As the Montreal Canadiens prepare for a 56 game season battling within what is shaping up to be an extremely competitive “North” division, it is becoming increasingly apparent that the team’s success against all of the Canadian teams will be reliant upon a number of new and talented additions.
Offseason Analysis:
In Jake Allen, the Canadiens have now formed one of the strongest net-minding duos in the National Hockey League and have found a reliable backup that will provide a sturdy alternative on nights when Carey Price needs rest, an option that is becoming increasingly welcomed as the Canadiens’ 33-year old superstar enters the later stages of his prime. Further investing in support for Price, the Canadiens traded for Joel Edmundson, a dependable 6’4″ defensive defenceman who provides the team with additional size and strength in their top two pairings (among the likes of Shea Weber, Ben Chiarot and Jeff Petry) and is capable of playing upwards of 15 minutes per game on the left side of the second pairing with the more offensive-minded Petry.
Up front, a team that typically plays an undersized, speed-oriented style of offense, found balance through acquisitions in both trading and free agency. Prior to the draft, the Canadiens controversially traded for and signed former Columbus Blue Jacket, Josh Anderson. In a trade that sent Max Domi packing alongside a 3rd round pick, many believe the price paid far exceeds the value received considering Anderson’s measly 1 goal, 4 point 2019-2020 injury-riddled season. In a near-sighted lens, this move may have been a little too risky for the likes of some Canadiens fans, the year preceding Anderson’s injury, the right-handed power forward scored 27 goals playing a gritty, drive-the-net style, one that Habs fans will learn to love in the upcoming season. Anderson, now healthy, is showing all signs of returning to a 20+ goal scorer in his training who will be playing somewhere within what is now an extremely deep top-nine forward group for the Canadiens.
Arguably the biggest offseason splash made by Montreal came in free agency, signing right-winger Tyler Toffoli to a four-year, 4.25 million AAV contract. Toffoli once again brings more size to the Canadiens forward group, as well as playoff experience and another 20+ goal-scoring option. Slotting in on the second line centered by rising star Nick Suzuki, Toffoli will be given ample opportunity to produce offense and will bring a much-needed scoring chance conversion ability to a goal deprived first powerplay unit. In an offseason ruled by the ongoing pandemic, the Canadiens managed to address all of their most significant holes across their lineup and have put themselves in a position to not only realize success in the regular season but to gear the team towards a deep postseason run.
While offseason moves may prove most crucial to the Canadiens’ success in the 2020-2021 season, the upcoming season will be significant in another equally important respect: looking toward the future. This season will prove to be incremental in the development of young talents Suzuki and Jesperi Kotkaniemi, and Canadiens fans will be given the opportunity for first glimpses at the highly touted Russian defenceman, Alexander Romanov, who due to the trade for Edmunson and resigning of Xavier Ouellet and Victor Mete, will be playing in a low-pressure third-pairing role that will provide him with the best opportunity to develop. Inspired by Sportsnet personality, Steve Dangle’s Maple Leafs prospect pyramid, the following is an in-depth analysis and tiered ranking of the entirety of the Montreal Canadiens prospect pool.
Prospect Tier List:
Graduates: A graduate and a prospect that falls under this title is a player that either has seen NHL playing time or is projected to start immediately in the 2020-2021 season for the Canadiens.
Nick Suzuki, C: Suzuki is the most notable young star in the entire Canadiens system. After being acquired from the Golden Knights as the secondary piece in the Max Pacioretty deal, Suzuki scored 13 goals and 41 points in his first year in the NHL, and was named to the 2020 NHL All Rookie Team. His strong play continued into the playoffs, recording seven points in ten games, and demonstrating the ability to elevate his game to compete on the highest level. Looking forward to the 2020-2021 season, Suzuki is slated to center the Canadiens second line and will play key powerplay minutes. The second-year center is projected to beat his point output from his rookie season and has been predicted by many to be the team’s leading scorer. Suzuki is the most promising young player in the Canadiens organization and is already earning league-wide recognition as one of the best two-way centers in the NHL. He is expected to develop into a first-line center for the team in the future.
