The Montreal Canadiens took a bit of a risk on an overaged scoring winger in the 2021 NHL Draft.
The Habs went with some local talent in the annual event, taking Joshua Roy in the 5th round and then selecting Xavier Simoneau with their next pick in the 6th round.
The focus on Quebec born players is paying off, more than anyone in the organization could have hoped.
Roy and Simoneau have gone most of the season battling for the league lead in scoring. Roy currently sits first in the league in points with 45 in 25 games. Simoneau is tied for third, just three points back of Roy with 42. Simoneau’s 31 assists put him first in the QMJHL in that category.
Not many would have predicted that a 5th and a 6th round pick would be battling each other for the scoring lead in the QMJHL. Not only is that exactly what has occurred this season, but both players just so happen to be prospects of the Canadiens.
Unfortunately, Simoneau suffered a lower body injury over the weekend. It was announced by his team, the Charlottetown Islanders, that he will be out of the lineup for 4-6 weeks.
This puts Simoneau on track to be back sometime in January, which is long before the postseason will begin. His Islanders are one of the top teams in the QMJHL, and were just ranked 5th among Junior teams in all of Canada in the weekly CHL Top Ten rankings.
They will have a tough time staying atop the league standings without Simoneau, but there is no question he will be back long before the playoffs and the Islanders are poised to go on a long run in the QMJHL postseason.
Simoneau will be a big part of that and fellow Habs prospect William Trudeau is playing a big role on the team’s blue line as well.
Unfortunately, Simoneau won’t be winning a scoring title, but this doesn’t stop him from leading the playoffs in scoring this season.