The Montreal Canadiens began the season on the flawed foot, tripped and fell on their face could be a extra apt description. Their early performances pissed off followers because the expectations had been a lot larger than what was seen. Not solely did they hover close to the underside of the NHL standings, however in addition they ranked close to or on the cellar in each commonplace or superior statistic, which explains the on-ice outcomes.
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Nevertheless, there may be hope for the long run as basic supervisor (GM) Kent Hughes is on the helm of a rebuild that has been crusing in the best course. A lot consideration has been paid to the Canadiens’ defence prospects, and lots of level to a promising future for the rebuild. But the depth at each place ought to be highlighted, because the prospect pool is already seen as an NHL finest.
Canadiens Prospects Rank Excessive
Some at the moment are hoping for Montreal to tank the season, however merely persevering with the season and letting the ultimate place within the standings happen organically is essentially the most useful consequence because it not solely advantages the long run with what’s more likely to be a top-10 draft choice but in addition doesn’t drawback the younger core of gamers who’ve already graduated to the NHL.
It helps tremendously that the Canadiens prospect pool is stocked with not solely amount but in addition high quality. They lately had been ranked on the high of the checklist of TSN’s rankings of U24 gamers. Montreal’s high 5 on this checklist are proper winger Cole Caufield (23), proper winger Ivan Demidov (18), left winger Juraj Slafkovsky (20), defenceman Lane Hutson (20) and goaltender Jacob Fowler (19).
“It’s a humiliation of riches and a cause to be affected person with the franchise rebuild.”
– Craig Button
The checklist rounds out the highest 10 with (so as) centerman Michael Hage, defenseman David Reinbacher, defenseman Logan Mailloux, left winger Joshua Roy, and centerman Owen Beck. This checklist doesn’t even embrace centerman Nick Suzuki as he had simply turned 25 this previous offseason, giving Montreal the potential of a high six stuffed with top-line calibre gamers, a number of high pairing succesful defenders, high-quality two-way gamers and even a possible beginning goaltender for years to come back.
The largest organizational want for a number of years was so as to add offensive forwards, and an elite ahead. Each appear to have a prospect that is able to fill these wants, however it can take endurance and time earlier than they step into the NHL and make the affect their potential factors to.
Canadiens Prospect Michael Hage
In an interview with RG.org, Michael Hage said that he’s doing every part he can to set as excessive of a regular as potential for himself, contemplating he’s seen as one of many Canadiens’ high prospects. He’s at the moment in his rookie NCAA season with the College of Michigan the place he has already begun to cement himself as a top-line participant. He has scored 5 targets and 9 factors in his first 9 video games and leads the crew in targets and factors. Hage additionally factors to an NHL celebrity that he desires to emulate.
“[Jack] Eichel is an effective one, he’s a man I’ve tried to mannequin my sport after. He’s inventive and fairly rangy. He’s somebody you attempt to take issues from as you’re employed by yourself sport; I like the way in which Eichel performs with the puck and pushes tempo. I imagine I’ll be the kind of offensive heart that may play in a top-6 within the NHL. I do know I received’t get there on expertise alone and that it’s going to be a course of.”
– Michael Hage
There are some similarities as each Hage and Eichel are each facilities and each hung out within the NCAA. Clearly, Eichel, who was drafted second general in 2015, is just not one of the best comparable, however that doesn’t imply that Hage can’t emulate a number of the higher habits and talent units of one of many NHL’s most expert facilities. The self-awareness proven by the 18-year-old and his work ethic level to a brilliant future for a Toronto native who grew up as an avid Canadiens fan.
Canadiens Prospect Ivan Demidov
The Canadiens’ 2024 fifth-overall decide, Ivan Demidov, has been enjoying this season for SKA St-Petersburg within the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL). Regardless of getting used largely in a bottom-six position, he’s already showcasing his elite expertise regardless of the questionable selections of his teaching employees to restrict his minutes. For Montreal followers hoping to see Hughes go to Russia and rescue Demidov, there can be disappointment. Marco D’Amico of RG.org has data from a supply near the prospect that received’t please Canadiens followers. The stories are that Demidov won’t be out there to Montreal till the teenager’s KHL contract expires on June 1, 2025.
Demidov can solely depart for the NHL this season if SKA’s head coach Roman Rotenberg agrees to terminate his contract by mutual consent. He doesn’t appear to have curiosity in permitting Demidov to interrupt his contract as Matvei Michkov did to hitch the Philadelphia Flyers this previous offseason. He additionally doesn’t appear to have curiosity in giving the younger winger the ice time he has earned as he routinely restricts him to eight minutes or much less, solely letting him get extra when the crew is in determined want of extra offence. All indicators level to Hughes being unable or on the very least, not believing that Rotenberg can be persuaded to let Demidov go to North America throughout the season. It has turn out to be clear that Rotenberg isn’t involved in doing any favours for the Canadiens or Demidov. That is evident because the younger, dynamic ahead has six targets and 20 factors in 29 video games performed this season, producing multiple-point video games at any time when given an influence play or top-six position.
The look ahead to Demidov to hitch the NHL squad will seemingly finish in the summertime of 2025, the look ahead to most of the different prospects will take somewhat longer. However with the standard of the prospect pool, and depth at every place, the rebuild is beginning to take form and followers are excited to see the Canadiens attain the following stage.