Jesperi Kotkaniemi, C: As the former third overall draft pick in the 2018 entry draft, Kotkaniemi entered the league with high expectations. A skillful, able-bodied center with high hockey IQ, Kotkaniemi’s potential as a future top-six forward is easily explainable. This potential showed signs of being captured in his rookie season, scoring 34 points in 79 games for the Canadiens, however, after a slow start to his sophomore season with the team, he was sent down to the Habs’ AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. COVID related concerns meant that he was recalled to play in the playoffs for the Canadiens, and he did not disappoint, scoring four key goals in the team’s ten playoff games, showcasing natural-born stick-handling skills and a lightning fast release. Kotkaniemi’s confusing first two years with the team set up the perfect narrative for a critical third year in the NHL, and having recently demonstrated the immense potential with which he was drafted, as the center for the Canadien’s third line, playing alongside newfound depth on the wing, fans should not be surprised if he reaches the 20 goal plateau and finishes the season having had a breakout offensive year, with top-six forward potential.
Ryan Poehling, C: Poehling carries less potential than the previous two centers discussed, however, is a graduated prospect that should not be overlooked. At 6’2″, 188 pounds, Poehling can bring much-needed size to the middle of the ice for the Canadiens. In his first eligible season, Poehling only made it into one game with the Canadiens, the final game of the season against the Toronto Maple Leafs, and scored a hat-trick, exciting fans for his next season, when he would be able to log consistent minutes with the team. In 27 games in the 2019-2020 season, Poehling disappointed, however, only managing to record two points, and was sent down to finish his year with the Laval Rocket. Poehling’s size and potential offensive skillset will likely mean that he returns to the Canadiens lineup at some point in the 2020-2021 season, though until he can prove his ability to produce at an NHL level, he will likely only find minutes amongst the team’s fourth line.
Jake Evans, C: Evans is the oldest of the five graduates, at 24, and has yet seen the least playing time of the four centers discussed in this tier. Evans, after his final year as Captain of the University of Notre Dame Hockey Team, found immediate production at the AHL level with the Rocket, recording 45 points in 67 games in 2018-2019. A seventh-round draft pick, Evans was called up to the Canadiens in 2019-2020 for 13 games, and while he struggled to find the scoresheet, demonstrated his effort and grit, earning him a spot on the team’s playoff roster, and a new contract in the offseason. Evans, like Poehling, does not carry top-six forward potential that is seen in Suzuki and Kotkaniemi, however, fans should expect to see Evans provide consistent performance as an effective defensive center in the bottom half of the Canadiens lineup.
Alexander Romanov, D: Romanov, the only defenceman in the graduate tier (honourable mentions to Mete, Ouellet, and Cale Fleury though they are now past the graduate phase), is amongst the names Canadiens fans are most excited for in the upcoming season. A second-round pick from Russia, the Canadiens have openly acknowledge their excitement for the manner in which he has developed since his draft year. Romanov, playing in the KHL, did not see a large number of minutes in his past two seasons after announcing his intentions to sign with the Canadiens, however gave fans a preview of his abilities in his play in international tournaments. In his upcoming rookie season with the team, Romanov is being penciled into the third defensive pairing, and after development within the NHL, will look to be able to harness his top-pairing potential. GM Marc Bergevin has hinted that the Canadiens will try Romanov on his off-side as a left defenceman, further increasing his future value should he fill that role successfully.
First Tier: A first-tier prospect is a player in the Canadiens system with superstar potential. A first-tier talent possesses all-star level skill and the prospective development into a first-line/pairing staple for their team. Previous Canadiens to meet this tier include Suzuki and Kotkaniemi (immediately following draft).
