Montreal Canadiens: Jayden Struble Looks Like A Physical Upgrade On Jordan Harris

The Montreal Canadiens drafted two defenders in the 2018 Draft after Alexander Romanov, and they both look poised for bright NHL futures.

Jordan Harris has already made it to the NHL, and he has been one of the bright spots on the blueline in the NHL. Last year was his rookie season, and he showed confidence and consistency. Rarely was his name heard, which is great for a young defender.

To start year two, he has looked every bit as good. My only reservation with Harris is that he isn’t very big, or physical. That’s not an issue right now, the other five defenders are all above 6’2” and 200 lbs. But when Lane Hutson arrives, I’m not so sure that the Canadiens want to have two undersized defensemen.

Harris’s former North Eastern teammate and fellow Habs prospect Jayden Struble could give Harris a run for his money. He is able to rush the puck, and he is aware of his time and space, often making smart puck plays, just like Harris. But unlike Harris, Struble is big and physical, and at this point, his offensive ceiling and floor seem higher than Harris’s.

Struble can clear the front of the net, and he is a menace along the boards, using his strength to squeeze opponents and win puck battles. His mobility stands out when rushing the puck, but it also allows him to take away time and space from the opposition. If he can’t keep pace or poke the puck away, he has no problem throwing big hits to separate the player from the puck.

I like Harris, and I believe that if he were made available, many general managers would come calling. There is still a full season for Harris to play, and he is in the NHL which is a step up from the AHL. But Struble, while in Laval, has already shown some offensive flair and he can do all the little things that Harris does.

I didn’t expect it to happen so soon, and I honestly thought there would be another player who would stand out in Laval first. However, Struble has figured things out at the professional level pretty quickly, and he could earn himself a call-up to the NHL at some point this season. If he continues his strong play, he might force the team to keep him up with the Canadiens.

With the rest of the season for Struble to continue his solid play, and develop into a better player. I believe that even if he didn’t appear ready, a stint to figure out where he needs to improve and sharpen skills that are already solid. Struble can move the puck well, and his physical traits should translate smoothly to the NHL level. And he will add another physical element to the Canadiens blueline or whichever NHL team that he eventually plays his way onto.

The future of the Canadiens defence looks very promising, and with Struble, William Trudeau and Adam Engstrom flying under the radar, the Canadiens’ blueline prospect group looks awfully promising.

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