committed to the team structure in his own zone and is an impressive playmaker. He can try to overextend himself with the puck, leading to too many turnovers. If he learns to play more within himself, including the recognition of the limitations of his stature, he could be a decent middle six forward, with the ability to contribute on special teams.

14 William Bitten, C (70^th overall, 2016. Last Year: 11^th) Although Bitten never produced the offensive numbers in the OHL that his skillset suggested he could, he has continued to improve year-over-year and he moves to the professional game as a promising two-way threat. The son of two badminton Olympians, flashes very high end abilities with the puck and skates at an above average level. Just as often as he impresses with the puck, his game away from the puck is consistently worthy of acclaim. There is an open question whether a player with his clear size deficit can establish himself in an energy role as a pro, but with a little more assertiveness on offense, Bitten can open up a selection of paths to the NHL.

Cole Fonstad

15 Cole Fonstad, C/LW (128^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) Skilled without being dynamic, Fonstad earned a spot on Canada’s WU18 roster thanks to a very good season with a middling Prince Albert team which he helped return to the playoffs. A fine skater with elusive puck skills and a promising two way game, his main drawback is his complete lack of size and strength. He forechecks strong and generally plays with admirable hustle, there is reasonable doubt that his style of play will be possible at higher levels. With much of the Prince Albert roster having turned over, Fonstad will be relied upon to fill a more leadership role with the Raiders this year. It will be interesting to note how, if at all, that impacts his game.

16 Scott Walford, D (68^th overall, 2017. Last Year: 15^th) Although injuries may have played a role – he missed both rounds of Victoria’s postseason run – it is fair to call Scott Walford’s first post-draft season a disappointment. He is a smooth skater who shows a keen understanding for the nuances of the game and is reliable away from the puck. He can make the basic passes and plays with the puck, but he is not a primary puck carrier or a genuine weapon from the blueline. He has decent size and while not a physical force, is not a pushover either. In sum, Walford is a quiet, competent blueliner who could probably play at the next level, but has yet to really show why he should play over other similarly skilled players.

17 Alexander Romanov, D (38^th overall, 2018. Last Year: IE) In a draft full of surprise picks, perhaps no pick was as out of left field as Montreal selecting Romanov early in the second round. An undersized defenseman from the Russian junior leagues, those who like him see a teenager who is fleet of foot, who keeps a tight gap when facing a zone entry against, and packs a nice slap shot from the point. They even see a player who punches above his weight class in terms of the physical game. The difference between those who like and those who don’t is not that substantial, but to prove a point about why his selection was surprising, all of those tools mentioned above, instead of being somewhat impressive, are somewhat meh. Like Kotkaniemi, his WU18 tournament helped his draft stock, but unlike Kotkaniemi, his pre-tournament performance was not really notable at all.

18 Charlie Lindgren, G (UDFA: Mar. 30, 2016. Last Year: 17^th) With superstar Carey Price on the roster, for now and evermore, the Canadiens have de-emphasized the drafting of netminders over the past few years. In fact, since the Price pick, they have only taken five goalies in 13 draft classes. To keep padded people between the pipes at the lower levels, the organization has taken to signing free talent at the position. Lindgren has been the best such free agent find. Signed out of St. Cloud State in 2016, he has worked his way into NHL appearances in each season since, including 14 games while Price was out last season. He is highly competitive and athletic with a strong puck handling game for a netminder. On the down side, he is a bit too prone to the juicy rebound to be more than a solid backup. If Antti Niemi’s bubble bursts again, he is primed to be the permanent backup in the NHL.

19 Matthew Peca, C (UFA: Jul. 1, 2018. Last Year: not ranked [Tampa Bay]) A clever playmaker who was too small even for Tampa, Peca, a former seventh round pick, was signed as a free agent with Montreal this offseason after appearing in 20 games total for the Lightning over the past two seasons. He is a skilled offense creator, playing with pace and getting his linemates into nice scoring chances. While those traits have not yet come to fruition in the NHL, the Habs have given him a two year contract and seem committed to giving Peca his chance in the sun. He has the speed and skillset that could make him a useful bottom six forward given limited and protected minutes, but the investment in him was not so great as to prevent the team from cutting bait if he can’t manage to produce points.

