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Five Players The Montreal Canadiens Should Consider Drafting Fifteenth Overall

By Sebastian High

BOISBRIAND, QC - OCTOBER 20: Raphael Lavoie #50 of the Halifax Mooseheads skates against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada during the QMJHL game at Centre d'Excellence Sports Rousseau on October 20, 2017 in Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada. The Halifax Mooseheads defeated the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 4-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
BOISBRIAND, QC - OCTOBER 20: Raphael Lavoie #50 of the Halifax Mooseheads skates against the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada during the QMJHL game at Centre d'Excellence Sports Rousseau on October 20, 2017 in Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada. The Halifax Mooseheads defeated the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 4-2. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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Montreal Canadiens
OTTAWA, ON – MARCH 03: Montreal Canadiens (Photo by Richard A. Whittaker/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Thomas Harley

If Broberg is taken before fifteenth overall (which would shatter my heart like that of a Tampa fan looking back on their 2018-19 playoff run), I would be consolidated by Trevor Timmins announcing: “The Montreal Canadiens are proud to select, from the Mississauga Steelheads, Thomas Harley.”

Yes, Harley is another defenseman (and the last one I will feature on this list, though I would not be disappointed with the selection of Cam York), but the Canadiens’ most pressing need in terms of prospects is left defenseman.

Thomas Harley is a 6’3″ left-side defenseman just like Philip Broberg but does not possess his mesmerizing skating ability. I am by no means stating that his skating is sub-par, on the contrary, his skating is one of his strengths as he is a quick and agile defenseman for his size. Harley reminds me a little bit of Thomas Chabot, putting up similar offensive statistics as the Senators defenseman did in his draft year.

Related Story. Six Moves the Habs Must Make. light

Harley has a very high ceiling and will come close to it if his defensive positioning can be improved and the number of turnovers of which he is at fault can be minimized.

I have been watching him at the Under 18’s, and his playmaking and vision have really impressed me. Harley is an excellent passer of the puck, and I would not at all be surprised to see him reach a 40 assist season at the NHL level. He is not the most polished of prospects, but he can possibly be a diamond in the rough. Regardless of who drafts him, he will be a fascinating player to keep track of over the next five years.

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