Montreal Canadiens: The next jump for Will Bitten in his career
By Omar L
It’ll be a defining summer for Will Bitten as how hard he works will determine whether there’s a spot for him in the Montreal Canadiens next season.
The 2017-18 season will be a memorable one for Will Bitten. He improved on his point totals from last year scoring 20 goals and 44 assists and was tasked with more responsibility. Bitten was a mainstay on Hamilton’s top line before the addition of Robert Thomas. Add on an entry-level deal with the Montreal Canadiens and an OHL Championship, and you sum up the positivity of Bitten’s year.
It was unfortunate that it couldn’t continue in the Memorial Cup. The Bulldogs met the Regina Pats in the semi-finals after going 2-1 in the round-robin. Bitten scored his first of the tournament to make it 3-2 with five minutes left in the third, but it wasn’t enough to force overtime.
The 2016 third-round pick saw his offence fall in the playoffs this year. That goal was his only point at the Memorial Cup. Additionally, Bitten put up 4 goals and 7 assists in the 21 OHL playoff games. The deadline additions had a part in that as Bitten moved down to the third line. However, luck was a factor as well.
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Bitten had his chances to score but was unable to find the back of the net. It started in the final stretch of the regular season and into the opening rounds of the playoffs. Breakaways came for the 19-year-old and usually ended in no change in Hamilton’s goal total.
This shouldn’t change how Montreal Canadiens feel about the Bitten. He’s a special talent and has incredible hands in tight around the net as well as overwhelming speed. Consistently putting up points is a part of his cons, but Bitten does everything else right that will make any NHL coach love him.
Forwards or Backwards?
Bitten will be turning 20 in July making him eligible to play in the AHL next season. He could also return to the Hamilton Bulldogs for an overage year and help them win back-to-back OHL championships and a Memorial Cup in Halifax.
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Odds are Bitten is done with junior and ready for professional hockey. The Laval Rocket are in a point of transition in management and player personnel. Jöel Bouchard is ready to implement his force over the team and grown talent for the Montreal Canadiens down the line.
Bitten will be a player that Bouchard gravitates to. He’s quoted being a coach who likes to make the use of speed throughout the lineup to generate scoring chances and quickly react to changes on the fly. That has the Ontario native’s name all over it.
The coaching staff at the Rookie Tournament pinpointed Bitten’s skating as one of this most improved skills. His willingness to compete and work in the dirty areas has only gotten stronger as well.
He may not have the numbers that scream “He’s done with junior”, but Bitten is trending upwards. Bouchard can bring out the best and mould him to an effective player some day. Think of a younger Paul Byron.
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It starts at development camp moving on to the main camp in September. Getting a spot on the Montreal Canadiens roster will be tough with the number of players competing for spots on the wing. The Laval Rocket, on the other hand, is ripe for the picking.