20 Lukas Vejdemo, C (87^th overall, 2015. Last Year: 18^th) A tremendous skater, Vejdemo rebounded from a down year in 2016-17 to post his best season yet in the SHL, convincing both the Canadiens and himself that it was time to come play in North America. Outside of his skating, the rest of his tools grade out around average, but the left handed center gets around fast enough to perhaps help those attributes play up. He has good size too, which would probably be of use to him in the AHL, especially considering the lack thereof of some of his probable future teammates. By this point, it is unlikely that he can grow into anything above a decent fourth liner, but considering the weakness of Laval last year, he should have plenty of chances to try to prove us wrong.

Montréal – System Overview

Ryan Wagman — Fri, 15 Sep 2017 16:37:57 +0000

Although lacking in knock-out superstar prospects, especially since trading their 2016 first rounder Mikhail Sergachev to Tampa Bay in exchange for young winger Jonathan Drouin, himself not long removed from prospectdom, the Habs have a very deep system chockful of viable players.

Watching the Montreal system evolve, it was clear that they were ready for a changing of the guard. Not only did they trade their top defensive prospect in the offseason, but they also moved out a number of other young blueliners, many of whom still retained prospect eligibility. Nathan Beaulieu, a first rounder from 2011, was traded in the days leading up to the draft to Buffalo for a third round pick. One month prior, the team inked Jakub Jerabek, a Czech rearguard who put up great numbers in the KHL last year.

The day before the draft, the team acquired David Schlemko from the expansion Vegas, for a 2019 fifth rounder. They walked away from longtime quarterback Andrei Markov and brought in Mark Streit to take the role of veteran presence. The cherry on top, considering only the NHL roster, was the free agent signing of Karl Alzner as a shutdown option, and rounded out their July 1 with bringing in backline depth in Matt Taormina and Joe Morrow.

All of the above has little to do with prospects, but it leads, although not likely directly connected to, Montreal’s strategy over the last two draft classes. In 2016, four of the Canadiens’ six draft picks were blueliners. After grabbing Sergachev with the ninth overall pick, they selected undersized and mobile Victor Mete in the fourth round, Minnesota high schooler Casey Staum in the fifth and big Victor Arvidsson in the seventh. While Sergachev was dealt for Drouin and the latter two have not yet established themselves as draft day steals, Mete had a strong post-draft year in between injuries.

Montreal repeated that strategy again in the most recent draft, using four of seven picks on blueliners, starting with second rounder Josh Brook. Between the third and fifth rounds, they also selected Scott Walford, Cale Fleury, and Jarret Tyszka. All four of their new defensemen were selected from the WHL, which may have been a coincidence, but surely made one of their scouts feel special. Beyond that coincidence, all four were considered to be great value where they were selected.

If we take all of the blueliners added to the organization in the last two years, add on Noah Juulsen (first round) and Simon Bourque (sixth round) from 2015 and Brett Lernout (third round) from 2014, what we get is a team that is preparing to turn over their defensive corps. Seven of their top 20 prospects are blueliners and while not all will succeed, by buying in bulk, the Canadiens expect to have at least a few percolate up to the top.

As long as the team is willing to trust minutes at the NHL level to young players, this is a strategy that can pay big long-term dividends. If even two can become part of the core rotation in the next two years, Montreal will be able to balance the hefty defense dollars paid to Shea Weber, Jeff Petry and Karl Alzner with minimum contracts, giving them more resources to allocate to the forwards.

Ryan Poehling, 2016 Ivan Hlinka Tournament. Photo by IIHF/Csaba Domotor

1 Ryan Poehling – One of the youngest players to play NCAA hockey last year, Poehling’s number with St. Cloud State need to be taken with a grain of salt. He rarely played assertively with the puck and as a result, his point totals were mediocre. He showed flashes of puck skills and high hockey IQ, but once he pulled on the red, white and blue at the WU18 tournament, he exploded and was often the best American on the ice. Expect big things from Poehling in his sophomore season.

2 Noah Juulsen – After struggling in his first post-draft season to replicate the offensive production of his draft year, Juulsen rebounded in a big way last year with 34 points in 49 games for the defensively stifling Everett Silvertips. He also made Team Canada for the first time, showcasing his plus puck moving skills as well as a very impressive physical game at the marquee event. He will be given as much time as he needs to develop on the farm, but he projects as a good number three in his prime.

Michael McCarron

3 Mike McCarron – First the obvious, positive and negative. To McCarron’s credit, he is massive, 6-5”, and stocky. On the downside, his feet are slow. He moves better than he used to, though, and has the hockey IQ and smooth hands to negate some of his inherent handicap. While his AHL production has been somewhat stagnant, he has always demonstrated plus vision with the puck and the instincts of a playmaker. With a touch more aggression, he can still be an impact middle six center.

