Montreal Canadiens Re-Sign Noah Juulsen
The Montreal Canadiens have re-signed Noah Juulsen.
The Montreal Canadiens announced this morning that Noah Juulsen has been re-signed for next season. He agreed to terms on a one-year, two-way contract that will keep the defender in the organization for another season. He is set to earn $700,000 if he sticks at the NHL level.
Juulsen was the team’s first round pick back in 2015. The 6’3″ and 190 pound right shot defenceman worked his way up the organizational depth chart and proved over the past three seasons he is a serveicable NHL caliber defender at the very least.
The 23 year old has battled significant migraine issues that stem from being hit in the face with two pucks in an NHL game back in November of 2018. He played just 24 games in that 2018-19 season, and played just 13 games with the Laval Rocket this season due to headaches and issues as a result from being hit in the face.
Juulsen did return in March for the Rocket’s last game of the season before the league shut it doors. He fought back to get into shape and looked solid in that one game before the season ended. He plays a solid, physical defensive game but also is adept at moving the puck up ice to his teammates and he skates well for a big defenceman.
Juulsen has the ability to play a reliable defensive game at the NHL level and will be looking to prove in training camp that he belongs in the lineup behind Shea Weber and Jeff Petry on the right side.
He has 44 games of NHL experience under his belt already, and the 23 year old would require waivers to be sent back down to the Laval Rocket for the upcoming season.
Though he hasn’t had a lot of game action lately, Juulsen has a lot of potential and it would be wise to keep a young, valuable asset away from waivers. He will need to be solid at training camp to beat out Victor Mete, Cale Fleury and Alexander Romanov for the sixth spot in the Habs defence group.
There is no question that Ben Chiarot, Joel Edmundson and Brett Kulak will earn playing time on a nightly basis alongside Weber and Petry. Who will be the sixth defenceman in the lineup?
If Juulsen can play like he has when healthy over the past two seasons, he is the best of the rest. He plays on the right side and would provide a steady, defensive pairing with Edmundson, or a pretty solid two-way partnership with Kulak if he finds himself on the third pairing.
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Health is the only thing in Juulsen’s way over the past two seasons. This long break might be the best thing for his career long term. If healthy, he will be my bet to start the season on the right side of the third pairing.