Cole Caufield, RW: I might be too high on Cole Caufield. Standing at just 5’7″, his small stature could cause him significant issues at the bigger and stronger NHL level. Still, I believe that he will prove to be the steal of the 2019 NHL draft. At overall pick 15, the Canadiens drafted a pure goal scorer. A shoot-first, dynamic skater who is capable of creating offense both with and without the puck, Caufield holds the USNTDP record for career goals (previously held by Phil Kessel), finding the net 126 times in only 2 years. Caufield possesses a lightning-fast release, pin-point accuracy and utilizes his low-center of gravity to excel in his stick-handling and burst. As a freshman at the University of Wisconsin, Caufield led the team in goals, points, and powerplay goals, and earned conference-wide recognition, receiving three major awards (Big Ten Scoring Champion, Big Ten Freshman of the Year, All Big Ten First Team). Caufield is one of the most talented offensive players to come out of his draft year, and in my mind is deserving of being placed in the first-tier of the prospect tier list. The Canadiens biggest hole has consistently been goal-scoring and scoring chance conversion. In Caufield, the Habs may have finally found their solution, and can now look forward to the development of a potential 30-40 goal scorer and offensive superstar.
Second Tier: The second tier of the prospect tier list represents players with top two line/pairing potential. Players in this tier possess the potential to become significant producers for the Canadiens for years to come.
Kaiden Guhle, D: With the current depth at the blue line, it will be at least a couple of years before fans see Guhle in a Canadiens jersey. What can be expected when he earns his spot at the NHL level is a 6’3″ defensive-minded physical defenceman who has shown a willingness to stand opponents up immediately upon zone entry and who has the skating skills to activate the counter-attack in the other direction. Guhle will be a consistent and reliable option for the Canadiens that will be able to play upwards of 20 minutes steadily in the future if he is able to continue developing successfully. While he may not have been the most exciting choice for fans at overall pick 16, in Guhle the Canadiens found a future top-four defenceman.
Mattias Norlinder, D: Norlinder won’t blow anyone away with his size. Standing at 6’0″, 188 pounds, the Swedish defenceman finds his talent in his impeccable skating and instinctive abilities in the offensive zone. While he still needs to develop his physicality when defending, Norlinder has already faced pro-level competition in Sweden and has the potential to play top minutes and become a point-producer as one of Montreal’s top-four defencemen in future years. Norlinder’s offensive potential is greater than that of Romanov’s and his skating and intelligence in the attacking zone should make him a valuable piece that can be used to quarterback a powerplay in the future. Fans should be eager for his NHL debut.
Jan Mysak, C/LW: Having watched Mysak play for the OHL’s Hamilton Bulldogs, it becomes easy to see why he was labeled one of the premier value picks of the 2020 NHL Draft. Playing on the first line alongside Kings prospect Arthur Kaliyev, Mysak averaged more than one point per game in his 22 games with the Bulldogs and has continually proven himself to be one of the most consistent producers on an international level for the Czech Republic. If Mysak is to develop into a center in the NHL, he will need to improve on his abilities taking the faceoff, however, his two-way skating abilities and offensive prowess should help him to find continued success with the Canadiens in the future, regardless of his position. I think Mysak will surprise people with his capabilities and skillset and is a future middle-six forward with the potential to elevate his play to a spot in the top-six.
Cayden Primeau, G: Carey Price’s career will eventually end. The staple and most important Canadiens over the last 13 years is entering the final stage of his prime. Montreal’s efforts to extend this period of his career in trading for Jake Allen will provide temporary solutions, but the Canadiens need long-term answers. Luckily for fans, they may have already found their future. 21-year-old Cayden Primeau possesses a big 6’3″ frame and played lights out in his two years at Northeastern University, posting save percentages of .931 and .933 respectively. Primeau gave fans a preview of his abilities, as depth needs meant that he appeared in two Canadiens games in the 2019-2020 season, earning his first NHL win. Newfound depth in Allen will allow for another year of development in the AHL with the Rocket for Primeau. Canadiens fans can find comfort that when the time comes, Primeau will be ready and will be capable of fulfilling any and all responsibilities.
Third Tier: The third tier in the tier list holds players that will almost certainly see NHL playing time and hold the potential to earn consistent roles in Montreal’s middle-six/two. More development is needed, however, fans can expect to see all of these players in Canadiens jerseys at some point in the future offering reliable play.
