Montreal Canadiens: Three Players at Rookie Camp Most Likely to Play With Habs This Season
Rafael Harvey-Pinard
The Montreal Canadiens decided to take a chance with an overager in the seventh round of the 2019 NHL Draft.
Instead of selecting an eligible 18 year old, the Habs went with Rafael Harvey-Pinard who was passed over in 2018, but scored 40 goals and 85 points in 66 games for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies to catch the attention of Canadiens scouts.
Last season was Harvey-Pinard’s first as a pro and he had a great rookie AHL season with the Laval Rocket. The 5’9″ and 173 pound left winger showed he could play a scrappy style well above his stature even at the pro level. He was one of the smallest players on the team but he wasn’t pushed around in the American Hockey League.
Harvey-Pinard’s dogged determination on the ice and his offensive ability earned him many comparisons to Brendan Gallagher last season. He became widely known as the Rocket’s version of the Canadiens assistant captain, and he finished the year with nine goals and 20 points in 36 games.
The Canadiens are quite deep on the wings entering the year, but every team has to deal with injuries at some point.
Expect Harvey-Pinard to stand out against his colleagues this week, and when the Habs need reinforcements midseason, expect Harvey-Pinard to be one of the first beckoned from the Laval Rocket.