Montreal Canadiens: All-Time World Junior Team of Habs Prospects
Centre: Ryan Poehling
Ryan Poehling was drafted in the first round of the 2017 NHL Draft by the Habs. He played at the World Juniors the following season but played a depth role and was not spectacular. He scored a goal and three points in seven games, helping USA win a bronze medal. The following year, he was exceptional.
Poehling was developing his two-way game at St. Cloud State and showed he was one of the best teenaged players on the planet during the 2019 World Juniors. He played a leading role at both ends of the ice for that team, finishing second in the tournament in goals with five and third in points with eight in seven games. He was even better defensively and it showed in his ice time, leading the team with more than 19 minutes in a nail-biting loss in the gold medal game.
For his dominant defensive game and fantastic offensive production, Poehling was named the MVP of the 2019 World Juniors as well as the Best Forward and the centre on the tournament All-Star team.
Left Wing: Shayne Corson
Shayne Corson was drafted in the first round of the 1984 NHL Draft by the Habs. The 8th overall selection was absolutely lighting up the OHL in 1985-86 when he was asked to represent his country at the World Juniors. He finished the OHL season with just over two points per game, with 98 in 47 contests. In the middle of that season, he suited up for Canada and continued to score at a two points per game pace.
In seven games with Canada, Corson would lead the tournament with seven goals, seven assists and 14 points. It wasn’t exactly the most star-studded lineup Canada ever assembled, but Corson led the team in points ahead of Gary Roberts, Joe Nieuwendyk and was tied with recent first overall pick Joe Murphy.
He lost out in the Tournament MVP race to teammate Jim Sandlak, but Corson led the event in goals and points and was chosen to be on the Tournament All-Star Team.
Right Wing: Martin Reway
Martin Reway was never the most heralded Habs prospect. He was selected in the 4th round of the 2013 NHL Draft, a small, skilled winger from Slovakia. He had just scored 50 points in 47 QMJHL games for the Gatineau Olympiques.
Reway had played at the previous World Juniors, but only scored two points in six games as a 17 year old. He was much, much better as an 18 year old at the 2014 World Juniors.
He started out with a huge game against Germany, scoring a goal and three assists in a blowout victory. However, the slick winger kept producing against much better competition. He scored twice against USA, had a goal and two assists against Canada and an assist against Czech Republic.
Slovakia was outmatched in the medal round and would be shutout by Sweden. Still, though he played just five games and most others played seven, Reway finished fifth in tournament scoring.
Slovakia finished 8th in the tournament, but Reway was one of the best players in the whole tournament and put together one of the best performances we have even seen from a Canadiens prospect at the annual event.