Rafaël Harvey-Pinard – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – MONTREAL CANADIENS – Team Preview – Player Profiles

Player Profiles + Team Preview – Ryan Dadoun, Goaltending – Catherine Silverman — Wed, 04 Oct 2023 15:58:53 +0000

MONTREAL, QC - NOVEMBER 22: Cole Caufield (22) of the Montreal Canadiens waits for the puck during the first period of the NHL game between the Buffalo Sabres and the Montreal Canadiens on November 22, 2022, at the Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by Vincent Ethier/Icon Sportswire)

Review: After posting a 22-49-11 record in 2021-22, the Canadiens were looking for incremental steps last year and that’s what they got. Nick Suzuki put forth his second straight 60-plus point campaign and is looking like a solid cornerstone of the Canadiens’ future. Cole Caufield was encouraging too with 26 goals and 36 points in 46 contests, though a shoulder injury complicated matters. Injuries were unfortunately a recurring theme for Montreal with forwards Kirby Dach, Jonathan Drouin, Sean Monahan and top defenseman Mike Matheson all missing significant chunks of time. Goaltender Sam Montembeault was able to stay healthy, but he had a miserable time, posting a 3.42 GAA and .901 save percentage in 40 contests. To be fair, Montreal ranked 30th in five-on-five expected goals against (203.85), so Montembeault wasn’t getting any support from those in front of him. With all that hardship, the Canadiens’ 31-45-6 record could be seen as the smallest of wins, especially given that it was a 13-point improvement compared to the prior campaign.

What’s Changed?Drouin walked as an unrestricted free agent, but Montreal was still able to bolster its promising young forward group with the acquisition of Alex Newhookfrom Colorado. The Canadiens also acquired Casey DeSmith from Pittsburgh, adding another veteran to their goaltending mix.

What would success look like? There’s so much potential here. If Monahan stays healthy and performs like he was in 2022-23 before getting hurt, then a bounce back to 50 points is possible. If Caufield also remains healthy then he might breach the 30-goal and 60-point marks for the first time. If head coach Martin St. Louis can guide Newhook like he has some of Montreal’s other young forwards, then the 22-year-old might be in line for a breakout year. If Slafkovsky, taken first overall in 2022, had a good summer and takes some of the lessons from his subpar rookie campaign, he could breakout too.

What could go wrong? If ifif. So much could break the Canadiens’ way, but Montreal is dealing with a lot of unknowns. By far the worst of it is this: Even if everything outlined above happens, the Canadiens could still miss the playoffs. The defense was horrendous last year and is likely to lag the growth of the offense. In goal there’s no clear solution, even after adding DeSmith, who struggled with Pittsburgh last year. Plus, the competition in the Atlantic Division is tough, making the margin for error slim.

Top Breakout Candidate:It’s got to be Caufield. After all, the 2022-23 campaign would have been his breakout season if not for injury. Of all the “ifs” outlined above, he’s the closest Montreal has to a sure thing. The talent is clearly there and even with all the ups, downs and injuries he’s gone through, Caufield still has accumulated 49 goals over the past two years. There should be a lot more scoring in his future.

Forwards

Nick Suzuki - C

Montreal is building a promising young core of forwards, and Suzuki is at the center of that movement. After becoming the 31st captain in Montreal’s storied history before the season began, the Canadien center showed why he’s the new face of the franchise by scoring 26 goals and 66 points in 82 contests. That gave him a staggering 28-point cushion over Kirby Dach, who finished second in the scoring race. Part of the reason Suzuki easily led the team in points was because Dach and Cole Caufield were held back by injuries, finishing with 58 and 46 games played, respectively, in 2022-23, but that also makes what Suzuki did more impressive. Under ideal circumstances, he would have played regularly with Dach and Caufield, but that trio only amounted to just 27.2% of Suzuki’s even-strength minutes. Suzuki ended up dealing with a revolving door of linemates, which was far from a good position for him, but he managed to perform regardless. A combination of injuries and the team still being in a rebuilding state also left Montreal 29th on the power play with just a 16.1% success rate. Suzuki was leaned on heavily with the man advantage and recorded a team-best 17 power-play points, but one must wonder how he might do if the Canadiens overall improved in that regard. The good news is the rest of the young core should start catching up to the 24-year-old, giving him more to work with. Coupled with Suzuki’s own continued development, there’s a fair chance he’ll reach the 70-point mark for the first time, if not higher.

Cole Caufield - LW

Montreal signed Caufield to an eight-year, $62.8 million contract over the summer. It is quite the commitment to make to a forward who has never recorded more than 43 points in a single season, but in this case, it could be a steal for the Canadiens. Caufield’s career has gotten off to a promising start, though there have also been major roadblocks. He struggled terribly under head coach Dominique Ducharme during the 2021-22 campaign, posting a goal and eight points in 30 outings, but once Ducharme was replaced by Martin St. Louis, Caufield underwent a complete reversal, scoring 22 goals and 35 points in 37 contests. Standing at 5’ 7”, Caufield’s size has been a point of concern for a while.Which is something St. Louis can relate to, having faced the same sort of questions during his playing days, so it seems appropriate that the new bench boss was able to get the most out of the creative winger. The 22-year-old’s success under St. Louis continued into the 2022-23 campaign with him scoring 26 goals and 36 points in 46 games through Jan. 19th before shoulder problems ended his season. He did show determination before that though, having separated his shoulder Dec. 23, he attempted to remain in the lineup after it was popped back in. However, after it happened again Jan. 3rd, the recommendation was made to undergo surgery. Even then, Caufield said he would have pushed through it if Montreal was in the running for a playoff spot. So long as he stays healthy, Caufield should easily set new career highs and maybe even flirt with the 40-goal milestone.

Josh Anderson - RW

Anderson is the type of player that teams always value and sometimes overvalue: the big forward who isn’t afraid to use his strength to make life miserable for the opposition while also not looking completely out of place with the puck on his stick. Anderson had 21 goals and 32 points in 69 contests last season, making it the sixth time in seven years he’s finished above 15 goals (the lone exception being 2019-20 when he was limited to 26 games) and the second time in his career he’s surpassed the 20-goal milestone. That’s an okay level of production, but it’s nowhere near enough to warrant his $5.5 million cap hit. It’s his gritty play – he recorded 72 PIM and 139 hits last season – that makes him come even close to justifying his pay. Unfortunately, Anderson’s aggressive style has come at a cost, with the 29-year-old missing 26 contests over the last two years. Injuries are going to continue to be a point of concern, especially after his 2022-23 campaign ended due to a high-ankle sprain sustained March 22nd. If he can stay healthy, then Anderson might earn an opportunity on the top line, creating space for 5’ 7” Cole Caufield and 5’ 11”Nick Suzuki. That role won’t lead to the towering forward being an offensive force in his own right, but his presence will be good news for his linemates.

Kirby Dach - RW

When the Blackhawks selected Dach with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, they were looking at a big center who could skate well and was tough to lodge the puck from once it was in his possession. He didn’t end up doing much with Chicago though, despite getting every opportunity, and after being limited to nine goals and 26 points in 70 contests in 2021-22, it was decided that a change of scenery might be in his best interests. The Canadiens clearly thought they could get the most out of Dach, sacrificing the 2022 No. 13 and No. 66 overall picks to get him and, so far, that bet has worked out. He set career highs with 14 goals and 38 points in 58 contests with the Canadiens last season despite playing just four games past Feb. 14th due to injury troubles. Montreal often had him shift to the wing to work alongside Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, complementing the smaller forwards with his size. Depending on who is healthy to open the campaign, Dach might find himself pushed off the top line in favor of fellow big man Josh Anderson, but even if that happens, the 22-year-old should still play big minutes, likely alongside Sean Monahan and Brendan Gallagher. Dach is also expected to stay on the top power-play unit regardless, which is important given that 16 of his 38 points last year came with the man advantage. There is reason for cautious optimism here and to hope that, provided Dach stays healthy, he’ll reach the 50-point milestone.