Nikita Scherbak

4 Nikita Scherbak – Scherbak, Montreal’s 2014 first round pick, took pleasing strides forward in his offensive game in his second season in the AHL. He is active in all three zones and displays solid puck skills on a regular basis. Although slight, he drives the net with power. His offensive potential suggests a future on a second line, but he needs to show more creativity to evade closer checks and figure out how to more regularly maintain possession of the puck after entering the zone.

5 Charles Hudon – On a list topped with four former first round picks, Hudon is the first later round selection who has already exceeded projections. In three seasons in the AHL, he has overcome questions about his size and strength to post 162 points in 207 games. He is not even that fast, but earns plaudits for his hands. His pucks skills are well above average. He is patient on the puck and sees things developing that many others cannot. He has earned his first extended NHL audition.

6 Josh Brook – The first of four defencemen drafted by Montreal this year, Brook does everything well, but nothing exceptionally. He is generally a defense first blueliner who owns a solid skill set in addition to very strong positional play. He controls his gaps, clears the defensive zone well and can be placed in a shutdown role. If his offensive game does not develop, he can still project as a decent #4/5 defender. Any more development would put the #3 in his sights.

7 Joni Ikonen – A Finnish forward developing in Sweden, the slight Ikonen has an electric offensive game, grading out as plus as a skater, shooter and puck handler. He skates well with the puck, showing great creativity and the ability to get himself into and out of trouble at will. After a strong showing at the WU18 tournament with Finland, Ikonen will be returning to his native land to play this season with KalPa in Liiga, passing up the chance to play for Hamilton in the OHL. The Habs are very high on him.

8 Jake Evans – A seventh round sleeper from the 2014 draft, Evans has spent the past three seasons with Notre Dame, where his offensive production has gone up every year, surpassing one point per game for the first time last year. He has very high hockey IQ and is a natural playmaker. He is always near the puck, pushing it in the right direction on offense, or fighting to get it back in the defensive and neutral zones. An all-situations player.

Victor Mete at the 2016 NHL Draft in Buffalo, NY on Saturday June 25, 2016. Photo by Aaron Bell/CHL Images

9 Victor Mete – Undersized but aggressive, Mete is among the smarter defensemen in the OHL. Already showing offensive talents when drafted, his production increased this year, despite injuries limiting him to 50 games, before he slowed down in the postseason. He is mobile, with above average puck skills and a point shot that demands respect.

10 Michael McNiven – Not as tall as many modern day goaltenders, McNiven was passed over on draft day despite strong numbers in a backup role with Owen Sound. Montreal signed him after impressing in rookie camp, signing him to an ELC as a free agent. Two years on, and McNiven will begin his pro career after a season in which he was named the OHL Goaltender of the Year. Plays deep in his crease and is a plus athlete.

11 Will Bitten – Moving from one poor OHL team in Flint for another in Hamilton, Bitten saw his numbers plateau in his first post-draft season. He has a high compete level and plays a responsible, 200-foot game, but can disappear at times. With Hamilton expected to be better with its young players now more experienced, expect Bitten’s above average puck skills to shine more often this year.

12 Brett Lernout – Although the depth added by the Canadiens this offseason makes it more likely that Lernout will spend most of a third full season in the AHL, he is a quietly very effective blueliner. He skates well, can play a physical game and is a steady hand for beginning the transition from defense to offense. His upside is not overly high, but he should be one of the first names considered this year when Montreal is short a defenseman.

13 Simon Bourque – Another example of a late round pick who has exceeded his expected value, Bourque put a cap on a strong junior career with a near point-per-game performance split between Rimouski and Saint John, with whom Bourque won the QMJHL title and played in the Memorial Cup for the second time. He is a solid puck mover who can lead the rush or sit back and slow the game down.

14 Cale Fleury – One of the top scorers with one of the worst teams in the CHL, Fleury, whose older brother Haydn was a top draft pick of Carolina, has a quick, hard and accurate shot and plays an aggressive game. It can be hard to scout a player whose team is often overmatched, but Fleury shows competence in his own zone as well as offensively, with an active stick, and a knack for breaking plays up.

