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Montreal Canadiens: Three Players Who Could Surprise at Training Camp

By Ken MacMillan

Jul 22, 2020; Montreal, Quebec, CANADA; Montreal Canadiens coaches Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 22, 2020; Montreal, Quebec, CANADA; Montreal Canadiens coaches Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports /
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Dec 31, 2019; Montreal Canadiens Ryan Poehling. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 31, 2019; Montreal Canadiens Ryan Poehling. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /

Ryan Poehling

Ryan Poehling was the Canadiens first round pick in 2017. He played excellent two-way hockey the following two seasons for the St Cloud State Huskies and looked like a budding two-way force at the NHL level.

The Lakeville, Minnesota native was exceptional at the 2019 World Juniors as well. He scored five goals and eight points in seven games and was even better defensively than offensively at the event. His efforts did not go unnoticed as he was named tournament MVP as he helped USA win a silver medal.

You would not have been out of your mind to start comparing him to Ryan O’Reilly or Sean Couturier at that point in his career. Lost expectations for sure, but MVP at the World Juniors and consecutive seasons at nearly a point per game at the college level was a long and very impressive stretch of hockey.

The now 22 year old appeared to have the size, smarts, offensive and defensive skills to be a huge part of the Canadiens in the near future. His hat trick in his one and only NHL game at the end of the 2018-19 season did nothing to slow down the hype train.

Then, the 2019-20 season happened. The 6’2″ and 204 pound centre played 27 NHL games and had just one goal and one assist. He added just 13 points in 36 AHL games for the Laval Rocket.

No doubt Poehling stock dropped about as much as every other stock did in 2020.

However, does that mean he is done as a prospect now? Of course not. Taking the past nine months off to get ready for an NHL season that he was clearly not ready for in 2019 might not be the worst thing for a guy who has the brains to be an NHL player, but could have used a little work on his first step.

If Poehling was able to build on his large frame since we last saw him in March, he could be even bigger and faster than when we saw him dominate at the college level and the World Juniors.

Next. 3 Habs who need to prove they still belong. dark

I’m not about to use the names O’Reilly or Couturier again here, but don’t be shocked if we see a much different Ryan Poehling than the one who struggled in his first pro season.

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