Sean Farrell, LW: Why did Sean Farrell fall so low in drafts? Selected with the 124th overall pick, Farrell was projected to be a second-round talent by some scouts. Like other notable Canadiens prospects (last name Caufield), his size is the easy explanation (5’9″, 174 pounds). It is important to recognize though that other factors also played a part in Farrell’s stock dropping. The pass-first winger does not shoot the puck (though when he does, shows incredible skill) and has a tendency to hold the puck for too long when attempting to create a play. Those are the negatives. His elite intelligence, movement, and playmaking give him serious NHL potential and a middle-six projection. Farrell’s success in penalty-killing will open more opportunity for a spot with the Canadiens. He is still unpolished and has the chance to fall short of his potential, though a high ceiling makes him the perfect tier-three prospect.
Josh Brook, D: Be patient with Josh Brook. Brook is a Canadiens prospect that will actually benefit from the influx of defensive players into the team’s system. Sitting lower on the depth chart will allow Brook valuable time to fully develop and round out so he has a better chance of realizing his potential when Montreal is ready to see him play. Brook exploded in 59 games in his last season with WHL Moosejaw Warriors for 75 points, which exponentially increased expectations for him when he began playing for Laval. Unfortunately for Brook, his occasional poor decision-making and struggles in his own zone were exposed when he was thrust into the spotlight playing major minutes for the Rocket. Later in the year, when he was moved down in the lineup, fans began to see Brook come into his own. The key to successful development for Brook is going to be time. He still possesses the incredibly high offensive ceiling that he showed in the WHL, and should be able to unlock this potential if he can start from the back-end moving forward. Fortunately for Brook, the situation and Canadiens defensive depth are perfect. He has a big frame and can grow his game to the point where with more time, he could be a top-pairing prospect. As has been learned with Brook, the key is to allow for some disparity, and he therefore to me is more of a tier-three candidate with a middle-pairing future.
Jordan Harris, D: Harris is another prospect that is difficult to rank. His offensive abilities come nowhere near the likes of other Canadiens prospects Romanov, Norlinder, and Guhle, and yet I have seen projections that value his potential at the level of a first pairing defenceman. The reason for this excitement is due to his reliability in his own end and his work to develop into a two-way threat. He will almost never be found out of position when defending passing lanes or against the rush and has developed a skillful breakout passing ability. While his offensive game is still a work in progress, he has shown flashes of a strong shot and the ability to open himself up for passes from the point. Harris was invited to the US 2019 World Junior Camp and earned a roster spot, somewhat surprisingly, due to his work ethic and sturdiness on the back-end. His offensive woes should develop and progress, but in an effort to be conservative I’ve placed him in tier three, as a potential middle-pairing prospect.
Jayden Struble, D: Struble is the second of the Canadiens’ up and coming defencemen currently playing for Northeastern University and is as enticing a prospect as his teammate Harris. Selected in the second round after Cole Caufield, Struble is a physically gifted defenceman that can activate an offence. At 6’0″, 205 pounds, Struble is extremely strong and plays the body effectively utilizing his positioning to lead the counter-attack. Struble has shown his capabilities in opening up for passes and finding the correct lanes in the offensive zone and has made himself a legitimate weapon for Northeastern. His decision-making still needs work, but that can likely be solved through his maturing, as he only 19. Struble, though his game differs from Harris, possesses the same ceiling of a top-pairing defenceman, but can safely be projected at the middle-pairing in tier three.
Jesse Ylönen, RW: Ylönen is one of the most elite skating prospects belonging to any team across the league. His speed control and acceleration, in addition to his cutting and quick turn ability gives him the opportunity to elevate himself above other prospects to top-six potential. Failure to produce offensively to the level expected of him has hurt Ylönen’s opportunity to progress his value. Ylönen’s faults on offence are seemingly miniscule but are the leading factors in his inability to record points in Finland. He has struggled to develop a scoring touch, something that will need to change should he expect to find success at the AHL level, let alone with the Canadiens. If this development occurs, his skating gives him enough of an edge to project as a top-six forward, though the progression thus far has been slow-moving. Even still, his skating ability is exceptional, which gives him a safe middle-six projection, assuming he continues to develop with the Rocket.
