A Winning Habit
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Canadiens Take William Bitten 70th Overall

By William Mccomb

Nov 11, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin speaks at a press conference before the game against the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 11, 2014; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin speaks at a press conference before the game against the Winnipeg Jets at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Canadiens first pick on day two of the draft was at 70th and they dipped into the OHL for the pick.

After dealing both of their second round picks to acquire Andrew Shaw, the Canadiens sat back and watched the 2nd round come and go before selecting in the 3rd round.

A lot of popular names already came off the board, the Canadiens watched as one name continued to fall.

C/RW Will Bitten – Flint Firebirds

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Don’t let that -29 fool you, Will Bitten is a good two center who happened to play for a really bad Flint team. Bitten led Flint in all offensive categories and was nearly 20 points better than second place.

He’s a bit undersized(5-10, 168) but has great speed, strong offensive instincts and a strong two way game. The Canadiens may have found a steal in Bitten. He was ranked as high as 39th by Hockey Prospect but was a consensus 2nd round prospect. To get him at 70th is great value by Bergevin and the Canadiens.

What the Scouts Say

From Elite Prospects:

"A smart offensive catalyst that consistently displays outstanding work ethic, elite hockey sense, and an ability to stay ahead of the play in all three zones. Very naturally gifted skater who moves around the ice with ease. Excels in pressure situations and uses his vision to predict where the puck is going to be, and proactively gets his body into a position where he can either take it away or take off up the ice. Offensively, he has a very creative streak, and knows what kinds of plays he can make in all situations; he also has an exceptional release on his shot, which he can get off quickly. Defensively, he is a buzzsaw that will not let up on the opposition, creating problems for them by causing turnovers and playing strong positionally. Will Bitten has all of the tools to become a very dangerous two-way forward that can produce strong numbers at the next level."

From Draft Site:

"Lightweight speedster who is strong in his carries. His low center of gravity makes him hard to tag. Can score. Has soft, quick mitts and good IQ in the attack zone. Works hard and long on the forecheck, his size not an impediment. His set of gears and good anticipation yield many opportunities and the fact that he plays fearless in the dirty areas only makes opponents respect him more. Is committed and good with the biscuit in his own end. Doesn’t possess a big frame and is going to need weight room development to up the odds of his chances to make it. But you have to see his grit, desire and persistence as qualities that he can climb the rungs."

Next: Canadiens Select Mikhail Sergachev in 1st Round

Fit With Canadiens

Very good value by the Canadiens draft team. Bitten is a strong two way forward and I really like his speed game. Some places list him as a center but I think he’ll settle into a middle 6 winger role.

Some will likely use his size to not like the pick but any time you can get a consensus 2nd round player in the 3rd round, you’ve done well.

It’s unfortunate he plays on such a weak Flint team but if the team finds some much needed front office stability, the on ice squad could see an improvement in production. If not, Bitten could be a highly sought after trade deadline piece to an OHL contender.

He’s probably two years away from turning pro and three or even four years from seeing time on the Canadiens.

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