Christian Dvorak - C

Dvorak can be best described as fine. He had 10 goals and 28 points in 64 appearances last season, which is a bit below average for him, but not enough of a decline to be startling. He’s never reached the 40-point milestone, and the 27-year-old probably never will, especially if injuries keep getting in the way. He didn’t play past March 7th last season because of a knee issue that led to surgery and hasn’t participated in over 70 games in a single campaign since 2017-18. Still, when he is available, he’s okay defensively, helps kill penalties (finished fourth on Montreal with an average shorthanded ice time of 2:18) and is an asset on the draw (had a 52% faceoff success rate last season and is at 52.4% over his career). That’s not enough to get people excited about Dvorak, but at least it justifies using him to center the third or, when necessary, second line, despite his mediocre offensive output. It’s also sufficient to make his $4.45 million cap hit acceptable and potentially even make him a trade candidate if a contender is looking for depth up the middle at the deadline. Regardless of who he plays for though, Dvorak is likely to be fine, and nothing more.

Brendan Gallagher - RW

There was a time when Gallagher was a glue player for the Canadiens thanks to his work ethic and goal-scoring prowess, but his six-year, $39 million contract, which began with the 2021-22 campaign, is shaping up to be a disaster. After surpassing the 30-goal milestone in each of 2017-18 and 2018-19, followed by him contributing 22 goals and 43 points in 59 outings in 2019-20, the 31-year-old has failed to even record 25 points in any of the last three seasons. Last year was a new low for him, finishing with eight goals and 14 points in 37 contests. Ankle issues took a toll, but even when he was healthy, Gallagher wasn’t productive, with his 0.38 points per game being a career worst. Even on a rebuilding quad, Gallagher also saw his role diminish, from an average of 16:55 of ice time in 2019-20 to 14:17 last season. The silver lining is he’s healthy going into the 2023-24 campaign and feels upbeat about how his offseason training went. There’s also an opportunity for him to play a bigger role after Montreal parted ways with Mike Hoffman and Jonathan Drouin over the summer. Gallagher is still a big risk going into the season, but those at least provide some reasons to hope for a bounce back campaign.

Alex Newhook - LW

Opportunities have been hard to come by for Newhook. Taken by Colorado with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, he served primarily in a bottom-six role with the Avalanche, consequently providing just 27 goals and 63 points in 153 contests over the last two years. A change of scenery was warranted and, after Montreal’s acquisition of Kirby Dach worked out perfectly a year prior, the Canadiens decided to see if lightning would strike twice by trading for Newhook over the summer. However, while Dach was a nice fit for Montreal’s top-six, Newhook again might struggle to get an opportunity. Newhook is a natural center, but between Nick Suzuki occupying that slot on the first line, Dach or Sean Monahan likely taking the second unit position and Christian Dvorak being a natural fit for the third line, Newhook is probably going to have to shift to the wing. Even then, there’s no guarantee he’ll find a top-six spot and might instead serve on the third line. However, that scenario only works if everyone stays healthy. While Newhook has managed to be durable, several of Montreal’s skilled forwards haven’t been as reliable. Combine that with Newhook’s versatility to slot in as a winger or center, and he might be the first forward to move up to a top-six role if Montreal runs into injury issues. With that in mind, the 22-year-old will be someone to keep an eye on, because while at first glance he seems like a fair bet to record 30-40 points, circumstances might lead to this being a bigger season for him.

Sean Monahan - C

The 2022-23 campaign was one that offered a glimmer of hope for Monahan, but in some ways, it was also his most disheartening yet. After undergoing hip surgery in 2021 and then again in 2022, Calgary was ready to move on. He was far removed from his 82-point campaign in 2018-19, recording just eight goals and 23 points in 65 contests in 2021-22, making him a liability even when healthy. The rebuilding Canadiens were happy to accept Monahan along with a conditional 2025 first-round pick in exchange for covering the final season of his seven-year, $44.625 million contract. Montreal gave Monahan a chance to serve as a top-six forward, and he rewarded them by recording six goals and 17 points in 25 outings. In terms of points per game, it was his best showing since 2019-20, but he didn’t play past Dec. 5th due to a foot injury followed by season-ending groin surgery. Montreal still liked him enough to ink him to a one-year, $2 million contract over the summer, but the short-term nature of the deal underscores the risk he still comes with. Monahan is penciled in to start the season as the Canadiens’ second-line center, but will his body allow him to do that over the course of an 82-game campaign? After all, he’s now undergone three surgeries in as many years. Even if he does stay healthy, how productive will he be? He showed promise in 2022-23, but 25 games are hardly an ideal sample size. The 28-year-old (29 on Oct. 12) is at very least a comeback candidate, but a high-risk one.

Juraj Slafkovsky - LW

First overall picks are often expected to be ready to compete in the NHL right away and many are up for that challenge. At first glance, Slafkovsky, who was taken by Montreal with the top pick in the 2022 NHL Draft, appeared ready to step into the world’s best league. Not only did the 6’ 3”, 238-pound forward already possess NHL size, but he had experience playing with adults after scoring five goals and 10 points in 31 games with TPS Turku of the Finnish League in 2021-22. Slafkovsky also participated in the 2022 Winter Olympics, scoring seven goals in seven contests with Slovakia and contributed another three goals and nine points in eight outings during the 2022 World Championships. Despite that, he was limited to four goals and 10 points in 39 contests as a rookie with Montreal. To be fair, injuries, which prevented him from playing past Jan. 15th, contributed to his poor showing. Coach Martin St. Louis also attempted to ease him into the lineup, giving the Slovakian native an average of just 12:13 of ice time, which significantly reduced his offensive opportunities. There was a silver lining though, because while he wasn’t a big threat with the puck, Slafkovsky did utilize his size, recording 33 PIM and 53 hits. Unfortunately, in the short-term, he might continue to serve in a bottom-six role. Slafkovsky has the potential to eventually establish himself as a top liner, but it might be a few years before we see that side of him.

Joel Armia - RW

Although two seasons remain on Armia’s two-year, $13.6 million contract, he probably isn’t part of Montreal’s long-term plans. The 30-year-old is far removed from the Canadiens' rebuild-driven youth movement and while Armia is entering his sixth campaign with Montreal, it would be a stretch to call him a staple of the team. Injuries have played a role in that, with Armia failing to log more than 60 contests in any year with the Habs, but his relative lack of offensive contributions – he’s recorded just 20 goals and 42 points in 144 contests over the last three seasons – also make him easy to overlook. Still, the Finnish winger has his uses. He’s fine defensively and can be confidently plugged in on the penalty kill. He’s also got size at 6-foot-3, 216 pounds, and while he's not the most physical forward out there, he has dished out 6.58 hits per 60 minutes over the last three campaigns, which was good for sixth on Montreal in that span (min. 50 games). Looking ahead, Armia should be penciled in on the Canadiens’ third line, though their younger forwards might do enough to lodge him from that position. It wouldn’t be surprising if his average ice time in 2023-24 dipped below the 14:57 he saw last season, and he might even see some time as a healthy scratch.

Defense

Mike Matheson - D

Acquired by Montreal from Pittsburgh over the summer of 2022 as part of the Jeff Petry trade, Matheson was given a golden opportunity with the Canadiens. He averaged a respectable 18:48 of ice time in Pittsburgh while providing 11 goals and 31 points in 74 contests in 2021-22, but Montreal saw Matheson as its clear No. 1 defenseman. With that in mind, Matheson jumped to 24:27 per game last season, including an average of 3:11 with the man advantage. Injury troubles during the first half of the campaign prevented 2022-23 from being a true breakout season, but he was still incredible when healthy, contributing eight goals and 34 points (nine on the power play) in 48 outings. He also helped kill penalties, blocked 80 shots and, while plus/minus always needs to be taken with a grain of salt, finished with a plus-seven rating on a rebuilding squad. In other words, he was everything Montreal could have hoped for and then some. To make matters better, the Canadiens will get three more years of Matheson at a $4.875 million cap hit. His injury history is a concern – which is a recurring theme when evaluating Canadiens players – but if he can stay healthy, then it’s not unrealistic to believe he can finish with 50-60 points in 2023-24.

