Montreal Canadiens: Expectations for Jeremiah Addison
Montreal Canadiens 2015 seventh-round pick Jeremiah Addison had a tough year but will be looking to break out with the Laval Rocket in 2018.
The Montreal Canadiens had three injuries to prospects in September. Josh Brook had his Rookie Tournament end early by a wrist injury that required surgery, Noah Juulsen fractured his foot during the preseason, while Jeremiah Addison’s shoulder kept him out of commission for months.
Addison was taken in the seventh round of the 2015 draft after a 30-point improvement with the Ottawa 67s that saw him score 19 goals and 28 assists followed by 10 points in 6 playoff games. The Brampton native saw another boost in production the next season with 27 goals and 29 assists. He also played four games for the then Habs AHL affiliate St Johns Ice Caps after his junior team was eliminated early from the playoffs.
The 2016-17 season saw a change in scenery for Addison as he was traded to the Windsor Spitfires. Being an over-ager saw him quickly rise as one of the team’s leaders. That March saw himself, and Jalen Chatfield named co-captains. Then head coach Rocky Thompson had this to say about the decision:
Our players selected these guys equally. They’re two great people. They both are deserving and both represent what it takes to be a leader. It’s a good situation. I think they’ll help each other lead our team.
The Spitfires didn’t last too long in the playoffs, but they took the CHL’s top prize in the Memorial Cup as Windsor hosted the tournament. Addison was a key contributor to the victory scoring five goals and adding an assist in four games including a hat-trick in their final round-robin game against the Erie Otters.
Must Read. Past Habs Performances at the Memorial Cup. light
More from A Winning Habit
- Montreal Canadiens: Biggest Questions Going Into 2023-24
- Montreal Canadiens: Quentin Miller’s Poise And Confidence Fuel His Game
- Montreal Canadiens: Laval Rocket Top Defence Pair Could Be Set
- Montreal Canadiens: Worst Move Of The Pierre Gauthier Era
- Montreal Canadiens: Could Casey DeSmith End Up In Colorado?
With a new entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens, the next step for Addison was to make his claim of a higher league. However, that shoulder injury held that back until March in a game against the Charlotte Checkers. Laval dropped that game, but Addison managed to score his first AHL goal from a nice backhand in the slot.
If everything goes well, the 21-year-old will be in the Rocket’s opening lineup for the 2018-19 season.
Addison is a strong player that lets his work ethic dictate his effectiveness. He doesn’t shy away from the front of the net and uses that strength to win battles throughout. Additionally, Addison has a decent level of speed to be the first in on the forecheck and get back for defensive responsibilities.
His numbers in his overage season weren’t enough to expect exceptional offensive production in the AHL. At least not on his own. Addison would be a fine option as a complementary player on a depth offensive or checking line. Scoring 10 goals wouldn’t be out of the realm of possibility for him. And it would also be interesting to see if he’s trusted with time on specialty teams.
The way Addison sees the game allows him to be a reliable option on the ice which could be useful on the penalty kill.
The Next Expansion Draft. dark. Next
With the number of new names to join Laval, Addison may have dropped in the prospect rankings. It’ll be up to him to make sure that he does his part to ensure that he remains at the very least, a question mark.
Acknowledgements: Point totals from eliteprospects.com.