The accolades keep pouring in for the Montreal Canadiens from publications, as they find themselves at the top of another list from TSN. It's often the same story for the Habs, as they are near the top of most lists for having one of the best prospect pools in the league. They are TSN's top choice for U24 cores, beating out the San Jose Sharks, Detroit Red Wings, New Jersey Devils, and Minnesota Wild.
"“It’s an embarrassment of riches and a reason to be patient with the franchise rebuild.”"TSN's Director of Scouting Craig Button
It's no small feat to be chosen as No. 1 on this list. The Sharks being No. 2 seems like a bit of a stretch, but TSN could be considering the potential of Macklin Celebrini and Will Smith. The Red Wings include Moritz Seider and Lucas Raymond, while the Devils still have the Hughes brothers on this list. The Wild also have Brock Faber and Matt Boldy.
TSN projects the Canadiens to have ten U24 players who are middle-of-the-lineup players or better. "The top five rated players in the Canadiens’ organization who entered the season 23 or younger are No. 1 American left winger Cole Caufield(23), No. 2 Russian right winger Ivan Demidov (18), No. 3 Slovak left wingerJuraj Slafkovsky(20) , No. 4 American defenceman Lane Hutson (20) and No. 5 American goalie Jacob Fowler.
The sixth player on the list is Kaden Guhle, which shows just how good of a job the Canadiens' scouting department has done over the past few years. Montreal's top six players under 24 are three forwards, two defensemen, and a goalie. If all those players turn into who they are supposed to be, that's a full line entering their prime at the same time.
The list does not include Michael Hage, David Reinbacher, Logan Mailloux, Joshua Roy, and Owen Beck. "The Canadiens have a premier goal-scorer in Caufield, elite playmaker in Demidov, big winger in Slafkovsky, dazzling defenceman in Hutson, consummate defender in Guhle and a goalie who has the potential to join a long line of accomplished netminders in Fowler."