David Savard - D

Savard is 32 years old and will turn 33 on Oct. 22, so he might be in the twilight of his career by the time Montreal’s rebuild is in the rearview mirror. However, he deserves a lot of credit for doing the hard work now that might serve as the foundation of the team in the future. The Quebec native sacrificed himself last year, blocking a career-high 176 shots despite playing in just 62 contests, while also serving in a leading role on the penalty kill and acting as a mentor for the team’s young defenders. That culminated in him receiving Montreal’s Jacques Beauchamp Trophy, which goes to the player deemed most dominant without earning any other honor and can be seen as a way to highlight otherwise underappreciated players. One person who clearly didn’t underappreciate him was head coach Martin St. Louis, who asked Savard to average 22:23 of ice time. As younger defensemen like Kaiden Guhle, Jordan Harris, Arber Xhekaj and Justin Barron start to come into their own, Savard could find himself being gradually phased out. The veteran blueliner is still likely to see good minutes this season, but he probably won’t find himself second to only Mike Matheson in average ice time again. Even if Savard’s role doesn’t decrease, he’s not much of an offensive threat and shouldn’t be counted on to meaningfully exceed his 2022-23 totals of three goals and 20 points.

Kaiden Guhle - D

Guhle is far from the Canadiens’ only young defenseman, but he might be theirmost promising one. He’s got size and knows how to get the most out of that advantage, both with his physical play and by competing in tough areas. Adored more for his defensive skills, he wasn’t seen as having a ton of offensive upside when he was selected with the No. 16 overall pick in the 2020 NHL Draft, but that aspect of his game has developed nicely, making him a factor in all situations. With that skill set, rather than ease him into the lineup, Montreal asked Guhle to play an average of 20:31 of ice time in his rookie campaign, and he responded by recording four goals, 18 points, 27 PIM, 77 blocks and 84 hits in 44 outings last season. It was a strong showing, to the point where he might have even garnered a small amount of Calder Trophy consideration if injuries hadn’t gotten in the way. As it is, he’s primed to have a solid sophomore campaign. His power-play ice time was limited to 0:35 per game last season, but all Guhle’s offensive production as a rookie came at even-strength anyways, so it’s not unreasonable to believe he can flirt with the 30-point milestone even without being usedon the man advantage. The 21-year-old is also a good bet to surpass the 150 mark in each of blocks and hits provided he can stay healthy.

Goaltending

Samuel Montembeault - G

Even five years ago, no one would have believed it if someone had told them that the Montreal Canadiens would be spending the final half of goaltender Carey Price’s contract scrambling to figure out who on Earth to start each night in net – and even fewer would have believed that former Florida Panthers prospect Samuel Montembeault would be leading the charge for a rotating trio including himself, former St. Louis Blues starter Jake Allen, and former Pittsburgh Penguins backup Casey DeSmith.

But of all the options Montreal has to choose from, Montembeault may be their most reliable. Although the team has struggled and fallen firmly into rebuild territory, the 26-year-old backstop made the best of the situation. His raw numbers weren’t overly impressive, but his goals saved above expected put him in the conversation for goaltenders who made the most with the least league-wide; he was able to scrape together the best performance of anyone in Montreal over the last few years, despite being a mid-season pickup initially only brought on board to help the team weather the storm of too many injuries. He plays a fairly goal line-based game, preferring to utilize an impressive lower-body game and above-average flexibility to seal off the bottom of the net but staying on his feet on his goal line for longer to prevent holes from opening up at the top of the goal itself. And perhaps most importantly for Montreal, he does well preventing rebounds; while some goaltenders thrive spitting the puck back out into traffic, the somewhat disjointed structure in front of Montembeault and Allen last season made it difficult to have much faith in what might happen if the puck stayed in play after a first or second shot. That likely isn’t enough to push Montreal back out of the basement just yet, but it should be enough to keep them from entering free-fall – which might be all they’re asking for.

Projected starts: 55-60

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Byram and Valimaki getting opportunity – Help on the wing in Teravainen, Carrier and Harvey-Pinard – Goaltending grabs

Scott Cullen — Fri, 17 Feb 2023 15:41:40 +0000

NEWARK, NJ - OCTOBER 28: Colorado Avalanche defenseman Bowen Byram (4) looks on during the National Hockey League game between the Colorado Avalanche and the New Jersey Devils on October 28, 2022 at Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire)

Each week I dive into the numbers and offer some insights that should help when it comes time to make fantasy hockey decisions.

This week, Bowen Byram and Juuso Valimaki are getting bigger opportunities on the blueline, Teuvo Teravainen, William Carrier, and Rafael Harvey-Pinard may offer help on the wings, and Adin Hill and Philipp Grubauer are among the goaltenders that are widely available that could provide value for fantasy managers.

#1 With Cale Makar still out of the lineup due to a concussion, the Colorado Avalanche have been giving Bowen Byram a bigger role. Since returning from his own injury, Byram has three assists in five games while averaging 21:51 of ice time per game. Byram has the talent to be an impact player, but the 21-year-old has either had trouble staying healthy or gets lost in the shuffle behind Colorado’s other premier defensemen. He has 27 points in 64 career games, but 24 of those points have come at even strength. Among 222 defensemen that have played 1000 five-on-five minutes across the past three seasons, Bryam ranks 45^th with 1.05 points per 60 minutes.

#2 With Shayne Gostisbehere injured and Jakob Chychrun stuck in limbo while awaiting a trade, Juuso Valimaki is being asked to handle more responsibility on the Arizona blueline, and that includes quarterbacking the Coyotes’ top power play unit. He has six assists and 12 shots on goal in his past five games, averaging 22:42 of ice time per game.

#3 An upper-body injury hindered him earlier in the season, but Carolina Hurricanes left winger Teuvo Teravainen is rounding into form. In his past 11 games, Teravainen has nine points (3 G, 6 A) and 27 shots on goal. The 28-year-old has had four seasons of 60-plus points in his career, but has just 26 points (6 G, 20 A) in 44 games this season. However, he is back on Carolina’s top line and first power play unit, so Teravainen is poised for a big finish to the season.

#4 Vegas’ hard-driving left winger William Carrier is putting the puck in the net and it has elevated him into the land of fantasy relevance, especially in banger leagues because he brings a physical component to his game. In his past 8 games, Carrier has contributed nine points (5 G, 4 A) and 22 shots on goal. He is skating on the third line in Vegas with Chandler Stephenson and Phil Kessel, which is a better opportunity than he has typically had in his career and Carrier is making the most of it.

#5 Sticking in Vegas, starting goaltender Logan Thompson is injured so Adin Hill has a chance to handle the No. 1 role. Over the past month, Hill has a .933 save percentage in six games, and while he has never played more than 25 games in a NHL season, he has tended to deliver around league average results. If you’re looking for goaltending help at this stage of the season, he is worthy of consideration. If Hill falters, Laurent Brossoit has been recalled from the AHL, so he could see some action, too.

#6 For much of the season in Seattle, Martin Jones has been the number one option in net for the Kraken, but Philipp Grubauer is pushing to recapture the starter’s spot on the depth chart. In 2023, Grubauer has appeared in eight games and has a .927 save percentage, which is dramatically better than his play through his first season and a half with the Kraken.

#7 Usually, when seeking value from players on the fantasy waiver wire, it is nice to find a player who has some pedigree to lean on – a track record of production that would suggest that they might be able to do it in the NHL, too. Rafael Harvey-Pinard was a seventh-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens in 2019, and has been reasonably productive in the American Hockey League, but that did not portend the kind of scoring that he has immediately added to the Montreal lineup. With a goal in Thursday’s 6-2 loss at Carolina, Harvey-Pinard has nine points (7 G, 2 A) in 11 games since getting called up from the AHL. He has scored on 35% of his shots, which his obviously not sustainable, but that early success has also helped Harvey-Pinard get more ice time – he played a career-high 19:02 Thursday at Carolina.

#8 His production is down this season, and he may be on the move before the trade deadline, but Blues center Ryan O’Reilly has returned from injury with a three-game point streak, tallying three points (2 G, 1 A) with seven shots on goal. His modest production this season is why he is available in more leagues than usual, but O’Reilly could still be worth adding for the stretch run, especially if he moves to a better situation.

#9 It’s easy for production to get overlooked in Arizona, but Nick Schmaltz continues to deliver for the Coyotes. In his past nine games, Schmaltz has put up 14 points (7 G, 7 A) with 24 shots on goal and for a player who has never been a big volume shooter, it is encouraging that he is averaging a career high 2.05 shots on goal per game this season.

#10 It seems unlikely that Barrett Hayton will live up to the expectations created when the Arizona Coyotes drafted him fifth overall in 2018, but the Coyotes are giving him the reps to show what he can do in the NHL. In his past 22 games, Hayton has 15 points (6 G, 9 A) and 57 shots on goal, while averaging 18:00 minutes of ice time per game. He is skating on the top line with Schmaltz and Clayton Keller, so that certainly helps to boost his productivity.

