Montreal Canadiens might keep prospect Filip Mešár away from OHL

The Montreal Canadiens are expected to try and foster a culture of development during the 2022-23 season. The goal is to use the Canadiens, in addition to Laval Rocket, to start funneling some of these younger players through to work on some development.

Early in the Montreal Canadiens rookie showcase tournament, plenty of prospects started strutting their stuff. Filip Mešár is one of the prospects that many have their eyes on, hoping to see big things from the 2022 first-rounder, taking at pick no.26, following up Juraj Slafkovsky, who was taken first overall.

For Mešár, the early thoughts were that he would be best suited for the Ontario Hockey League (OHL), sending him to join the Kitchener Rangers. At least, these were the latest rumors from Jeff Marek that broke a little over a week ago.

Marek mentioned that the Habs were likely to make the move to send Mešár to the OHL. Now, this does not look like the case. With an injury to captain Nick Suzuki and a strong performance from Mešár so far, it leaves food for thought on the next steps for the Habs.

Montreal Canadiens have to think it through with Filip Mešár.

The 18-year-old is eligible to play for Laval Rocket after being drafted in the first round this summer, and it seems more and more likely that this will be the case. With the injuries in the forward core and the fact that Mešár has been getting his work in with the team’s top players, there might be a change from the initial speculation.

It’s not all that crazy for something to change coming out of training camp; things happen. But for Mešár, it shifts the score of what this season could bring for him. Mešár recently was the team’s top centre in line combinations, working between Cole Caufield and Mike Hoffman, per the Habs announcement.

With Mešár working with the team’s best players, there’s reason to believe he could break camp with the team, even if it’s a shortened stint. There’s a real chance that Mešár fills in for Suzuki, even if it’s not as the team’s top centre on opening night, but still joins the Habs opening night roster, then ends up in the minors upon his return.

At the bare minimum, Mešár is getting some great experience while practicing, scrimmaging, and working through camp alongside a bulk of the players from the NHL roster. It bodes well to assume he will be in Laval in 2022-23, not Kitchener.

It’s a song with a different tune than before, where it seemed he was headed to Kitchener. Do not get it twisted; I do not think Mešár is not ready for a long stint with the NHL club. He’s even suggested it himself; he needs to add some muscle into his frame and develop some strength.

For Mešár, it seemed Kitchener was the best place, but in reality, keeping him with Laval would allow the Habs organization coaching staff to get some direct work in with him and ensure he stays the course of whatever development plans the organization has for him.

However, the initial comments about sending him to the OHL may have been a bit off from where the current situation stands.