Fourth Tier: The fourth tier represents prospects who are one (or two)-dimensional with the need for development and rounding out, and who project to see minutes in the bottom-six/four.
Lukas Vejdemo, C: I thought about ranking Vejdemo in the third tier. His intelligence, two-way play, and reliability make him one of the closest Canadiens prospect to his complete development. Fans got to see him play on the fourth line last year with the Habs, a fitting role, as that is where I expect Vejdemo to find his place in the NHL. His offensive skillset will never develop to a level deserving of a top-six forward position, however, his abilities as a defensive center propel him to a future spot in the NHL as a bottom-six forward that kills penalties.
Rhett Pitlick, LW: Pitlick’s skating is NHL-ready. His ability to move on the ice gives him an offensive advantage over defenders, but his finish needs work before he can make any headway in the Canadiens system. His strengths make his game easier to forecast, and with more time to develop, Pitlick should be able to realize bottom-six NHL potential for Montreal.
Cam Hillis, C: Cam Hillis was tough to place in this tier list. He has been projected in places worthy of a ranking anywhere within the range of tier three to five. Coming off of a huge statistical output as captain of the OHL’s Guelph Storm, Hillis offers the Habs another playmaking center, a role that was very effectively addressed beginning in 2018 drafting Kotkaniemi. The unfortunate aspect of that information for Hillis is that finding a spot will be harder due to the nature of his position. What he has going for him is a polished passing ability, vision, and patience when working offensively that helped him to elevate his game to produce 83 points in 62 games in his final season with the Storm. If Hillis can fix his positioning without the puck and awareness, he gives himself the chance to fill the fourth line center role that is currently being played by Evans and backed up by Poehling.
Brett Stapley, C: Stapley is a little less predictable than others in tier four. An extremely proficient passer and stick-handler, Stapley could end up being a huge find for the Canadiens in the seventh round. He needs more time to develop as his movement with and without the puck is behind that of his peers and he shows hesitation when shooting. For this reason, there is a possibility that Stapley never puts on a Canadiens jersey. At 21 and nearing the end of his prospect window, if Stapley can show growth in his areas of weakness, the Canadiens may have another seventh-round center playing in their bottom-six (Jake Evans).
Otto Leskinen, D: An undrafted Finnish free agent, Leskinen could surprise some people. In his last year under contract with the Canadiens, Leskinen will be looking to prove that he deserves a spot amongst an extremely deep and young defensive group. Prospects Romanov, Guhle, and Norlinder among others all carry more excitement around them and will get better opportunity in the future, however, Leskinen will be one of the first call-ups if needed this season, and has the offensive abilities to play in the NHL. Leskinen can shoot and skate really effectively for a defenceman and proved when with the Rocket that he can skillfully open up passing lanes as the quarterback of a powerplay. He needs to continue to shore things up in his own end, but can be a bottom pairing option for the Canadiens should they continue to pursue his development.
Luke Tuch, LW: Tuch’s size (6’2″, 203 pounds) will make his path to the NHL clearer than other prospects on this list. A big body that plays a power forward style (think Josh Anderson, brother, Alex Tuch) Tuch can be a serious powerplay threat around the net. Like most prospects at his size and age, however, Tuch’s weakness is his skating. If he can successfully progress his skating to a more professional level and improve his security when possessing the puck, it should be likely that Tuch cracks Montreal’s bottom-six.