#11 Montreal Canadiens winger Jonathan Drouin has had a hard time staying healthy, but he is working in a setup role when he is in the lineup. He has five assists in four games since returning from his latest injury, and now has zero goals and 17 assists through 32 games. There has never been a season in NHL history in which a forward finished a season with that many assists without scoring a single goal, so we are now on history watch to see if Drouin is going to be the first.

#12 The Calgary Flames bumped Dillon Dube up to the top line in mid-December, and the speedy winger has rewarded the club with strong production in that role. In his past 26 games, Dube has 22 points (11 G, 11 A) with 58 shots on goal. Among players that have played at least 200 five-on-five minutes since December 14, Dube ranks 12^th with 3.08 points per 60 minutes. That is a higher rate than players like Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, David Pastrnak, Jack Hughes, and Nikita Kucherov.

#13 There is potential value to be found further down the Flames’ depth chart, too. Veteran center Mikael Backlund had 18 points (6 G, 12 A) in 35 games going into the December holiday break. Since then, he has 16 points (4 G, 12 A) with 71 shots on goal in 20 games. That shot rate has lifted Backlund to a career-high 3.07 shots on goal per game and is a solid indication that he can maintain a quality level of point production even if he is in more of a supporting role offensively.

#14 While the Montreal Canadiens have a lot of young players getting turns on the blueline, veteran is Mike Matheson emerging as the leader of the group. In his past 15 games, going back to early December, Matheson has nine points (1 G, 8 A) and 33 shots on goal, while averaging 23:26 of ice time per game. He is quarterbacking the first power play unit for Montreal, so Matheson is worth some deep league consideration.

#15 After scoring a goal and adding an assist in Thursday’s 5-2 win at Calgary, Detroit Red Wings forward Robby Fabbri has eight points (3 G, 5 A) during a four-game point streak. Be a little skeptical of that production, though, because Fabbri is not generating shots – he has accrued just 25 shots on goal in 18 games, and that rate makes it tough to believe that his surge in scoring is going to last.

#16 Recording an assist on Winnipeg’s only goal in Thursday’s 3-1 loss at Columbus, veteran right winger Blake Wheeler continues to put up points. He has 12 points (4 G, 8 A) in his past nine games, though, like Fabbri, Wheeler is not a big shot generator. In his past nine games, he has just nine shots on goal. He also has 42 points (15 G, 27 A) in 46 games, making this the eighth straight season in which he has averaged better than 0.90 points per game.

#17 It was something of a surprise when, at the start of the season, Philip Tomasino was not on the Nashville Predators roster. He had 32 points (11 G, 21 A) in 76 games as a rookie last season, but was demoted to the American Hockey League. He responded by producing 32 points (12 G, 20 A) in 38 games and, in the wake of Filip Forsberg’s injury, Tomasino has been recalled to the Predators roster. He has not recorded any points in his first couple of games, but has generated five shots on goal and if Nashville becomes a seller before the trade deadline, there could be more opportunities for Tomasino to re-establish his value as an NHL player.

#18 The goaltender for the San Jose Sharks is not exactly a blue-chip fantasy stock, because the Sharks do not win that much, but Kaapo Kahkonen has a .929 save percentage in his past five games and figures to get the bulk of the action down the stretch. Veteran James Reimer, with an expiring contract, remains a potential trade candidate, and while Kahkonen has started 24 games this season, he should have a good chance to surpass the 36 games he appeared in last season.

#19 Depending on your desperation in goal, there are some longshot options to consider. With Anton Forsberg done for the season, with torn medial collateral ligaments in both knees, Mads Sogaard should see playing time in Ottawa, especially while Cam Talbot remains out. Talbot is also a potential trade candidate, so it is possible that Sogaard will play quite a bit for the rest of the season. Arizona’s Connor Ingram is coming off the best game of his NHL career, a 47-save shutout against Tampa Bay on Wednesday. Ingram has a respectable .907 save percentage in 18 games and there have been some rumors that starter Karel Vejmelka could be available for the right price. Wins might be tough in Ottawa or Arizona, but even more difficult to achieve in Chicago. Nevertheless, 23-year-old rookie Jaxson Stauber is worth keeping an eye on. Petr Mrazek has had another rough season and Alex Stalock has an issue with his eyesight, so it is possible that Stauber will continue to see action for the Blackhawks. He has a .911 save percentage in his first four NHL games.

#20 Injuries have hampered the production of Detroit Red Wings left winger Tyler Bertuzzi, but he is starting to find his footing. After putting up a goal and two assists in a 5-2 win at Calgary on Thursday, Bertuzzi has six points (2 G, 4 A) in his past six games. With the Red Wings back in the playoff hunt, Bertuzzi may be held back from the trading block, but if he continues to produce, there will be plenty of interest in the style of game that he can bring to a team heading to the postseason. Maybe that team will turn out to be the Red Wings.

*Advanced stats via Natural Stat Trick.

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – MONTREAL CANADIENS – Top 20 Prospects

Sun, 18 Sep 2022 19:11:53 +0000

MONTREAL, QC - JULY 07: Montreal Canadiens pick Juraj Slafkovsky stands between management during the first round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft on July 07, 2022 at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

1 - Juraj Slafkovsky LW

What a year it has been for the 2022 1^st overall pick. A big, powerful skater who has already proven himself at the men’s level like no other player in his draft, Slafkovsky is believed by many to be ready to step straight into Montreal’s line-up. His incredibly long 21-22 season saw Slafkovsky kick things off with nine points in seven Hlinka Gretzky Cup on his way to a silver medal. The powerful winger then spent the season with Finnish Liiga club TPS, where he put up seven goals and 17 points in 49 total games. In the middle of all that, he enjoyed a transformative Olympics to remember, where he represented his bronze-medal winning country by leading the whole tournament with seven goals in 7 games. His season concluded in the quarterfinals of the men’s World Championship, where he contributed an astounding three goals and nine points in eight games. In between, he represented his country in qualifying for the Olympics and at the cancelled WJC this past winter. Measuring 6’4” and 220 pounds, Slafkovsky is a multifaceted physical specimen who has the size and physical demeanor most teams only dream of, which he combines with some of the best skill and goal-scoring prowess this draft class had to offer. Charming, amicable, and brimming with confidence, Slafkovsky has all the makings of a fan favorite and has immediately become the symbol of hope for a well-informed and very demanding Canadians fanbase. With expectations sky high, look for him to begin making an NHL impact already this season. – CL

2 - Kaiden Guhle D

Guhle won a WHL title with the Prince Albert Raiders in 2020 as a 16-year-old rookie, playing mostly in a depth role. That experience surely came in handy for him in 2022, as he joined the Edmonton Oil Kings midseason, immediately became their top defenseman and helped lead them to a league championship. In addition to his second WHL title, he was also named playoff MVP, showcasing just how much of an impact he had. It doesn't take much time watching Guhle to see how he leaves his mark or why the Canadiens selected him 16th overall in 2020. He is an excellent skater who blends speed, agility and power to carry himself around the ice, and he is fiercely dedicated to using his skating to help his team. There are few blueliners who can defend off the puck as well as he can, as he utilizes tight gaps, physical snarl, laser focus, and an unending reserve of competitiveness to stifle opposing chances. He has all the tools that a team would want in a modern-day shutdown defender, and he should become an elite penalty killer by the time he is fully developed. He does run into some trouble when he has to actually transport and distribute the puck himself, but he is effective enough when he keeps things simple, and he is able to chip in points mainly because he gets himself involved in the play so regularly. Guhle is now entering the pro ranks, and don't be surprised if he manages to make the Canadiens out of training camp and skips the AHL altogether. - DN

