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Montreal Canadiens: Three Players at Rookie Camp Most Likely to Play With Habs This Season

By Ken MacMillan

MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 22: Jesse Ylonen (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
MONTREAL, QC - FEBRUARY 22: Jesse Ylonen (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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May 12, 2021; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens Jesse Ylonen. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
May 12, 2021; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens Jesse Ylonen. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports /

Jesse Ylonen

Jesse Ylonen was a second round pick of the Habs in 2018 and he is by far the most NHL ready of anyone in attendance at rookie camp. Since being drafted three years ago, Ylonen has been playing pro hockey.

He has suited up for a total of 127 games in Liiga, Finland’s top pro league and made his way to North America last season when the AHL got underway and played 29 games for the Laval Rocket. The Finnish right winger scored nine goals and 17 points with the Rocket last season.

He even made his NHL debut when the Habs were dealing with injuries late in the season. He suited up for one contest with the Canadiens last season and is the only player at rookie camp with NHL experience.

Ylonen is still just 21, which is why he is still attending rookie camps, but he has a wealth of pro experience compared to the rest of the attendees. If there were captain’s named at camps like this there is no question Ylonen would be top of the list.

The Canadiens are deep on the wings, with Cole Caufield, Brendan Gallager, Josh Anderson, and one of Joel Armia, Tyler Toffoli or Mike Hoffman depending on the lines, ahead of Ylonen on the right side of the depth chart. But, with his defensive awareness and offensive production, Ylonen will be on the short list of call ups when injuries strike at the NHL level.

A lot of fans might think Mattias Norlinder belongs on this list, but with his contract in Sweden running through the 2021-22 season, I think the Canadiens will elect to send him back to the SHL before the NHL season begins to allow him one last full season of development before giving him a great opportunity to make the Canadiens in 2022-23.

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