Canadiens Need To Look In Own Backyard In Later Rounds Of Draft

The Montreal Canadiens have received their fair share of criticism in the last few decades for ignoring prospects in the QMJHL. While it’s understandable that in the early rounds there are can’t miss prospects you have to jump on regardless of their country of origin, there can be a case for later rounds to have a greater focus on players growing up in your background.

Now this isn’t to spark a debate on having more players from Quebec specifically. I’m talking about players from the QMJHL which spreads into the maritimes. The same can be said for the Canucks with players from the WHL, the Wild with Minnesota State players, etc.

An example on throwing the dice of your late round picks that can turn into an interesting case to come is the one of William Dufour. The New York Islanders 5th round pick in the 2020 draft put up the season of a lifetime with the Saint John Sea Dogs this season, leading the team with 56 goals, 60 assists totalling 116 points.

Further putting the spotlight on him, the 20 year old certainly grabbed Long Island’s attention after he put up a four goal game while his team was down 3-0 against the Shawinigan Cataractes, leading his team to a 5-3 victory en route to the Memorial Cup Finals.

That being said, it’s not to say that Dufour’s performance will automatically mean he will be an NHL stud. Nor does it mean the Canadiens need to only focus on players from the QMJHL. However, with the obsession that hockey is in Quebec and the amount of scout available, there is no reason why the team doesn’t know everything about everyone and wouldn’t take a risk on someone in rounds 4-7 for example.

In the 2021 Draft the Canadiens did just that. With little information to sink under their teeth due to the shorted seasons across the globe, teams weren’t sure who they were picking past the first round. Marc Bergevin and Trevor Timmins threw darts on the board and picked in their own backyard going for Riley Kidney (#63), William Trudeau (#113), Joshua Roy (#150) and Xavier Simoneau (#191).

Fans and media alike were thrilled to finally see more than a share of players from the “Q” get drafted, that being said there was skepticism at the time. Was it luck? Would the draft order have been completely different had there not been a pandemic putting the world on pause? Was the team picking home grown players because of the extreme pressure put on by the media, knowing Trevor Timmins’ near obsession with NCAA prospects?

This upcoming draft will have some interesting names for the later rounds for the Canadiens to consider, should they be available. Samuel Savoie for example of the Gatineau Olympiques had a struggling season offensively, but is a relentless checker and one of the hardest workers you’ll find. Jake Furlong of the Halifax Mooseheads could easily develop into one of those smooth third pairing defensemen coaches love to use in any fringe situation.

Sebastian High has of course mentioned Noah Warren also of Gatineau more than once and I agree every time. He can be a steal for anyone who drafts him.

Even Nathan Gaucher, the centerman of the Quebec Remparts could be someone very interesting to look at. Patrick Roy took a raw talent and molded him into a freight train who holds onto the puck like a magnet. He’s one of those guys you love having on your third line to lead your two-way forwards with grit. He may leave in the earlier rounds but could represent a good investment.

Regardless, Jeff Gorton made a similar approach with the New York Rangers when he looked straight in his backyard and desperately wanted to pick New Yorker Adam Fox in the third round. He over-scouted his backyard, which is something you’re supposed to do in the first place. Fox slipped through his fingers and ended up in Calgary but Gorton ended up acquiring him a year later regardless via a trade with the Hurricanes.

Sometimes it’ll work, sometimes it won’t. However it’s not only this upcoming draft but the future drafts that will shape Kent Hughes’ legacy so we’re all very excited to see where the Canadiens’ ship will steer.

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