3 - Filip Mesar C

Mešár joined his childhood friend Juraj Slafkovský in the Canadiens´ prospect pool after being the third Slovak selected in the first round of the last NHL Draft. The Spišská Belá native made a name for himself at prospect camp in Montréal, but he still remains in shadows of the #1 overall pick. It is yet unclear where Mešár will spend the upcoming season; the AHL and the OHL are the primary candidates as of this writing. Canadiens’ GM Kent Hughes said that Mešár could earn a spot with the AHL Laval Rocket, however the junior path seems a bit more reasonable for now. Mešár is a smallish, offensive winger with several notable skills. He is an excellent skater who plays the game at a high speed. His hockey IQ stands out, as he is a very smart player with great vision. He also has a sneaky good shot and skilled hands. His main weaknesses are his size and lack of physical play. Mešár was a bit of a risky pick, but his upside is enormous. He can easily become a top-six winger or center in the NHL if he can improve his upon physicality and translate his game to the North American ice. The Kitchener Rangers of the OHL control his CHL rights, where adaption to the North American game should be easier. - MD

4 - Sean Farrell C

Five-foot-nine winger Sean Farrell looked like a solid, fair-value selection in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL draft, getting picked 124th overall after a solid above-point-per-game season on an absolutely stacked USHL Chicago Steel team. Some may have believed that Farrell’s success came in large part thanks to the talent level of his teammates, but he proved that wasn’t the case almost immediately after stepping onto the ice for his second USHL season, also showing the fourth-round investment to be a shrewd bit of business by the Canadiens’ scouting staff. Farrell was extremely prolific in his second USHL season, leading the league with 101 points in 53 games. Alongside 2021 first-round pick Matt Coronato, Farrell took the USHL by storm, having his way with defenses that often looked powerless to stop the Steel’s overwhelming offensive attack. After that successful USHL season, Farrell began his collegiate career with Harvard University, and he had a great year, scoring at above a point-per-game rate and even registering six points in four games while representing his country at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. Farrell is a small winger who plays with great creativity and offensive aggression. He’s always looking to have the puck on his stick and find ways to expose weaknesses in defenses. He’ll fire stretch passes through the neutral zone, use his superb skating and strong puck skills to deceive and manipulate defenders in the offensive zone, and be a line-driving offensive creator who can be the centerpiece of a scoring line. Farrell may need to round out his 200-foot game and refine his offensive habits in order to fully translate his game to professional hockey, but even with that in mind, Farrell has the potential to be a deadly top-six winger if he can continue his development. - EH

5 - Jordan Harris D

Jordan Harris is one of the last members of the Canadiens’ 11-player 2018 draft class, and his development over the course of his four-year NCAA career at Northeastern University has been largely positive. Harris entered his collegiate career as a freshly minted third-round pick who had largely played at the high school level, with a short five-game cup of tea with the USHL’s Youngstown Phantoms under his belt as well. Harris ended his collegiate career as Northeastern’s captain, a World Junior Championships selection, and one of the Canadiens’ top defensive prospects. He stepped right into the NHL after finishing his career as a Husky, and although the Canadiens in general struggled Harris himself showed he was close to, if not already at the point of NHL readiness. Harris is an extremely well-rounded defenseman, and while he’s definitely not perfect there isn’t really any glaring flaw in his game that would keep him from being an NHL defenseman. On offense, he uses his smooth skating to help his team move the puck up the ice, and as a passer, he’s shown the ability to facilitate puck movement within the offensive zone and fire stretch passes through the neutral zone. Defensively, Harris is detail-oriented, using his skating to quickly close out on pucks and his strong awareness to quickly neutralize plays as they’re developing and help his team exit the zone. Harris might not pile on points, but he could definitely help on a secondary power-play unit and not look out of place if pressed into an increased offensive role. The flip side to Harris’ detail-oriented, well-rounded style is there isn’t a lot of risk-taking or flash to his game, the sort of flash that many fans want to see from their modern defensemen. But that’s more of a style preference that some would impose on Harris rather than an inherent flaw to his game, and his overall package of tools makes him safely project as an NHL defenseman, either on a bottom-pairing or on a second pairing if he really excels. - EH

6 - Cayden Primeau G

For the former Mike Richter award winner (given to the NCAA’s top netminder), consistency has been an issue at the pro level thus far. He has shown flashes of brilliance, even sustained over longer stretches, however those have often been followed up by other stretches where he struggles mightily to make routine saves. This is especially true of his play at the NHL level, where he has largely struggled (albeit playing behind a rebuilding team). Look no further than his performance to close out last year, leading Laval to the Calder Cup finals in a dominant performance during the playoffs. Was this the turning point in his career? The 6’3 netminder, son of former NHL’er Keith Primeau, has the skill set to be an NHL starter. He’s athletic. He tracks pucks well. He has shown an ability to steal games at every level but the NHL. The Montreal Canadiens current goaltending situation is best described as complicated. Carey Price likely heads to the LTIR. Jake Allen is apparently on the trade block. Samuel Montembeault was a former waiver claim that is not guaranteed a spot. In other words, Primeau could absolutely steal a spot in training camp if he proves that he is finally ready. Montreal still sees him as their goaltender of the future and at some point, in the near future, he is going to have to take that next step. - BO

7 - Owen Beck C

The 33^rd overall selection in the 2022 NHL Draft, Owen Beck was one of the top eligible players from the OHL this year because of his strong 200ft game and skating ability. He plays a pro-style game already, making smart decisions with and without the puck consistently, bringing great energy and physicality when needed. The Mississauga Steelheads centre was drafted 29^th overall in the 2020 OHL Draft but has emerged as one of the best from the draft. After missing the 2020-2021 season due to the Covid-19 shutdown, Beck took advantage of the time away from the ice and his skating improved dramatically. Going into the 2021-2022 season, Beck made the adjustment easily because of his added strength and strong two-way game, quickly becoming the Steelheads 2^nd line centre. Despite not getting first line minutes, Beck was able to finish the season with 51 points (21G,30A) in 68 games, which was 3^rd on the team in points. Although his points were inconsistent at times, so were his teammates, getting paired with different linemates throughout the season, but Beck adjusted well and was able to be effective with anyone. Beck’s best assets are his skating and competitiveness. Beck is an elite skater who was able to keep up with anyone in the OHL last season. As he continues to improve, Beck will be very effective with his speed, especially in transition. Beck’s competitiveness is on display every shift as he is always seen battling hard for every puck. He was also one of the most successful centres in the faceoff circle, winning 60.6% in the regular season. Going into the 2022-2023 season, Beck will once again be one of the most responsible players in the league and will likely see an increase in points. - DK

8 - Lane Hutson D

Lane Hutson was the 2022 winner of the E.J. McGuire Award of Excellence, which is an award that, given annually, is presented to the NHL Draft-eligible player who “best exemplifies commitment to excellence through strength of character, competitiveness, and athleticism.” If there was ever a prospect deserving of winning that award, it’s Hutson. Standing at just five-foot-eight inches and weighing around 150 pounds, the odds, at least on paper, are stacked against Hutson having a long, impactful NHL career as a blueliner. The sobering reality of the barrier his size plays on his NHL projection became clear at the NHL draft, where Hutson fell all the way to the back of the second round, getting chosen 62nd overall by the Montreal Canadiens. Lane Hutson’s on-ice profile and NHL projection are essentially shaping up as a case study for just how much size matters in building an NHL defenseman. Because in the aspects of the game Hutson himself can control, he’s extremely talented. Hutson is the sort of defenseman that wants to take over a shift, he’ll take the puck at the offensive blueline and fake his way around defenders, using his strong edgework to create separation from opposing players. Hutson is an incredible passer, matching both great vision with an ability to make the sort of difficult passes many of his peer defenders cannot make. There’s a lot of manipulation and deception to his offensive game, the sort of “I’m going to be the one to force the issue” style that isn’t often seen from young defensemen. And defensively, Hutson’s issues aren’t due to any lack of effort. He’ll hound puck carriers, relentlessly attacking them in order to interrupt their possession. His skating allows him to, at the very least, keep pace with incoming forwards, and despite his size, he’s no stranger to the physical side of the game. But unfortunately, his size makes surviving Hutson’s defensive pressure all too possible for opposing players, and that limits his defensive upside sharply. Additionally, Hutson’s skating, while good in the sense of his edges and stop-start ability, lacks the top-end speed you’d want to see out of a defenseman his size, which, next to his size, could be the greatest threat to his NHL projection. But even with those issues laid out, Hutson is an extremely difficult prospect to bet against, and he’ll bring his fire and his flash to Boston University next season with the goal of continuing to chart a path to the NHL for similarly sized defensemen in future NHL drafts. - EH

