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Montreal Canadiens: 3 Prospects Who Could Force Their Way Into Habs Lineup Next Season

By Ken MacMillan

Dec 30, 2021; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Montreal Canadiens left wing Rafael Harvey-Pinard. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Dec 30, 2021; Raleigh, North Carolina, USA; Montreal Canadiens left wing Rafael Harvey-Pinard. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Montreal Canadiens finished 32nd in the NHL standings this season. That puts them right at the bottom of the pile of NHL teams.

They are not likely to contend for a Stanley Cup next season. Going from last to the Stanley Cup Final is much more difficult than going from the Stanley Cup Final to last. We though even that was nearly impossible until the Habs pulled it off in 2021-22.

So, next season promises to be a year of transition. There are a number of veteran players on the team who won’t be around in a year’s time. Some will be dealt this offseason, others will be moved at the trade deadline, and a couple of depth veterans will just walk away as free agents after the 2022-23 campaign.

It would make sense to let the younger players that are on the cusp of the NHL just play big minutes in a lower league next season. If the Canadiens are not going to compete for a playoff spot, why bother having a 20 year old on the team in a dept spot when he could be playing a pivotal role for the Laval Rocket in the AHL?

Why burn the first year of an entry-level deal that could slide ahead for another season if the player plays in Junior? The team isn’t going to perform any miracles, so let the fringe veterans play and let the kids develop.

Of course, if a kid proves he is just too good to play in Junior any longer, you don’t want him to be stuck there for another season. Some younger prospects will show that they have outgrown the AHL and are fully ready to compete at the NHL level.

These three prospects are worth keeping an eye on as the roster is built for next season. It wouldn’t make sense to have them in the NHL if they are going to be healthy scratches, but these players just may prove to be good enough that they deserve a big role at the NHL level next season.

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