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Montreal Canadiens: Positional breakdown of the prospect pool to date

By Omar L

DALLAS, TX - JUNE 22: Jesperi Kotkaniemi puts on a Montreal Canadiens jersey onstage after being selected third overall by the Montreal Canadiens during the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images)
DALLAS, TX - JUNE 22: Jesperi Kotkaniemi puts on a Montreal Canadiens jersey onstage after being selected third overall by the Montreal Canadiens during the first round of the 2018 NHL Draft at American Airlines Center on June 22, 2018 in Dallas, Texas. (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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DALLAS, TX – JUNE 22: (Photo by Brian Babineau/NHLI via Getty Images) /

Centres (14)

  • Michael McCarron (2013 first-round pick)
  • Jake Evans (2014 seventh-round pick)
  • Lukas Vejdemo (2015 third-round pick)
  • Ryan Poehling (2017 first-round pick)
  • Joni Ikonen (2017 second-round pick)
  • Jesperi Kotkaniemi (2018 first-round pick)
  • Jacob Olofsson (2018 second-round pick)
  • Cam Hillis (2018 third-round pick)
  • Allan McShane (2018 fourth-round pick)
  • Cole Fonstad (2018 fifth-round pick)
  • Samuel Houde (2018 fifth-round pick)
  • Brett Stapley (2018 seventh-round pick)
  • Alexandre Alain (free agent signing)
  • Hayden Verbeek (free agent signing)

Here’s the bulk of the Montreal Canadiens prospect pool which deserves a massive thumbs up. It’s no secret that the Habs have been lacking in that position and most importantly, centres with high-end potential. Kotkaniemi is a solid answer to that issue and has continued to show his on-ice skill playing for Finland and Ässät during the preseason. He’s already received an entry-level contract, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get a few games at the beginning of the year with the Canadiens.

Trending. A Lehkonen-Kotkaniemi-Armia Line. light

Poehling is the second name among centre prospects. His two-way play has always been a strength, but he managed to increase his offensive production in his second year at St. Cloud State.

Evans, Vejdemo, Alain, and Verbeek will be in the AHL this season, and their capabilities will be put to the test. The former has the most excitement around him after a dominating season at the University of Notre Dame. To have that come from a seventh-round pick makes it even better.

Ikonen should be another prospect to pay attention to. Improvement is a go-to goal, but that will be key for him after the tough year he had playing with KalPa. The 58th overall pick made the decision to play with men in Liiga instead of returning to Frölunda HC without a guarantee of getting called up to the main club. It took time for Ikonen to adjust to the higher pace and although he was generating scoring chances for his team, he couldn’t put up as many points as he’d like.

Frustration and disappointment are the words usually associated with McCarron. He hasn’t progressed as well as the Habs would’ve liked and after being in the organization for five years, is still nowhere close to being a lock on the NHL club.

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