15 Scott Walford – A smooth skater who displays solid instincts off the puck, Walford had an up and down year for an up and down Victoria Royals squad. He has good size, but plays a clean game. More a puck mover than shooter, he does not have the upside of Fleury, Brook or Tyszka, but there is enough raw material to work with here to suggest a third pairing upside is possible.

16 Daniel Carr – Had Carr played in two more games this year in Montreal, he would not have been eligible for this list. Despite the six goals he scored in his first NHL action in 2015-16, his overall game will be limited by his skating deficiencies and the fact that, already 25 years old, the former NCAA champ is already as good as he will ever be. That should be enough to play regularly for Montreal this year on the bottom six.

17 Charlie Lindgren – Another undrafted free agent making his way through the Montreal system, Lindgren had a strong first pro season in the AHL, enhanced by two strong starts against Florida and Detroit late in the year. Lindgren is a very aggressive netminder and really loves playing the puck, sometimes to his own detriment. Will have to fight to hold off McNiven for the role of Carey Price’s future backup.

18 Lukas Vejdemo – Drafted with high expectations as a third rounder after tearing up the Swedish junior ranks, Vejdemo has struggled with only 25 points across his first two campaigns in the SHL. Despite his struggles, speed doesn’t lie and he still shows flashes of enticing puck skills. He needs to take a step forward this year to remain on the radar.

19 Martin Reway – Montreal drafted the tiny, high scoring winger after a strong season as a solid offensive import in the QMJHL. He went back to Europe and put up big numbers in two seasons split between the Czech and Swiss leagues, but missed all of last year due to a heart ailment that required surgery. Reports are that he is ready to get back on the ice this year. That, in itself, is a victory.

20 Jeremiah Addison – Although his offensive abilities are rather limited, Addison is a high energy grinder with just enough in the way of skills to avoid being ignored. He ended his junior career on the highest of high notes, potting a surprising number of goals on the way to captaining the Windsor Spitfires to a Memorial Cup championship.

Having moved their AHL affiliate from St John’s to Laval, Quebec, a leisurely drive from the Bell Centre, expect to see Montreal use their AHL talent liberally. Thankfully, due to strong drafting from the first round through the seventh round, there are enough promising players that should be available on the farm to make that strategic advantage truly fruitful.

2016 NHL Draft Guide: Montreal Canadiens draft strategy

Ryan Wagman — Thu, 23 Jun 2016 20:21:54 +0000

The primary decision makers in Montreal, GM Marc Bergevin and Director of Amateur Scouting/VP of Player Personnel Trevor Timmins are both returning for their fourth and third seasons respectively in the same (or very similar roles). Together, they have drafted 19 players across three drafts. Two goaltenders, four blueliners and 13 forwards. In fairness, much of that imbalance towards forwards comes from their first joint draft in 2013, in which they selected seven forwards and a goaltender. They have also tended to draft players playing in North America (if not necessarily North American born and raised), with only last year’s third rounder, Sweden’s Lukas Vejdemo being European trained in the previous two drafts. They drafted two players out of European programs in 2013.

While the Habs are more likely to draft from the CHL than anywhere, their decisions to select three college-bound prospects with their six 2014 picks clearly demonstrates that they aren’t married to the Canadian junior system. Likewise, size is rarely a deciding factors in Montreal draft picks, as they have drafted both giants (Michael McCarron, Brett Lernout) and the severely undersized (Daniel Audette, Martin Reway). The team seems to rely on its scouts over analytics at the draft board, as many of its draft picks were not lauded for great draft year offensive production. Even their top pick in 2014, Nikita Scherbak, who had a strong pre-draft year, was not overwhelming in his scoring touch with 78 points in 65 games. Each of their last three first rounders has had at least one high end offensive skill, with McCarron possessing a great shot, Scherbak having great puck skills and Juulsen impressing with his puck movement/transition game.

Possible picks: While there is an inclination to connect Montreal with the draft’s top French Canadian in Pierre-Luc Dubois, he may well be gone by then and his game is more predicated on smarts than raw tools to fit the Timmins drafting profile. Michael McLeod, with his elite speed will be of interest to the Canadien scouts, as will Logan Brown, who in many ways is a like a more skilled, NHL-ready version of Michael McCarron. Clayton Keller will also intrigue if he is available. If they want to go with a defenceman up top, Montreal could be the landing spot of Jake Bean, who has a full set of offensive tools. What they do in the later rounds is anyone’s guess, but may be looking at Brandon Hagel from the WHL in the mid-rounds, and in the later rounds Kody McDonald from Prince George or Gabriel Fontaine from Rouyn-Norand.

