A Winning Habit
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Montreal Canadiens: Three Players Poised For Huge Breakout Season

By Ken MacMillan

Sep 25, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Newhook (15) skates during the warmup period before the game against the New Jersey Devils at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens forward Alex Newhook (15) skates during the warmup period before the game against the New Jersey Devils at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 25, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens forward Rafael Harvey-Pinard. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports /

Rafael Harvey-Pinard

Rafael Harvey-Pinard has a hard time convincing an NHL team to take a chance on him when he was playing Junior. Once the Canadiens took him with a late round pick, he quickly rewarded them with great play and showed he was well worth a seventh round draft choice.

The Saguenay, Quebec native played one more season of Junior hockey in the QMJHL with the Chicoutimi Sagueneens before turning pro for the 2020-21 season. He quickly endeared himself to the coaching staff and earned the nickname “Lavallagher” for his tenacious play, goal scoring ability and general attributes that were similar to Brendan Gallagher.

Harvey-Pinard scored nine goals and 20 points in 36 games as a rookie with the Laval Rocket, which matched Gallagher’s point totals and games played when he was a rookie in the AHL.

The undersized winger continued to prove his stature would not hold him back at the pro level when he scored 21 goals and 56 points in 69 games in 2021-22 with the Rocket. Last season, he had 16 goals and 31 points in 40 games with the Rocket before being called up to the NHL.

In 34 games with the Canadiens, Harvey-Pinard scored 14 goals and 20 points. Some might consider that a breakout already, but RHP needs to convince everyone again this season that he is good enough to be a full time member of the National Hockey League.

He may not continue to score goals at the same pace, but he will prove to be as tenacious, hardworking and difficult to contain on the forecheck as just about anyone in the league this season. That would be huge for the Canadiens, and a big step forward for Harvey-Pinard in his career.

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