Samuel Houde
The 2018 NHL Draft was a defining moment for the Montreal Canadiens. There was a clear plan for what the organization wanted to add, focusing on speed and skill after being rewarded with the third-overall pick that they used to draft Jesperi Kotkaniemi.
The Habs had two picks in the fifth round and chose to use the second on Samuel Houde of the Chicoutimi Saguenèens.
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The centre had an alright sophomore season in the QMJHL when looking at it in isolation with 16 goals and 16 assists in 54 games, but when you compare it to his nine-point rookie year, it was a significant improvement. Additionally, his five points in six Saguenèes games was another positive note from the season.
Houde’s point totals have increased each year since then. In the 2017-18 season, he put up16 goals and 27 assists in 64 games and pushed that further to 19 goals and 33 assists in 44 games this season. The current was by far his best producing at about an 82-point pace, and Houde is deserving of the ‘A’ he has on his sweater.
The Montreal Canadiens have a number of restricted free agents who they could let walk even though they are depth for the Laval Rocket. On the other hand, Houde is old enough to play in the AHL, turning 20 early in the month.
Joël Bouchard would also be familiar with Houde back to his days as a QMJHL coach. His speed and tenacity on the ice fall along with the identity of the Montreal Canadiens, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get an ELC.