Noah Juulsen, D: I will be happy to be proven wrong about Noah Juulsen. A former first-round pick for the Canadiens, Juulsen has been plagued by injuries that have cost him crucial development years. Finally, it seems as though he is healthy again and prior to the injuries, Juulsen was close to NHL ready. Simply put, the issue is that Montreal has not seen enough of him. The Canadiens now have an incredibly fruitful defensive group and Juulsen’s path to playing time is more difficult than when he was first drafted. He needs more time to develop into a more diversified option, though his time is running out, as he is only signed through 2021, and an effort to keep him in the AHL subjects him to waivers to be claimed by another team. The Canadiens may end up keeping him on the “taxi squad” to avoid his possible departure, which might actually hurt Juulsen in the long run. He needs to play, and if he gets enough opportunity, there is still a chance for him to realize his first-round talent, but for the time being, it is hard for me to forecast him as anything more than a third-pairing defenceman.
Gianni Fairbrother, D: Fairbrother further shores up the Canadiens defensive depth and provides the team with yet another defensively reliable prospect. His play on the back-end is easy to see being valuable in the NHL, however, Fairbrother lacks the ability to impress offensive and to pose a threat to opponents when he stands at the blue-line. A hard shot makes him a serviceable piece if he is forced to shoot from the point, though without significant progression, his current state projects as a bottom-pairing depth piece for the Canadiens.
Jakub Dobeš, G: Dobeš needs a lot of work, though the route that he has chosen for his development (from USHL to NCAA) gives him more time under Montreal’s control to round out his game. Off to a strong start statistically thus far this season with the Omaha Lancers, Dobeš is a name to keep an eye on in coming years.
Frederik Dichow, G: Dichow’s size at 6’5″ helps him to appear big to opposing shooters which provides the Danish goalie with the opportunity to stay further back in his crease and play more conservatively. Until he fills out, however, it will be hard to determine where he ends up in the future, as with added size, he will likely alter his goaltending style. Dichow is a prospect that fans will have to wait and see about, and will have a better opportunity to do so with his transition to the OHL’s Sudbury Wolves.
Fifth Tier: The fifth and final tier holds players who may end up perennial prospects. Players in the fifth tier may eventually serve as fill-in players on the fourth line/third pairing, though will likely spend the majority of their time in the AHL with the Rocket or oversees.
Rafael Harvey-Pinard: Harvey-Pinard is a prospect who, unlike Caufield and Farrell, will be legitimately limited by his size in terms of his ability to compete at the NHL level. After a great career in the QMJHL, Harvey-Pinard will begin his tenure with the Rocket as a depth forward in the bottom-six. Undersized and hindered by his skating, Harvey-Pinard gives himself a shot on every play with his hockey intelligence and effort. The coming season with Laval present Harvey-Pinard with the opportunity to prove that he can elevate his game and mitigate his weaknesses to compete at a higher level, but unless he can do this to a significant degree, he may never make it to the NHL.
Alexander Gordin, F: Gordin has received some buzz after being drafted in the seventh round of the 2020 draft. Playing in the MHL in Russia, Gordin played well statistically, however, there is nothing in his game to me that indicates that he is any more exciting a prospect than others in tier five. His abilities lack polish, other than an exceptional shot, and his skating can not match the level expected in the NHL. Gordin has a chance to play in the NHL in the future (in a small role to that extent), but he is a long time from realizing this opportunity, and logic would explain that more prospects from upcoming years will make his path even more challenging.
Joël Teasdale, LW: Injuries stunting Teasdale’s development likely cost him his opportunity to play in the NHL. Teasdale has not played since 2019 and was not at a place prior to the injury to earn a spot on the Canadiens roster. A power forward that can play effectively in both directions, Teasdale can still be a reliable and solid player, however, it is hard to project his skills past the AHL. His offensive potential is not polished enough to compete with other Habs prospects already ahead of him in line to earn NHL opportunities. I struggle to see Teasdale as more than a fill-in player or full-time AHL member of the Rocket.
Jacob Olofsson, C/W: Plagued by injuries to both his shoulder and head, Olofsson has not developed to the extent that was expected of him after being drafted 56th overall. The Canadiens control Olofsson until 2022, so there is still time and room for improvement, however, unless he is able to find production on the wing, his injuries and lack of offense project him to be a replacement-level center. A smooth skating ability gives him a shot at the NHL, but it is hard to rank him as anything better than a tier five prospect at his current stage of development.
