Montreal Canadiens: Incredible Amount Of Reinforcements Coming Over Next Two Seasons

The Montreal Canadiens have taken a huge 180-degree turn since the new management has taken the reigns of the organization.

With that, prioritizing a great player-development team has become critical for the team’s future. As evidenced by the strong performances at the Canadiens training camp, and to commence the 2023-24 campaign, there are some big pieces that will be ready to make the jump to the NHL over the next two years.

I say two years, simply because I feel a couple of guys will need some seasoning in the American Hockey League after graduating from the junior ranks. In prospect development, you’re always better off taking the safe approach, rather than feeling sorry because a player was rushed.

A slow and steady approach with ample opportunities rewards players who prove they deserve a chance to show their stuff for the Habs. This allows players to add confidence at the pro level and continue to develop their offensive game without being crushed by the bright lights of the Bell Centre. Mistakes can be amplified when playing at the NHL level and nothing sucks the confidence out of a young player more than a few costly turnovers and not being able to contribute on the scoresheet.

The Canadiens have an array of talent throughout Europe from the SHL in Sweden to the NL in Switzerland, and even in the KHL in Russia. There is also a stud prospect in the NCAA and a haul of promising talents set to represent the Laval Rocket in the AHL this season. If there has ever been an important year for development it would be the 2023-24 season and to some extent the 2024-25.

Below we will dive into a group of players who will join the club over the next two seasons.

 2024-25 Arrivals

Lane Hutson

The Canadiens top prospect is coming off a rookie season with Boston College in the NCAA, which can best be described as phenomenal. Lane Hutson‘s numbers rivalled former college defenders, like Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes and Adam Fox.

He has a few things to work on, which he will do in year two, but the clutch ability to just take over in the attacking zone is rare, and not to be easily replicated.

Expectations were already quite high for Hutson’s second season, and he made his mark in his season debut, assisting on Macklin Celebrini’s first college goal. Then in overtime, he played pass with Celebrini, before he fired a wrist shot while in stride, that went top corner blocker side to seal the win.

He was dialled in from the first puck drop to the final buzzer in overtime, and he looks as though he is prepared to have a Hobey Baker-worthy season.

Depending on how his defensive game and skating come along this season, he could very well be on the team before the end of the Canadiens season. Considering that he has ample time to hit the weights, and work on the fine details that will prepare him for the NHL, I fully expect that his competitive nature will serve him well.

There are very few defenders in the league that do what Hutson can do, and nobody in the Habs organization, so he should be in Montreal this year, but certainly to start the 2024-25 season.

Logan Mailloux

Logan Mailloux was one of the more impressive defensemen at Canadiens camp, and his strong play continued through the preseason after he struggled during his first outing, when he admitted he was trying to do too much.

There is definitely some room to improve, and big minutes with lots of reps on the power play is exactly what Mailloux needs to adjust to the professional rankings. He brings a wow factor, and he is naturally very skilled with the puck on his stick, which will be welcomed right away in Montreal, his willingness to use his great shot adds another plus.

He is big and plays a rugged style defensively, he isn’t averse to laying the body and adds another physical piece to the blueline alongside Arber Xhekaj and Kaiden Guhle. He looks like a sure-bet top-four righthanded defender, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he ran one of the Canadiens’ top two units in the future.

Whether it be alongside Hutson on the top power play, or in a different configuration on the second unit, he has the offensive skill and fantastic mobility to allow him to get around the ice with ease.

He could have leapfrogged Justin Barron and Gustav Lindstrom (who was waived) in the depth chart, and his offensive touch is better than Chris Wideman, who isn’t the greatest in his own zone. There is a place for Mailloux, and I expect that he will play his way into the lineup quite soon.

Maybe it’s after the trade deadline or maybe it’s to start the 2024-25 season, after a year of development down in Laval, but he will bring size, skill and a constant shooting threat in the offensive zone.

David Reinbacher

David Reinbacher is ahead of the developmental curve for defenders, he is already a fantastic defenseman in his own zone, and he protects the front of the net well.

He appeared to be a little bit shy in the offensive zone during his rookie season in the NL, putting more of a priority on defending and acclimating to the professional game, which is normal for an 18-year-old, let alone any player coming into a new league.

Reinbacher was impressive at Habs camp and showcased the skill, poise and smarts that earned the distinction of being drafted fifth overall. He kept pace with the opposition, and his great reads aided him well when defending against the rush and in his own zone.

The talent looks like it will soon take over, and his offensive game should take off. His mobility and wherewithal to keep his head up and scan before making a play is there, and he has solid passing skills and a heavy shot.

