First-round picks are usually the prospects that fans are the most excited for. Those are the ones that get the most media coverage throughout their draft year, but that does not mean you can not find talent in the later rounds. The Montreal Canadiens have been quite successful drafting in the later rounds over the years, with players like Brendan Gallagher, Jake Evans, and Jakub Dobes all being key contributors to the roster. Since Kent Hughes took over as General Manager prior to the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, the Canadiens have drafted some dynamic talent players in the first round, whether that is Juraj Slafkovsky, Ivan Demidov, or Michael Hage, but he and his team have also found some diamonds in the rough.
Jacob Fowler
Jacob Fowler was the sixth goalie selected in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. The Canadiens third-round pick is one of two goalies from the 2023 draft to have already made their NHL debut, but it was his performances at the NCAA level that made people start to think that Montreal might have found a special talent. Fowler put up video game-type numbers while at Boston College. In 72 games across two seasons, Fowler had a 57-13-3 record while posting a 1.90 goals against average (program’s record holder) and a .932 save percentage. When he signed his entry-level contract after the 2024-25 season, he was viewed as the next great Canadiens goalie before even making his NHL debut.
The plan likely was for Fowler to play the entirety of this past season with the Laval Rocket, but after Samuel Montembeault struggled to start the season, the Canadiens chose to call up their star goalie prospect. His debut furthered the notion that he could be the next star goalie in Montreal, linking his name with other Canadiens greats like Ken Dryden, Patrick Roy, and Carey Price, by getting his first career win against the Pittsburgh Penguins, something they now all have in common. By the end of the season, Fowler was a full-time NHL goalie and will likely be part of the tandem alongside Dobes next season.
Bryce Pickford
Bryce Pickford is a true diamond in the rough. After being passed over during his first year of draft eligibility, the then Seattle Thunderbirds defenceman was traded to the Medicine Hat Tigers, joining a stacked WHL team that included Gavin McKenna, Liam, and Markus Ruck. His offence exploded in his first season with the Hat Tigers, scoring 20 goals and adding 27 assists in 48 games, leading to the Canadiens taking a chance on the defenceman, selecting him in the third round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft. Pickford's breakout season would just be the start, as he returned to the Hat Tigers this past season, scoring at a level not been seen in the WHL since 1988.
To say Pickford was the most dangerous player on the ice this season would not be an outlandish statement. Despite only playing in 55 games this past season due to injury, Pickford was tied for second in the league in goals, not by a defenceman, the entire league. He scored 45 goals, just the second defenceman in WHL history to hit the 40+ mark. He added 38 assists to his points tally as he took home the WHL Defenceman of the Year and CHL Defenceman of the Year trophies, capping off one of the greatest goal-scoring seasons by a defenceman in WHL history. After being passed over in his first year of eligibility and then being selected in the third round, the Canadiens got an absolute steal with Pickford.
Florian Xhekaj
Another one of the Canadiens picks in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, Florian Xhekaj, has developed into a player who could potentially be on Montreal’s opening day roster as soon as next season. The Canadiens fourth-round pick was first known as Arber’s little brother, but over the last two seasons with the Rocket, he has shown that he is ready to make the jump to the NHL. In his first full season with the Rocket, Florian showcased that he is more than just a physical presence. He recorded 24 goals in 69 games, setting the Rocket franchise record for goals by a rookie. To go along with his 24 goals, the younger Xhekaj brother had 175 penalty minutes, which was the league leader in the AHL.
Florian’s goal total dropped in his second season, recording 17 goals and adding 12 assists in 64 games, but his penalty minutes increased to 182. Despite his numbers dropping, Florian got a chance to play with his older brother Arber when he was called up in November. He made his NHL debut on November 22nd against the Toronto Maple Leafs and recorded his first career assist in their 5-2 win. He appeared in five games with the Canadiens before returning to the Rocket, but with Brendan Gallagher likely moving on this offseason, the Canadiens could feature a lineup that contains both Xhekaj brothers next season.
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