Welcome to another prospect profile here on A Winning Habit, where we learn more about some players the Canadiens could potentially select in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Previously we’ve looked at players the Habs may select with the fifth overall pick, but now we’ll look at a few goalies the Habs could take later in the draft. This is the eighth prospect profile, and today we’ll be looking at Trey Augustine. You can find the rest of the prospect profiles here:
Augustine played for the United States National Development Program this past season alongside future top-ten picks Will Smith and Ryan Leonard. Augustine put up good numbers for the program, sporting a .926 SV% and a 2.13 GAA in 33 games. He was also in net for the United States at the U18s — capturing gold — and the World Juniors despite being just 17 years old at the time. You can bet Augustine will also start in net for the Americans at the next two world juniors.
Augustine will be my top goalie by a fairly wide margin.
— Sebastian High (@high_sebastian) June 19, 2023
Rankings should be released this week (time is unfortunately running out)
Player Rundown
Team: United States National Team
Height/Weight: 6’1″/179 lbs
Position: Goalie
Catches: Left
DOB: Feb 23rd, 2005
Hometown: South Lyon, MI, USA
Analysis & NHL Projection
Augustine is on the smaller side for an NHL goalie at just 6’1″, but his technical game is a strength for him, which makes up for his lack of size. We’ve seen smaller goalies perform well in the NHL before, with Nashville’s Juuse Saros — just 5’10” — an excellent example of this. Augustine is agile and technical in the net, which allows him to be in good position to make saves of varying difficulties. He doesn’t project to be a star at the next level, but he certainly has the makeup of a serviceable NHL goalie, at the least.
The lack of size is still something that might be a problem for him at times, but he has a lot of other tools that suggest he can be a capable starting goalie in the NHL. I don’t think Augustine is a Vezina Trophy calibre goalie or a guy that should start 60+ games, but he has the makings of a very good 1B and maybe even 1A potential in a goalie rotation. If he develops well, I think you can win with him. We just saw Vegas win with Adin Hill in net, so I don’t believe his limitations should be enough to scare teams off.
Trey Augustine Draft Projection
Augustine has the chance to be the first goalie taken off the board in this year’s NHL Entry Draft, but he likely won’t hear his name called in the first round. This is considered to be a weaker draft class for the position, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be talent on the board. I’d say he’ll likely hear his name called towards the front end of the second round once teams that need goaltenders start getting into an area where they feel they’re not reaching to fit a need with the pick.
Augustine’s Fit With The Canadiens
Augustine would fit in nicely with the Canadiens, a team that needs more depth at the position within the organization. I’ve said I like what the Canadiens have in Montembeault several times, and that I’d be in no rush to upgrade the position, but that was more via free agency or trade. Drafting a goalie and patiently waiting for them to develop isn’t a bad idea by any stretch.
Augustine is slated to play College Hockey next year in the BIG 10 for Michigan State, a good league for a goalie to develop in. It’s the same division within the NCAA current Habs prospect Jakub Dobes played in for two seasons before turning pro. The Canadiens could draft Augustine and let him develop in college for a couple seasons before turning pro.
Trey Augustine played last season as @USAHockeyNTDP’s goaltender.
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 20, 2023
Augustine played soccer and basketball growing up – his basketball ties stem from his mom, Yvette, who played NCAA Division I women's basketball as a shooting guard for Drake University. #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/JUqEyI5AQJ
Assuming the Canadiens are able to build a solid team first, as opposed to building around the crease, Augustine could be the goalie of the future. The key would be — and this is the case for any goalie in this class — to try and ask as little of Augustine as possible. If you’re too dependent on him, I don’t think he’ll take you very far. He’s not Carey Price, and even he could only get you so far on his own. The key will be to build a well-rounded team, with the goalie being just a tiny piece of the larger puzzle. I could get on board with Augustine being that piece.
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