9 - Justin Barron D

Barron was recently acquired by Montreal as part of the Artturi Lehkonen to Colorado trade. The former first round pick by the Avalanche hasn’t had the easiest road the past few years. He missed significant time while a member of the Halifax Mooseheads due to blood clots, which certainly hindered his development. Just when you thought he was able to stay healthy this past season, he suffered a season ending ankle injury shortly after being acquired by Montreal. The 6’2, right shot defender has the potential to be a top four NHL defender, he just needs to stay healthy. Without question, Barron’s best quality is his skating ability. An effortless mover, his game is built around his mobility. He excels as a puck transporter because of his ability to carve up the neutral zone, often gaining the offensive blue line with ease. He also defends well in transition with his ability to mind gaps and stay ahead of attackers. In his five-game stint with Montreal before his injury, Barron looked good at both ends of the ice and appeared ready for a permanent NHL gig. Looking at Montreal’s depth on the blueline, it would appear that only another injury will keep Barron out of their lineup. There is lots of ice time up for grabs and he may even be given significant powerplay responsibility, as he was during his brief audition last year. - BO

10 - Joshua Roy RW

Picked in the 5^th round of the 2021 draft by the Montreal Canadiens, Roy completely exploded this season with monstrous offensive numbers: 119 points in 66 games. Roy has been, since debuting in the QMJHL, a very polarizing player amongst scouts. The St-Georges-de-Beauce native has always possessed significant talent and has long been hyped in the Quebec minor hockey scene. This led to him being picked 1^st overall in his QMJHL draft year. However, his work ethic has been put into question a lot. This season, however, Roy took a big step forward in nearly all areas and it has really helped elevate his stock as a prospect. Joshua was mainly a sniper in his draft season, but he diversified his game and now is a much more versatile player as he’s been creating a lot of passing plays and showed improvement in his work ethic and motor. Can he become a top six player in the NHL? The jury is still out. He will need to continue to improve his athletic tools, such as his explosiveness and strength on the puck. Roy will return to Sherbrooke again this season and will look to repeat as the QMJHL’s scoring leader. He should also serve as a primary offensive player on the Canadian WJC team after already playing a strong supporting role on the gold medal winning 2002 team this past summer. - EB

11 - Mattias Norlinder

Norlinder’s first season in North America ended up being a relative failure last year, as he struggled with both Montreal and Laval before being assigned back to the SHL. He will attempt to play in the AHL yet again this year, likely ticketed for a full season in the minors to help him develop his confidence.

12 - Logan Mailloux

The highly debated first round selection missed most of last year due to his suspension and a season ending shoulder injury. The big blueliner continues to ooze athletic talent but will also need to continue to make strides on and off the ice.

13 - Jakub Dobes

There were not many goaltenders better than Dobes in the NCAA last season, his first at Ohio State. The big netminder could push his way to the top of goaltending prospect rankings with another dominant performance as a sophomore.

14 - Jesse Ylonen

Montreal has had to be very patient with Ylonen’s development so far. The former second rounder appears to have finally come into his own after a strong pro year split between Montreal and Laval. Likely has a career path similar to Kasperi Kapanen.

15 - Arber Xhekaj

The former free agent signing out of Hamilton in the OHL, Xhekaj has emerged as a legitimate prospect for Canadiens. He is one of the meanest defensive prospects on the planet and his skating has improved considerably in recent years. Decision making will need to be cleaned up, but he could move quickly through the system.

16 - Jayden Struble

With Struble electing to return to Northeastern for his senior year, there has been lots of chatter about whether he intends to sign in Montreal. Struble is a highly athletic, but physically aggressive defender who should take steps forward offensively this season.

17 - Riley Kidney

After a breakout draft +1 season in the QMJHL, Montreal fans should be excited about Kidney. His IQ and awareness are off the charts. He just needs to continue to get stronger and quicker to help strengthen his pro potential.

18 - Oliver Kapanen

A potentially impactful two-way center, Kapanen has a relatively safe projection as an NHL player. Montreal just wants to see him become a little more consistent offensively playing against men after a mediocre year.

19 - Emil Heineman

Acquired in the Tyler Toffoli to Calgary deal, Heineman is a big winger with great wheels and scoring potential. He has signed and will be playing in Laval this coming season.

20 - Rafael Harvey-Pinard

The former QMJHL standout and Memorial Cup champion has put together two strong seasons in the AHL consecutively. He may not be huge, but he competes and has skill. Is he an underrated prospect in the system with a real chance of being a quality middle six option for Montreal?

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

QMJHL 2019-20 Season Preview: Early returns show parity, competition at top of standings

Mike Sanderson — Sat, 05 Oct 2019 13:01:36 +0000

Sorry, QMJHL friends, but the penthouse is overbooked.

Five teams have won four or more games to start this young 2019-20 season, and all five of those teams are within two points of each other.

The defending champion Rouyn-Noranda Huskies would not likely be anyone’s top pick as the best team for a second year, with all the movement of players this past summer. Missing stalwarts like Joël Teasdale, Félix Bibeau, Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, Peter Abbandonato and, for the moment, Noah Dobson has not slowed the Memorial Cup titleholders this season, as Vincent Marleau is tied for the league lead in points and Tyler Hinam has made huge strides in his game.

Netminder Zachary Emond has lost his first regulation game in over a season this year, but he has been solid with a 5-1 record to lead all goalies in wins.

While one would be remiss to expect that hot play to continue, the Huskies are at the top of the heap once more as the season rumbles into its third week. A repeat of their 59-win season of a year ago seems unlikely, as they will look to maximize return of their remaining current assets for future gains, but they can get the accolades while they are hot.

More expectedly in the Western Conference, the Sherbrooke Phoenix are in second place. The Phoenix boast an older lineup and the league’s top drafted player from last June’s NHL entry draft in Sam Poulin, who is looking to build on a strong first camp with the Pittsburgh Penguins.

His ability to take over a game at the left wing position and shut a team up or shut them down has been chronicled a lot with his strong playoff last season, and the Phoenix are looking to form their team around their captain’s strengths as they look poised to break team records for their best season in franchise history.

Alexis Lafreniere

Out east, the top three teams boast one potential surprise and two predicted top teams – the Rimouski Oceanic, the Cape Breton Eagles and the Charlottetown Islanders.

Rimouski enters the year with the most pressure to salvage results out of this season than any other team in the entirety of the Canadian junior league. They have potential top pick Alexis Lafrenière for this season and likely no more, and will attempt to build a contender around their wunderkind for a third season in a row. Last year, they were swept in the third round, and their regular season results will not matter this year. They have considerable pressure to be a contender this year, or the Lafrenière-led team will be considered a failure.

Lafrenière already has four multi-point games in his five games played so far this season. He has not skipped a beat. They also boast a strong starting goalie in Colten Ellis, and good offensive depth around the prodigal right winger, but their defence corps at this point is worse than last season’s edition, and Serge Beausoleil will feel the pressure to make moves at Christmas time to form a strong unit.

The Eagles are no longer Screaming, but they will provide plenty of emotions for their fans this year in Cape Breton. New ownership, a new coach in Jake Grimes, and a new outlook gives new life to one of the deepest teams in the QMJHL. While the team is lacking in top-end talent, they have plenty to be excited about throughout the lineup in forwards Mathias Laferrière, Shawn Boudrias and the impeccably named Ivan Ivan.

The team is lacking in a top star up front and a top defenceman on the back end, but the market is there for both of those holes, and they have a great goalie in Ottawa prospect Kevin Mandolese. A possible strong defender is still on the shelf, as overager Antoine Crête-Belzile is still recovering from post-concussion symptoms from a knock late last season.

Charlottetown is always in the mix as long as coach Jim Hulton is in the fold, and this season is no exception. The Islanders may not stay in this position all season long, but they have one of the best goalies in the league in Matt Welsh, who can steal games by himself, and a team that always stays committed to the game plan. Xavier Bernard on the back end is no slouch, and neither is the solid pivot Nikita Alexandrov.

The league’s best potential team is just behind the big five in Chicoutimi. The Saguenéens are in the best position to be contenders this season – a good mix of veterans, a very strong young core of Hendrix Lapierre, Théo Rochette and William Dufour, and three first round picks to make moves if they choose.

Of course, since many of their core players will not age out next season, they can choose which year in the next couple they want to load up their team.

