Montreal Canadiens: The 2020 NHL Draft Was Kind To The Habs

Two More Players With NHL Potential

The Canadiens made eight selections in the ’20 Draft, so there is a fair chance that at least one more player will carve out an NHL career. This part of the article will dive into each of the remaining players selected by former general manager Marc Bergevin.

Luke Tuch

Luke Tuch was selected in the round of the draft, and he has NHL bloodlines, with brother Alex, a Buffalo Sabre. The younger Tuch is smaller than his brother, but plays an equally physical game, using his 6’2″ frame to throw hits and defend the puck well. He is strong along the wall and behind the net, and he has a heavy shot, but he has yet to show any point-producing potential.

A big year in ’23-’24 would go a long way in Tuch’s future, as it would come just as he is preparing to establish himself at the pro level. He has the toolkit and NHL size, and sharpening his skills will correlate with where he goes beyond college hockey. He is a smart, big player who can skate well. He is solid defensively, but some growth in his offensive game could elevate his game to a middle-of-the-lineup NHL player level.

Jan Mysak

It can be argued that Jan Mysak is ahead of Tuch, and while I agree, he hasn’t lived up to the hype. He looked like a strong two-way center who could chip in offensively, but he hasn’t found his stride with the Rocket yet. For both he and Tuch, the 2023-24 season will be huge for their development, and assessing their readiness for the NHL. He doesn’t look lost at the professional level, but he doesn’t resemble the same player who was drafted out of the OHL.

It’s quite obvious that his upcoming season will be telling in determining what the Canadiens have with Mysak. He does all things well, but nothing great, so working on his game all around, could prove important should he wish to join the Habs. It seems less likely that he plays in Montreal, and I feel that Tuch does have the potential to make it, but one season can change a lot.