Montreal Canadiens: The temperature is rising on Michael McCarron

The Montreal Canadiens have brought in a lot of centres in the last few weeks which is slowly making Michael McCarron more expendable.

Several Montreal Canadiens prospects had a microscope this season, but none had one as strong as Michael McCarron. Many expected him to have a solid training camp and push for a roster spot to make the team and get his name on the opening night lineup. Jacob de La Rose and Charles Hudon managed to push through officially graduating from the AHL, but McCarron again, found himself cut thanks to a bland set of preseason games.

The 2013 first-round pick started his year as part of the first ever Laval Rocket team who got off to a decent start. McCarron put up a goal and assist in his first game against the Belleville Senators which could’ve been the beginnings of a more offensive season. The Habs sent out the call up once the injury issues began allowing the 23-year-old to play eight NHL games.

This was it. This was McCarron’s opportunity to right the wrong where that game in Bridgeport may be his last one in the AHL. Unfortunately, the preseason whispers came up again leaving McCarron ineffective with the Montreal Canadiens. You could argue that it’s difficult to make an impact while on the fourth-line. At the same time, you’d expect to see more fight and drive from a young player trying to prove himself.

It was back to the AHL for McCarron where he stayed until March. He got another chance after the trade deadline with the Montreal Canadiens and looked better (relatively speaking). McCarron was using his size as a strength to create space for his wingers which aligned with how he was being groomed in Laval this season.

Competition Approaching

He finished the year with the Montreal Canadiens registering a single assist and assignments to improve his skating and acceleration which has been his main critique for years. In another circumstance, it may be the safe assumption to say that McCarron gets a contract makes the team next year. However, the recent moves from Marc Bergevin have muddled that scenario a bit.

Since the end of the season, the Habs have signed six players to entry-level contracts where four of them were their own draft picks. To put more weight to this argument, all of them are centres. Will Bitten has had more success playing at right-wing with the Hamilton Bulldogs, but there’s no denying the ability of Jake Evans, Alexandre Alain, and Lukas Vejdemo, to name a few, down the middle.

For McCarron, it’s almost as if he’s been playing a few rounds of Mario Kart and has found himself in second place on the final lap. He’s slowly catching the first-seeded driver but has four others getting closer and closer. The thing about Mario Kart is that running over a banana or getting hit by a red shell can quickly drop you to the end of the rankings. It’s no different here in the Montreal Canadiens prospect pool.

McCarron was the young player the organization wanted to work with and groom to be an NHL centre one day. Several bumps have delayed that path, and now six other candidates may take his job.

It’s just as likely that say Evans has an outstanding camp and makes the team. Claude Julien has proven that he’s not shy to give a young player an opportunity to play if he feels that they’re ready. Look at Victor Mete who made the team as a 19-year-old defenceman.

The Next Steps

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None of this matters if McCarron didn’t prove that he’s worth a final look in the form of an extension. I think Bergevin signs him as most teams are reluctant to give up on their first-round picks too soon. That being said, it wouldn’t be surprising to see that extension be a one-year deal which is the hallmark of a ‘prove it’ contract.

It’ll be up to the Michigan native after that point.

Another thing to take into consideration is that McCarron will require waivers next season if there’s a slip up in the preseason. That may save him from being sent down to the Laval Rocket and push a new name down there instead. His size and draft position would make him a player worth taking a flyer on for the remaining 30 teams in the NHL.

Entry-level contracts are waivers-exempt so barring a ridiculous performance, the tie-breaker would go to McCarron. It doesn’t necessarily guarantee him playing time though. Julien could make use of a similar rotation he used on the defence corp this season on the forward group. But we can all agree that having McCarron sit wouldn’t help his development any more than playing and being invisible.

It makes you wonder whether McCarron is in the long-term or even short-term plans or not. We’ll have to wait and see what the next leg of Bergevin’s Master Plan shapes up to be.

Next: Rick Dudley's Departure Improves Pro Scouting

Internal competition is what separates the best organizations from the subpar ones. The Montreal Canadiens have done well for themselves by adding a little more pressure to rest of the players in the system, especially McCarron, which could push him to have the best summer of his career. Otherwise, there are more capable bodies who could fit right in.

McCarron has voiced his belief that he IS an NHL player. It’s time to prove it.