If they choose this season, they have captain Harvey-Pinard and Ethan Crossman up front with Memorial Cup experience, an underrated goaltender in Alexis Shank and a solid-if-unspectacular defence group led by Artemi Knyazev. The Sags have a lot going for them this season, and the world is their oyster in terms of what they choose to do.

Another potential contending team is in Moncton, as the Wildcats made a move in the summer to set themselves up for a run this season. They acquired goaltender Olivier Rodrigue to start games for them this season, and the 19-year-old is likely AHL bound after the season. This turns this season into an important one for the Wildcats, who lost Jeremy McKenna and Jonathan Aspirot to pro contracts.

There is a chance they may receive both players back from their pro teams, but even with the veteran boosts, the Wildcats are still missing an impact defender to be a true contender. That blueliner could be Boston Bruins pick Axel Andersson, who is in limbo in Providence, but until he is physically in the uniform, no one knows for sure.

The draft this June will be interesting for another New Brunswick team: the Saint John Sea Dogs. The Dogs are the most polarizing team to predict this season, as they have many young potential stars in their lineup, but their core is still very young. Last season’s youngest team in the CHL is still wet-behind-the-ears, but the talent in undeniable, led by blueliner Jérémie Poirier.

Poirier will lead a defence corps with five 17-year-olds in the fold, including fellow draft prospects William Villeneuve, Joona Lehmus and Charlie Desroches. Up front, Josh Lawrence and Brady Burns return and along with Alex Drover and Dawson Stairs taking important roles, all at 17, they look to be setting themselves up for a bright run. Joshua Roy, the league’s top pick in the Q draft in June, is also on the team, taking a regular shift and having an impact in his first year in the league.

The Sea Dogs could catch lightning in a bottle or could crash and burn in their inexperience, but will provide must watch attention for draft watchers trying to catch the next NHL players from the QMJHL.

Last season’s Memorial Cup hosts in Halifax are not the team they were last season. This year, they are more of a one-line unit than a fleshed out juggernaut, led by forwards Benoît-Olivier Groulx, Raphaël Lavoie and Maxim Trepanier.

Jared McIsaac starts the year on the shelf for a considerable amount of time, leaving potential first rounder Justin Barron as the undisputed number one defender on the unit; a huge boon to his development. It is not the start new head coach Jean-Jacques Daigneault would have hoped for in taking the job, but he could really make a name for himself as a coach if Barron thrives in this environment.

It is expected that the Mooseheads will make some moves for the future during the mid-season trading period in which they kiss any or all of Lavoie, Trepanier, Groulx and McIsaac goodbye, which would dramatically alter the skills of this team in the second half.

Also looking ahead to the future is the Baie-Comeau Drakkar, who saw the fruits of their building labors tumble and sputter in a first-round upset to Moncton last spring. Nathan Légaré and Gabriel Fortier could be available to the highest bidder as the Drakkar hope to begin anew with a new coach in Jon Goyens, who has an excellent record of development at the midget level.

Goyens’s Lac-Saint-Louis teams have a reputation for producing many QMJHL players and pros, including Mike Matheson, Jonathan Drouin, Joe Veleno and Anthony Duclair. The Drakkar will have a chance to rebuild in his image, and he has earned it with his success at the midget level.

Drummondville will also be looking to cast off veterans in favour of younger players, as they hope to look to future years. The for-sale sign is on stars like Xavier Simoneau and Thomas Pelletier, while it has been rumoured that draft hopeful Dawson Mercer already has a new home lined up at Christmas when the trading period opens in late December.

In closing, here is a top-ten of QMJHL prospects to watch this season:

Alexis Lafreniere, Rimouski – his hype precedes him, but he’s absolutely worth it.

Hendrix Lapierre, Chicoutimi – missed some time last year with injury but hoping to make up for lost time.

Justin Barron, Halifax – Dobson-like skater and potential dominator on the back end.

Vasily Ponomarev, Shawinigan – a fitness freak in an optimal position to make things happen with lots of ice time.

Mavrik Bourque, Shawinigan – impressed on an offensive-weak Shawinigan last year with his skills and poise.

Theo Rochette, Chicoutimi – An early season injury sidelines him in a critical year, but will have plenty of opportunities.

Dawson Mercer, Drummondville – do-it-all two-way winger who skates well and can play all situations.

Jérémie Poirier, Saint John – great size and skating ability, is already a top-pairing defender in his draft year.

Lukas Cormier, Charlottetown – undersized, but excellent skater who can always make something happen offensively.

Noah Delémont, Acadie-Bathurst – great skater, great hockey sense and ability to handle minutes, especially internationally.

QMJHL President’s Cup Playoff Preview: Can anyone sink the Armada?

Michael Sanderson — Wed, 21 Mar 2018 17:57:08 +0000

The Blainville-Boisbriand Armada are back for more in the 2018 playoffs.

Alex Barre-Boulet.

They led the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League almost from the get-go, boasting two of the top three league scorers in Tampa Bay’s Alex Barré-Boulet and Alexandre Alain and later added a third massive offensive weapon in Ottawa’s Drake Batherson.

Drake Batherson

The Armada won the league by 11 points and were the only team to hit the century mark, with a 107-point season and an impressive 25-3-2-3 record in the 2018 calendar year. Fresh off a President’s Cup finals run last season, the Armada are the team to beat.

Maxime Comtois

Two teams finished the 2017-18 campaign on point streaks of 10-games or more, and those two teams are set up for big runs for the President’s Cup. The Victoriaville Tigres closed out the season with an 11-game winning streak, and they have three scorers in the top-10: Columbus’s Vitalii Abramov, Anaheim’s Maxime Comtois and the undrafted Ivan Kosorenkov. That trio has been the league’s most productive top line since Abramov joined the team from the Gatineau Olympiques in November.

The Acadie-Bathurst Titan have points in their last 10 games, and they added several pieces during the trading period in every role, including forwards Mitch Balmas and Sam Asselin, top-scoring defender Olivier Galipeau and St. Louis prospect goaltender Evan Fitzpatrick. Their recent streak won them the Maritime Division over the dangerous-but-young Halifax Mooseheads.

The races for playoff spots were more subdued than in past years, as the Saint John Sea Dogs and the Shawinigan Cataractes both missed the playoffs by six points under the Val-d’Or Foreurs, and the next team, in 15th, the Chicoutimi Saguenéens, bested the Foreurs by 14.

The Maritimes Division was Halifax’s to lose, and the aforementioned veteran Acadie-Bathurst squad overcame the Mooseheads in the final games. The Armada and the Rimouski Oceanic were leading the West and East Divisions at Christmas and cruised to the titles.

The QMJHL’s President’s Cup playoffs start Thursday, March 22, as the Foreurs take on the Armada in Boisbriand. All other series start on Friday, March 23. The league’s champion will go to Regina for the 100th Memorial Cup tournament at the Brandt Centre in May.

1 Blainville-Boisbriand Armada vs. 16 Val-d’Or Foreurs:

The Armada are just too good in all facets of the game for the Foreurs to handle. Val-d’Or may have had a better chance if they had not sent overage netminder Etienne Montpetit to Victoriaville at mid-season. Mathieu Marquis, who did not initially make the team and took the starting role in January, will face the brunt of the Armada shooters, with rookie Jonathan Lemieux on deck. Marquis has not won a game since February 16, and Lemieux has not won a game in longer than that.

The Armada boast plenty of offence beyond Barré-Boulet at 116 points, Alain at 87 and Batherson at 77. Forward Joël Teasdale notched a point-per-game with 65 points, and blueliner Pascal Corbeil had 51 points from the back-end.

The Armada are a puck-possession team, and there is a good chance that the Foreurs will spend full minutes without the puck during this short series. Since the Q has gone to a 1-vs-16 format, no 16 seed has ever knocked off a top seed. That continues in 2018. Armada in 4.

2 Acadie-Bathurst Titan vs 15 Chicoutimi Saguenéens:

Antoine Morand. Photo by Daniel Doucet/DD Sports Photo

The Titan may be the league’s deepest team. They have the top-two defence scorers in Galipeau and Noah Dobson, along with Adam Holwell in the top-10 among blueliners. Anaheim’s Antoine Morand leads a formidable offence that is gritty, in-your-face and aggressive. They are 9-2-1-0 against teams from the East Division this season, and goalie Fitzpatrick is 17-4 since joining the team in January.

