Is the Montreal Canadiens blue line good enough for the playoffs?

2) Which prospect are you excited to see at the 2019 World Junior Hockey Championships?

S: While I am as excited as any other Habs fan to watch Nick Suzuki light up the World Juniors, I am more curious about Josh Brook, who will be Suzuki’s Team Canada teammate. Brook has been electric for the Moose Jaw Warriors this season. He has been nearly producing a primary point every single game from the point, as revealed by David St-Louis of Habs Eyes On The Prize in his mid-season prospect review.

Brook is dominant at both ends of the ice and is plus-14 on the season. The 2017 second round draft pick will have a great opportunity to show the world his skills in BC during the World Juniors. I believe that the 19-year-old will one day become a mainstay on our blueline and I can not wait to see him play against real opposition in the tournament. If we’re extremely lucky, we may even see some real chemistry form between him and Nick Suzuki.

CJ: Nick Suzuki. No question. The kid can skate and has good hands. I look forward to seeing his speed show-cased during the WJCs.

OW: I know Suzuki and Brook will and should be prime watching targets for Montreal Canadiens followers. But I’ll be watching Ryan Poehling.

The 2017 first-round pick is going to represent the United States at the World Juniors for the second time. Poehling helped Team USA to a bronze medal putting up a goal and two assists in seven assists. What has always been emphasized in the 19-year-old’s game is his commitment to taking care of both ends of the ice.

His offence has improved since his draft year. Poehling had 13 points in 35 games in his first season at St. Cloud State, 31 in 36 games the year after (including 14 goals), and currently has 17 points in 16 games. Given the names on the US roster, tallying up points shouldn’t be too difficult of a task, and it’ll be interesting to see what kind of role Poehling places himself in.

Is it too much to ask for Poehling to have some degree of a dominating factor in British Columbia? Maybe. Although, what Marc Bergevin said over the summer has always stuck with me. It may be different considering the Montreal Canadiens are in a playoff spot and could be fighting to maintain it all year, but the general manager did mention the possibility of Poehling joining the team towards the end of the season.

That could change if St. Cloud State has a long running in the NCAA Championships though. Otherwise, Poehling may get a game or two and set the foundation for a roster push for the 2019-20 season. His performance so far at St. Cloud is the first step, and the World Juniors will be another for the young prospect.