Another year with HC Kloten should do him well, while I did feel that staying in North America to adjust to the ice size and less space to create, would have served him well. Anyhow, he will play big minutes, perhaps on both the penalty kill and power play and have every opportunity to sharpen his skills.

I expect he will challenge for a spot on the Canadiens’ blueline next season, and eventually find his way into a top-four role.

2025-26 Arrivals

William Trudeau

William Trudeau led the Laval blueline in 2022-23 and for all intents and purposes, he was their top defenseman. He used a great offseason to get stronger and faster, to better prepare for the season ahead, and try to push for a spot on the Canadiens roster. It looked to work, and he stood out at Habs camp, showing off great reads in both zones and showing great mobility along with a willingness to activate and support the rush to the offensive zone.

I think he could possibly push for a roster spot next season, but because of the depth on the left side, he likely won’t play above the third pairing. When Hutson arrives, I don’t see him beating out the latter for a roster spot, so the opportunity isn’t really there. With that said, barring a handful of injuries on the Canadiens blueline, I see him pushing for a spot in 2024-25, and while I believe he is an NHL defenseman, I don’t see a future in Montreal, because of the left-shot defenders already in Montreal, and the previously mentioned one whose talent puts him ahead on the depth chart.

Jayden Struble

Jayden Struble is set to embark on his first full season with the Rocket, after he played a handful of games, after signing his Entry Level Contract, putting a bow on his college hockey career. His strength and mobility have taken big strides since he was drafted in 2019, which is not much of a surprise because he looked like a man-child when the Canadiens selected him. He didn’t present as an offensive producer, but his mobility and abrasive physical style around the net and along the boards make him a solid depth defenseman.

I feel like there is room for a little bit more, and because he is so young, there might be room for him to develop more of a shooter mentality and confidence with the puck on his stick. The more touches he gets, and opportunities to create plays and use his shot will benefit him, and he just needs to take the bull by the horns. He is a strong kid with a heavy shot, and he is very nimble-footed, I think two seasons with the Rocket will give him ample time to develop, without rushing things.

Owen Beck

Owen Beck looked every part ready to make the roster, but if he wasn’t a sure lock to make the team, he had to be sent back to the Ontario Hockey League for his 19-year-old season. Because of his age, he was ineligible to play for the Rocket, which was the most ideal situation. However, he will look to have a big season with the Peterborough Petes, while continuing his strong defensive play, and great numbers in the faceoff dot and refining his play in the offensive zone.

Beck could likely challenge for a spot with the Canadiens at next year’s camp, but the number of centers on the depth chart makes his ascension murky. Nick Suzuki, Kirby Dach and Sean Monahan look to have secured the top three center roles to start the season ahead, with Evans on the fourth line, and Christian Dvorak out with an injury right now. Over the next year or two, many parts will have to move around for Beck to have a spot to play, so let’s assume Evans and one of Monahan or Dvorak gets dealt, there could be a nice spot on the fourth line in the NHL. I believe a year with Laval would be best for him unless he forces the Habs’ hand.

Jared Davidson

Jared Davidson is a very interesting case and a story that grabs your attention right away, given that he was selected in the 2022 Draft, although his draft year was the same as Barron and Guhle’s (2020 Draft). He is a late bloomer, and as a fifth-round pick, the Canadiens are looking for Davidson to follow in 2019 fifth-round selection Joshua Roy’s footsteps, and rise to the top of the pipeline. He was impressive at Habs camp, and I felt that he was cut too soon, but with the depth the Canadiens have on the wings, he didn’t impress quite enough.

His shot is a threat, it’s accurate and he can beat goalies from all over the offensive zone, which can be built around. He possesses good size (6′ and 183 lbs), and he skates well, presenting as a shooting option, whose also a great passer. With two 80-plus point seasons to finish his junior hockey career, he will benefit from a couple of seasons with the Rocket, where he can round out his game, by polishing his play away from the puck. Which is why I think he will be in the mix to steal a spot in ’24-’25.

Filip Mesar

Filip Mesar looked great at Canadiens camp in 2022 and it seemed like he was going to explode in the OHL, but it didn’t work out that way. It was weird considering he had played his last two seasons in the Slovakian professional league, which gave him some experience playing against professionals. He played alongside Francesco Pinelli with the Kitchener Rangers, and he was just okay, scoring 51 points (17 goals & 34 assists) in 52 games.

His near-point-per-game totals weren’t awful, but there were definitely expectations for him to produce more, considering the style of player that he is. Mesar is a speedster, and the rest of his game operates around that, he has quick hands and a decent shot, that comes off fast because of how fast he is moving. Defensively he needs some work, and a couple of years to address his inefficiencies and refine his offensive strength will do him well, which is why I feel two years with Laval will do wonders for his confidence.

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