An interview with Trevor Timmins: Digging deep for hidden gems

Grant McCagg — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 15:10:27 +0000

Despite facing the harsh reality of having just two top 130 selections in an NHL draft where the first four rounds were pretty deep, Montreal Canadiens Head Scout Trevor Timmins left Sunrise, Fla. quite content with his five draft selections.

The Canadiens were considering a move down to pick up a second-round pick if the players they liked were all chosen, but when Noah Juulsen's name dropped past where they expected, the club did not hesitate to choose the 6-1, 175-pound Everett Silvertips' defenceman 26th overall last Friday night.

"He's a complete defenceman, he does everything well," said Timmins, who saw Juulsen play several times down the stretch and in the WHL playoffs. "I can't find an area he's lagging in; he wins puck battles, is a good skater, moves the puck well, has a good shot..he just does what a defenceman is supposed to, in all facets of the game. Solid in everything."

Timmins thinks Juulsen has the all-around skills to be a top four defenceman for the Canadiens in a few years. "He scored quite a few points on a defensive team, so hopefully he can continue to show his offensive side. We drafted him with the upside of a fourth defenceman. I think his downside is a fifth, but time will tell."

Montreal's third-round selection of Lukas Vejdemo caused a bit of a stir at the draft proceedings, predominantly because he was a relative unknown to most in attendance, particularly in the media section.

The 19-year-old 6-2 Swedish center was passed over in the 2014 draft because of injuries (broken ribs) sustained in a dirt bike accident, and later on in the season had mononucleosis. The 38th rated European skater on Central Scouting's 2015 list was not ranked by McKeen's for either draft.

"He was our secret pick," Timmins told McKeen's on Saturday night, meaning he was flying under most teams' radars since he was passed over in last year's draft and never played for Sweden in any international tournaments.

Vejdemo was on the roster to play for Sweden at a U-19 5 Nations tournament in Gothenburg, Swe. in February, which Timmins attended, but he didn't play because he injured his knee in the first practice, so Timmins flew back over Easter weekend to see the Sweden junior challenge, and feast his eyes on the future Hab for the first time.

His first impression of Vejdemo was "Jeez..this guy's a hockey player. I saw it first shift."

Timmins does see some similarities to Columbus center and fellow Swede Alexander Wennberg, the 14th-overall pick in the 2013 NHL Draft.

"I would say he's a Wennberg type...I'm not saying he's him.. but he's smart, good vision, strong skater, puck possession, and he has strong character. He's a good kid. We were very excited to get him."

Vejdemo, pronounced 'VAY-de-mo' is signed for 2 years with Djurgarden, and the plan is for him to play there, but if he still needs some seasoning he may end up in the Allsvenskan.

Timmins has high hopes for the young prospect. "He makes others better. I think he'll be a second-line center..third line at worst. These days lots of teams have three lines that can contribute. This guy is going to produce."

Medicine Hat Tigers' center Matt Bradley, chosen 131st overall by Montreal in the fourth round, is a player Timmins expects will be thrust into more of an offensive role over his last two seasons of junior.

"He played a third-line center role on that team but they were pretty loaded up front," said Timmins. "He's bigger (5-11, 185) than what people think, he works (out) with (Brendan) Gallagher's dad. He's a hockey player....good hockey sense...I like him."

Simon Bourque played a key role as an assistant captain on a QMJHL champion Rimouski squad, which caught the attention of Montreal's scouting staff.

"He's a guy I targeted to take at some point in the draft," noted Timmins. "He got lots of ice time on that team and he did well. His hockey sense is his main attribute, but he's an athlete too. He was good at the combine, and makes good plays. He plays his position well.... I think he has good upside."

Being an Ottawa-area based scout, Timmins gets to see the Ottawa 67's play quite often, and one player he came away impressed with was Montreal's 7th round pick Jeremiah Addison, a 5-11 winger who scored 47 points this season.

"I like his shot," noted Timmins, who even went to his house in Ottawa to visit him, and came away liking the kid that had a bad rap last year in Saginaw. "I think he figured a few things out after he got traded and under (Ottawa head coach) Jeff Brown's guidance. I think he really came on in Ottawa this year."

"He competes, drives to the net, and he has a helluva shot. I never thought we'd get him in the 7th."

Certainly not the first... and definitely not the last time we'll hear those words spoken by a scout, but if McKeen's rankings were any sort of an indication (Addison was ranked 101, went 207th), he's not just regurgitating an old head scout's line, and Addison goes on to challenge for NHL duty someday.

