A Winning Habit
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Montreal Canadiens: Three Prospects Whose Value Dropped The Most This Season

By Ken MacMillan

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 16: Ryan Poehling #25 of the Montreal Canadiens looks on against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on January 16, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JANUARY 16: Ryan Poehling #25 of the Montreal Canadiens looks on against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Wells Fargo Center on January 16, 2020 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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LAVAL, QC – DECEMBER 10: Josh Brook #8 of the Laval Rocket (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
LAVAL, QC – DECEMBER 10: Josh Brook #8 of the Laval Rocket (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /

Josh Brook

Josh Brook was drafted in the second round of the 2017 NHL Draft, 31 picks after Poehling. He had scored eight goals and 40 points in 69 games for the Moose Jaw Warriors of the Western Hockey League before the Habs took him in the second round of the NHL Draft.

The following season, Brook scored 32 points in 45 games. His points per game had increased slightly and he played through some injuries. The year after that, Brook really took off. He was exceptional as a 19 year old, scoring 16 goals and 59 assists for 75 points in 59 games.

He was one of the best two-way defensemen in Junior hockey last season, scoring well over a point per game and bringing a physical presence. He was asked to represent Canada at the World Juniors and scored two points in five games.

Brook looked like a budding top four, two-way defender in the making at this time last year. He had as assist per game in the WHL, which isn’t the most high-flying hockey league in the world, and was a reliable defensive player at the same time.

This season, Brook turned pro and played with the Laval Rocket. It was hoped he could be a top four player there and provide decent results at both ends of the ice. It hasn’t exactly worked out for the young blue liner.

In 60 games with the Rocket this year, Brook has just four goals and 13 points. Brook’s last Junior season was almost identical to P.K. Subban’s final year with the Belleville Bulls of the Ontario Hockey League. Brook had 75 points in 59 games, Subban had 76 points in 56 games.

Subban would go on to score 18 goals and 53 points in 77 games with the Hamilton Bulldogs of the AHL as a first year pro. Expecting the same from Brook would have been a little optimistic, but most expected he would score more than four goals and 13 points.

Next. Habs Report Card Grades. dark

Brook is still very young, so it is not time to write him off. There is still a great chance he bounces back next season and gets back onto the trajectory that he was on during his impressive Junior career. However, there is no question he looked a lot better at the end of last season then he does right now.

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