The Sags will need the Kevin Klima coming out party to continue for them to have any chance. After a slow start, Klima, the son of former NHLer Petr, had 75 points after November 1, and his 86 points were best on the team by 37 over teammate Vladislav Kotkov.

The Titan need a big run for the Bathurst market to have long-term sustainability. The market on the north shore of New Brunswick is struggling, and a pair of sellouts at the end of the year are just what the doctor ordered. A long run to reinvigorate the market will help, too. Titan in 5.

3 Rimouski Oceanic vs 14 Moncton Wildcats:

Alexis Lafrenière

The Wildcats were leading the Maritime Division in mid-November until they fell back to Earth and stumbled their way through the rest of the season.

The Oceanic benefitted from their two hotshot rookies in leading scorer Alexis Lafrenière and goaltender Colten Ellis to secure the East Division title. Neither of them are NHL draft eligible this season; Ellis in 2019 and Lafrenière in 2020. Ellis, with five shutouts, was a major reason the Oceanic were the league’s stingiest squad this season.

The series will be most intriguing for a playoff matchup between picks one and three in last June’s QMJHL Entry Draft. Lafrenière has performed as advertised as the next prodigy out of the province of Quebec, and Moncton’s Jakob Pelletier has been a consistent threat for the Wildcats on all ends of the ice with his strong work ethic and high skill level.

Rimouski and Moncton have met five times previously in the QMJHL playoffs, and the Oceanic have won four of the five meetings. Make it five. Oceanic in 5.

4 Halifax Mooseheads vs 13 Baie-Comeau Drakkar:

Jared McIsaac

After the Mooseheads clinched a playoff spot on February 8, they went 9-6-1-0, including some listless efforts against foes they should have handled. That stretch is where the Titan overtook them and grabbed the Maritime crown.

However, the Mooseheads have young talent to burn, including projected first rounders Filip Zadina, Jared McIsaac and Benoît-Olivier Groulx.

The Drakkar have an underrated group of forwards, including San Jose’s Ivan Chekhovich and Jordan Martel. Goaltender Francis Leclerc was picked on up waivers from the Armada, and has taken the bulk of the starts for Baie-Comeau in the second half.

Ivan Chekhovich

Both the Mooseheads and the Drakkar are built with much of the 2016 Q picks in mind, where the Moose took Groulx and McIsaac first and second overall, and the Drakkar had four picks in the opening round and all four – Gabriel Fortier, Xavier Bouchard, Shawn Element and Edouard St-Laurent – have had impacts on the team this season.

The Mooseheads may have a rude awakening later, but they wake up for this series. Mooseheads in 6.

5 Drummondville Voltigeurs vs 12 Cape Breton Screaming Eagles:

Joe Veleno (#90),. THE CANADIAN PRESS IMAGES/Ghyslain Bergeron

The Voltigeurs made only two impactful trades this season, acquiring forwards Connor Bramwell and Joe Veleno, but both moves have paid dividends immediately for the league’s best scoring team.

Bramwell was a point-per-game since being acquired in late November, and Veleno went on a tear after joining the Volts in December. Veleno has 48 points since moving to Drummondville, including a 13-game point-streak.

The pressures of having to be the man in Saint John clearly bothered Veleno at the start of the year, as he struggled handling his shift in role from second-line offensive bit piece to first line two-way center, captain and all-around saviour for a paper-thin Sea Dogs team. He has grabbed back his confidence and is every bit the player scouts expected him to be as the only exceptional status player in Q history.

Cape Breton is a tough team to play against, as they play an aggressive style and forecheck hard. Drummondville, coached by Team Canada gold medal winner Dominique Ducharme, will be ready. Voltigeurs in 5.

6 Victoriaville Tigres vs 11 Gatineau Olympiques:

Since acquiring Abramov from Gatineau on November 17, Victoriaville is 32-10-3-2. Those are title contender numbers from a team that struggled out of the gate, and Abramov’s 78 points in 40 games since the trade is a major reason why.

The first line of Comtois-Abramov-Kosorenkov combined for 245 points on the year, and much of it together. They made their shifts look like the Globetrotters at times with their passing and stickhandling through the opposition. Gatineau is a better defensive team than offensive, but that will not matter. Etienne Montpetit in the Tigres goal will be more than enough to withstand any pressure Gatineau can muster.

Abramov dazzled Gatineau fans for two seasons before wanting a trade to a contender, and now he shows his top form at the Robert-Guertin in an enemy uniform. Tigres in 4.

7 Rouyn-Noranda Huskies vs 10 Sherbrooke Phoenix:

Peter Abbandonato

The Huskies have the league’s best netminder in Samuel Harvey. The overager led the league in both goals-against-average (2.10), and save percentage (.930). In 46 appearances, he only gave up 95 goals and won 30 games.

The Huskies know a thing or two about strong goaltending performances, as Chase Marchand and his 1.35 GAA and record six playoff shutouts took the Huskies to the Memorial Cup final in 2016.

Four members of that team are still in the fold, including Harvey, who was the backup to Marchand. Forwards Rafaël Harvey-Pinard and Peter Abbandonato lead the offence, while strong defenders Taylor Ford and Jacob Neveu round out a solid defence corps.

Netminder Reilly Pickard, swapped one-for-one with Bathurst for Fitzpatrick, has been decent in a Phoenix uniform, and Thomas Grégoire and his 69 points from the back end led a surprisingly balanced attack. This Phoenix team has the most points in their six-year franchise history with 79. They have never won a playoff round. Huskies in 6.

8 Québec Remparts vs 9 Charlottetown Islanders:

Matthew Welsh

The Remparts had one of the league’s hottest starts to the year at 8-1, but have since shown to be a middling outfit this season. Next year, they will be stronger, but this season, goaltending struggles, especially beyond netminder Dereck Baribeau, were a problem at mid-season.

The team acquired overager Antoine Samuel to resolve the netminding woes, and that worked. The Remparts are coming into the playoffs hot, with wins in eight of their last 10 games.

The Islanders, conversely, had a slow start to the season and got better as the schedule progressed. Head Coach and GM Jim Hulton promised the fans they would have a good team this year following a contending team last season that saw his team go to the final four.

This year, the Islanders acquired several key forwards at Christmas to jumpstart the offence, and it has turned their goal-scoring from awful to simply below-average.

The Islanders will go as far as goaltender Matt Welsh will take them. He has the ability to steal a series, and will do so here. Islanders in 6.

****

While no upsets, save 9-over-8, were predicted in the first round, the league goes wild in round number two.

Beware the Victoriaville Tigres, who will upset the Rimouski Oceanic in the second round. Drummondville, with their experience behind the bench, will overtake Halifax in the second round in a tough seven-game series that will be highlighted with Gravel-vs-Rodrigue in net.

By round three, the contenders are left: the Armada, Titan, Volts, and Tigres. Bathurst has the depth to defeat the younger Drummondville, while the Armada are a bit too deep for the Tigres and their dynamite top line.

Expect the unexpected for the President’s Cup. The Titan and their engaged defenders are the first team that can take and keep the puck from the Armada forwards, and they frustrate and overcome the Blainville-Boisbriand squad to win the second President’s Cup in their history.

The Titan are just too deep on the blueline and in goal for the Armada to handle. The CHL’s smallest market will make the trip to Regina for the Memorial Cup in May.

Rafaël Harvey-Pinard – McKeen's Hockey

MCKEEN’S 2023-24 NHL YEARBOOK – MONTREAL CANADIENS – Team Preview – Player Profiles

Forwards

Nick Suzuki - C

Cole Caufield - LW

Josh Anderson - RW

Kirby Dach - RW

Christian Dvorak - C

Brendan Gallagher - RW

Alex Newhook - LW

Sean Monahan - C

Juraj Slafkovsky - LW

Joel Armia - RW

Defense

Mike Matheson - D

David Savard - D

Kaiden Guhle - D

Goaltending

Samuel Montembeault - G

NHL: CULLEN – 20 FANTASY POINTS – Byram and Valimaki getting opportunity – Help on the wing in Teravainen, Carrier and Harvey-Pinard – Goaltending grabs

MCKEEN’S 2022-23 NHL YEARBOOK – MONTREAL CANADIENS – Top 20 Prospects

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.

QMJHL 2019-20 Season Preview: Early returns show parity, competition at top of standings

QMJHL President’s Cup Playoff Preview: Can anyone sink the Armada?

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)