Lukas Vejdemo – McKeen's Hockey

McKeen’s 2020-21 Hockey Yearbook: Montreal Canadiens Top 20 Prospects

Cole Caufield, RW (15th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Alexander Romanov, D (38th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Kaiden Guhle, D (16th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Jesse Ylonen, RW (35th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 3)

Mattias Norlinder, D (64th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Jan Mysak, C (48th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Cayden Primeau, G (199th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 5)

Jake Evans, C (207th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 6)

Jordan Harris, D (71st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 7)

Sean Farrell, LW (124th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Joni Ikonen, C/RW (58th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 8)

Cam Hillis, C (66th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 9)

Gianni Fairbrother, D (77th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Jayden Struble, D (46th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 11)

Lukas Vejdemo, C (87th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 12)

Luke Tuch, LW (47th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Josh Brook, D (56th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 13)

Noah Juulsen, D (26th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 14)

Rafael Harvey-Pinard, LW (201st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

Alexandre Alain, C/LW (UFA: Apr. 24, 2017. Previous ranking: 17)

MCKEEN’S 2020 NHL PROSPECT REPORT – MONTREAL CANADIANS – ORGANIZATIONAL RANK: 8

Montreal Canadiens

Cole Caufield, RW (15th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 1)

Alexander Romanov, D (38th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 6)

Jesse Ylonen, RW (35th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 4)

Mattias Norlinder, D (64th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 10)

Cayden Primeau, G (199th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 5)

Jake Evans, C (207th overall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 11)

Jordan Harris, D (71st overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 16)

Joni Ikonen, C/RW (58th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 12)

Cam Hillis, C (66th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 13)

Gianni Fairbrother, D (77th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 13)

Jayden Struble, D (46th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 14)

Lukas Vejdemo, C (87th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: UR)

Josh Brook, D (56th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 7)

Noah Juulsen, D (26th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 8)

Rafael Harvey-Pinard, LW (201st overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)

Harvey-Pinard has seen his stock rise significantly thanks to his hard work and ability to put points on the board. He will be rewarded as an AHL regular next season, as the farm club in Laval inked him to a one-year deal.

Montreal Canadiens Prospect System Overview

Montréal – System Overview

2016 NHL Draft Guide: Montreal Canadiens draft strategy

An interview with Trevor Timmins: Digging deep for hidden gems

Cole Caufield, RW (15^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 1)

Alexander Romanov, D (38^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 2)

Kaiden Guhle, D (16^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Jesse Ylonen, RW (35^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 3)

Mattias Norlinder, D (64^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 4)

Jan Mysak, C (48^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Cayden Primeau, G (199^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 5)

Jake Evans, C (207^th overall, 2014. Previous ranking: 6)

Jordan Harris, D (71^st overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 7)

Sean Farrell, LW (124^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Joni Ikonen, C/RW (58^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 8)

Cam Hillis, C (66^th overall, 2018. Previous ranking: 9)

Gianni Fairbrother, D (77^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 10)

Jayden Struble, D (46^th overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 11)

Lukas Vejdemo, C (87^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 12)

Luke Tuch, LW (47^th overall, 2020. Previous ranking: NA)

Josh Brook, D (56^th overall, 2017. Previous ranking: 13)

Noah Juulsen, D (26^th overall, 2015. Previous ranking: 14)

Rafael Harvey-Pinard, LW (201^st overall, 2019. Previous ranking: 15)

Cole Caufield, RW (15^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 1)

Alexander Romanov, D (38^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 6)

Jesse Ylonen, RW (35^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 4)

Mattias Norlinder, D (64^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 10)

Cayden Primeau, G (199^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 5)

Jake Evans, C (207^th overall, 2014. 2019 Rank: 11)

Jordan Harris, D (71^st overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 16)

Joni Ikonen, C/RW (58^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 12)

Cam Hillis, C (66^th overall, 2018. 2019 Rank: 13)

Gianni Fairbrother, D (77^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 13)

Jayden Struble, D (46^th overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: 14)

Lukas Vejdemo, C (87^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: UR)

Josh Brook, D (56^th overall, 2017. 2019 Rank: 7)

Noah Juulsen, D (26^th overall, 2015. 2019 Rank: 8)

Rafael Harvey-Pinard, LW (201^st overall, 2019. 2019 Rank: UR)