Joni Ikonen, C: Ikonen’s injury history may prevent him from NHL potential, a theme in tier-five prospects. His offensive capabilities are greater than other prospects in this tier, however, Ikonen is still dealing with an injury and will miss time for the third consecutive season. It is hard to make any assumptions about Ikonen because, to be frank, he hasn’t played enough to warrant any projections. It is difficult to find a path to the NHL for Ikonen.
Blake Biondi, C: Biondi was drafted in the fourth round of the 2020 NHL draft after a mind-blowing high school career in Minnesota. He has good size and a strong mental game that helped him score 76 points in 25 games. His skating needs development though, and his shot is not at a professional level yet. More needs to be seen from Biondi before he moves up in the tier list.
Jack Smith, F: Smith, like Biondi, needs to be seen more to determine the actual potential value they may hold. He possesses a similar frame to Biondi and will be playing alongside him at the University of Minnesota-Duluth. Smith combines his size with speed to make himself a threat offensively.
Arsen Khisamutdinov, LW: Khisamutdinov’s size will give him opportunity to play both in Laval and at some point, could help him fill-in for injuries in a role with the Canadiens. At 6’3″, 203 pounds, the Russian winger is one of the biggest (in size) offensive prospects in the Canadiens system, and effectively couples his strength with good hands and skating. He struggled last season in the KHL and will need to prove he can handle more elite competition before his true value can be evaluated.
Alexandre Alain, RW: Alain will be entering his third season with the Rocket and at 23 years-old, there is little development left to take place. He is a role player for Laval and will likely only ever be called up to the Canadiens to fill a temporary hole in the bottom-six (think Alex Belzile). Alain can fulfill most expectations asked of him, but does not possess elevated skills that can help him grab a spot higher in the tier list.
Jack Gorniak, C/LW: Gorniak has only been able to show one dimension to his game during his time with the Wisconsin Badgers. He is incredibly fast and utilizes this speed to force errors from the opposition, however, Gorniak has shown an inability to develop his offensive game to warrant any interest. A bottom-six forward in the NCAA, it is hard to expect him to end up as anything more than a prospect.
Jacob Leguerrier, D: A depth defenceman for the OHL’s Soo Greyhounds, Leguerrier has size and a big shot that have made him valuable for his team. The Canadiens depth on the defensive end and Leguerrier’s lack of versatility in his game combine to make his path to the NHL nearly unforeseeable.
Arvid Henrikson, D: Henrikson is one of the rankings I can be most sure about in the tier list. Despite his great size (6’5″) Henrikson was unable to develop into anything more than a one-dimensional defenceman. Solid in the defensive zone, Henrikson is extremely limited in his capabilities outside of his own end. The Lake Superior State Defenceman will not become a Montreal Canadien.
Hayden Verbeek, C/LW: Verbeek saw his progress come to a stand-still when he was given an opportunity with Laval. Unable to produce at the AHL level, Verbeek wound up playing in the ECHL the past two years and has found better success with the Adirondack Thunder. Now in Slovakia, Verbeek has not demonstrated enough development in his skating and finishing skills to warrant any projection past the AHL or International level.
Michael Pezzetta, LW/C: Pezzetta is as one-dimensional a prospect as exists in the Canadiens system. A grit-style forward with good size, Pezzetta is a true agitator for the Rocket. His lack of discipline and scoring touch make it highly unlikely that he ever dresses for the Canadiens.
Kieran Ruscheinski, D: Ruscheinski is still so raw it is impossible to see an NHL future at this moment in time. HIs opportunity, if any will come due to his 6’6″ frame. Ruscheinski is the next version of Henkrikson: a gamble on size. There is lots of development required before any real potential can be seen in Ruscheinski which will make him an interesting candidate to monitor in future years.
Sources: Montreal Gazette, Elite Prospects, Habs Eyes on the Prize