Montreal Canadiens: Jan Mysak Signs Entry Level Contract

Montreal Canadiens prospect Jan Mysak has had an unexpectedly interesting season this year.

As the season begins to wind down, he received some great news when he signed his entry-level contract with the Canadiens organization.

Mysak was drafted in the second round of last year’s NHL Draft. The 18 year old forward expected to be playing in the Ontario Hockey League with the Hamilton Bulldogs this season, but the OHL is yet to play a game.

So, instead of taking on a big role for the Bulldogs, where he scored 15 goals and 25 points in 22 games last season, Mysak has played… well, all over the world. He started the year in Czech Republic where he grew up. He suited up for 11 games with HC Litvinov in his home country’s best pro league.

He left there to play for Czech Republic at the World Juniors in Edmonton. Mysak scored three points in five games there, finishing second on his team in points.

Then, it was off to the AHL. Mysak was invited to Laval Rocket training camp since there was no Junior hockey for him to play. The OHL still doesn’t have a firm plan in place, though they’d normally be in the middle of their postseason right now. So, Mysak is still with the Rocket.

He has played in 12 games for the Rocket so far this year, mostly as a fourth line centre, and has two goals.

The Canadiens have clearly liked what they’ve seen from their second round pick as they signed him to an entry-level contract.

The three year deal doesn’t start this season, and will likely slide through next season as well. If a teenager plays Junior hockey, he doesn’t eat up a year of his entry-level contract. Mysak will turn 19 in June so he is eligible to return to the OHL for the 2021-22 season.

That is likely where he will end up, and we will then see a more polished and prepared Mysak with the Laval Rocket in 2022-23. With the extra development time in pro league this season, he will be well prepared to step into a big role for the Rocket that season.