Montreal Canadiens: Three NCAA Prospects The Habs Need To Sign or Lose By Season’s End
Jack Gorniak
Jack Gorniak was a 4th round pick of the Canadiens at the 2018 NHL Draft. He was elected out of high school hockey in Wisconsin where he put up some huge numbers at a lower level than many top prospects were playing.
Gorniak was expected to take some time to adjust to the college game in 2018-19 but fit in quite well right away for the Wisconsin Badgers, scoring 15 points in 37 games.
Though he lacked high end skill, Gorniak more than made up for it with a tremendous work ethic as well as blazing speed. His combination of size and skating made him an intriguing prospect after that initial college season, but he didn’t really develop any offence after that.
Two western Wisconsin teammates hooking up for the score as Jack Gorniak feeds @ZUrdahl for the goal. pic.twitter.com/yP1V20D6JQ
— Justus Cleveland (@JustusCleveland) January 9, 2022
He was used in a bottom six role by Wisconsin, and just finished his fourth season with 15 points in 37 games. That is the exact same production he put up as a freshman.
While that production looked promising from a first year college player, it just doesn’t look as good coming from a player in his Senior season. That season came to a close last weekend, so the Canadiens now have until August 15th to sign Gorniak to a contract, or he becomes a UFA.
My guess is he becomes a UFA, though he could be a decent depth player for an AHL team next season. The Canadiens just can’t use one of their 50 contracts on him.