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Montreal Canadiens: Three Players To Watch At Hlinka Gretzky Tournament

By Ken MacMillan

OSHAWA, ONTARIO - NOVEMBER 07: Quentin Musty. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images)
OSHAWA, ONTARIO - NOVEMBER 07: Quentin Musty. (Photo by Chris Tanouye/Getty Images) /
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Jul 8, 2022; Montreal, Quebec, CANADA; Montreal Canadiens table. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 8, 2022; Montreal, Quebec, CANADA; Montreal Canadiens table. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports /

Kasper Halttunen

The Canadiens need help just about everywhere in the lineup, but the 2023 NHL Draft is shaping up to be stacked with forwards in the early going. The Canadiens will need to fill the depth chart with wingers once all these veterans have their contracts expire in a year or two.

Kasper Halttunen would be a skilled guy who could eventually take on a prominent role on the wing. The Finnish right shooting winger is a talented goal scorer who is going to be an early pick in the 2023 NHL Draft.

He will play a big role for Finland at this event, and could be a favourite to lead the whole thing in goals. He scored 24 goals and had 38 points in 41 games in the Under-20 league in Finland. He was only 16 years old and still finished third in the league in goals, playing against many players three years his senior.

At 6’3″ and close to 200 pounds, Halttunen is as much of a power forward as he is a sniper. Like Musty, he has a package of size, skill and scoring that is difficult to find around the league. Halttunen made the Hlinka Gretzky team last summer but didn’t score a point. Expect him to be among the goal and point leaders this time around.

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