In the past year, several right-handed defense prospects have caught the eyes of both the Montreal Canadiens organization and their fans alike. What can we expect to see from them next season?
Next season, there is the possibility that three of the Montreal Canadiens right-handed defense prospects may be battling for a roster spot on the third pairing. These three players are Noah Juulsen, Cale Fleury and Josh Brook. As of right now, Christian Folin is currently in this spot and has done an adequate enough but he could be pushed down the depth chart if one of the aforementioned players steps up to the plate.
Noah Juulsen could be the most likely candidate on the third pairing because he already has 44 games of NHL experience. However, the 2015 first-round pick has missed significant playing time due to a facial injury earlier in the season. It would make sense to keep in Laval to find his game again, but if he impresses at training camp, he would be the most likely option.
At 20 years old, Cale Fleury could be a wildcard candidate if he impresses at training camp next season. Having gotten the chance to watch him play with the Laval Rocket on several occasions, Fleury could be a nice under the radar find by Trevor Timmins and the scouting staff at 87th overall in 2017. In his first year with the Rocket, Fleury plays a sound defensive game and is a good skater. He could be an option on the third pairing but giving him another season of top minutes in Laval and to work on improving his numbers and positioning would be beneficial.
One of the most promising prospects in the system is the second-round pick in 2017, Josh Brook. In the past year, Brook has been rising in Habs prospects rankings and could be one of the most talented players compared to Juulsen and Fleury. If he keeps up his play with the Laval Rocket, he could be a significant player for the Canadiens in the long run and not just on the third-pairing. Given the fact that he is just coming off a season in the WHL, it would make sense to keep Brook in Laval for another year or so and hopefully elevate his play to the next level.
Due to both his age and previous NHL experience, Juulsen could be the most likely of these three prospects to earn a roster spot, but regardless, Joël Bouchard and the Laval Rocket are going to have some much-needed firepower from their defensemen for the start of next season.