Very few NHL prospect pools feature two defensemen that are under 5’10” tall, but the Canadiens are an exception. Lane Hutson has been discussed many, many times because of his small stature. But there’s another guy, who is poised to play professionally, that is also a defenseman.
2021 draft selection, Miguel Tourigny stands 5’8” tall, and plays right defence. He had a strong show at the Canadiens’ rookie camp and is poised to secure a spot on the Rocket blueline. Tourigny played his 2022-23 season in Slovakia’s professional men’s league, with HK Dukla Trencin, and he posted 5-19-24 totals through 39 games.
Tourigny played the four previous seasons in junior, split between the QMJHL’s Acadie-Bathurst Titan, and Blainville-Boisbriand Armada. He produced pretty solid offensive numbers for a defenseman, accumulating 64-94-158 totals through 187 games. The offensive-minded defender will certainly provide a nice punch to Laval’s offence, and should his defensive game develop nicely, he could end up being another undersized defenseman who will silence any doubters.
At this point, it’s sort of an unknown what exactly he will be able to do as a pro, but his tangibles provide Rocket head coach JF Houle with a nice piece for the powerplay. And should he be paired with a Struble or even Trudeau to cover for him, he could provide a constant threat for opponents. His skating and offensive mind paired with a smart stick and strong positioning could all but ensure he ends up being a very good pro.
The only issue that I foresee happening, is if Tourigny proves to be an NHL talent down the road, I don’t see the Canadiens using two defenders that are 5’10” and under. With that said, I am all for him developing into an NHL defenseman, as it will only make him more valuable and coveted. Should he draw interest from other clubs, he could certainly bring back a nice piece via trade.
Anyway, it’ll be interesting to see what he can do with a full season in Laval, with which to work.