Montreal Canadiens - AHL Prospect Report

The Montreal Canadiens have put together a fine prospect pool, rivalling some of the NHL's best with an intriguing crop of players.

Down in the American Hockey League, the Canadiens affiliate hosts an exciting group of hopefuls for the Canadiens roster. The top dog is Joshua Roy, a forward with top-nine potential on the current Canadiens roster. The top three is rounded out with two right-shot defensemen - very different stylistically, and likely to fill the two right defence roles on the Habs down the road.

Let's dive right in, and discuss each of the 11 under-24 talents on the Laval Rocket roster. This is an impressive number when you consider that only two players on the Rocket roster were drafted by the club before 2020. Cayden Primeau (2017) and Rafael Harvey-Pinard (2019).

The Rocket roster is primarily made up of players that were drafted in the 2020 draft or later. In the three drafts since Kent Hughes arrived in Montreal, Laval has added five players drafted by Hughes and Jeff Gorton. This team was in need of a rebuild, and Marc Bergevin left the Habs in a bit of a stink, though there were some parting gifts.

Tier one

Tier one features the players who are likeliest to impact the Habs top-six forward group, or their top-four defence group.

Joshua Roy - Honestly, Joshua Roy's game can go as far as he wants it to, which is great when he is engaged and moving his feet. On the other hand, he goes stretches where he looks disengaged and uninterested. Roy's skating isn't explosive, but his hockey IQ and anticipation aid him in all three zones, and his offensive tools are interesting.

Roy presents a fantastic playmaking game, utilizing great vision, and an acrobatic passing ability, sneaking passes through tight quarters. No. 89 for the Rocket is a pure sniper, either standing still; where he is comfortable shooting from either leg or heavy one-timers. If all goes well, Roy has the two-way prowess and skill to be a top-nine staple - and I wouldn't count out top-six upside.

Bergevin drafted Roy in the 2021 draft, with the 150th selection, and Roy has come a long way, blossoming into a steal of a pick.

Logan Mailloux - The thing that limits Logan Mailloux's potential right now is his decision-making and defensive acumen. Offence comes more naturally to Mailloux, who at six-foot-three, 200-plus pounds skates so fluidly. Mailloux always has his head up, scanning the ice before making crisp passes or firing the puck on the net.

I do not doubt that Mailloux can develop into a top-four defenseman for the Canadiens, but he will need to clean up his play without the puck. At least in the defensive sense, because his off-puck routes are solid, and he can easily exploit open ice. Physically he can handle himself, but improving his gap control and taking space away from attackers faster will be huge for his future.

Mailloux was drafted 31st overall, with Bergevin's first-round pick at the 2021 draft, his last with the club. Many teams passed on him, and the reaction to the pick was seismic. But his potential and impact on the Canadiens success could be just the same.

David Reinbacher - The David Reinbacher selection has been the most highly-discussed decision by Hughes since he arrived with the Canadiens. One thing, to be sure is that Hughes is a baller, and he goes about his business doing his best to make the Habs the best. There were plenty of other talents, but in wanting Reinbacher, he proved that he didn't want another team to have this guy.

When you look at it that way, it can alter your perspective in ways, because it tells you that management thinks very highly of this player. Reinbacher doesn't present as a flashy player, but he is a guy who skates well and plays a smart defensive game. The native of Hohenems, Austria., is a beautiful skater - who isn't just a defensive defenseman, he has some offensive potential - one-on-one skill, great passing and a quick release.

I haven't seen much of Reinbacher, which is the case for everybody, but I think that there are a few things that he should focus on. I'm not a coach, but I think he has the potential to be a top-pairing right defender for the Habs. Right there beside Lane Hutson, but he needs to adopt more of a killer mentality - controlled aggression would be tremendous - hits at the blueline, defensive stick checks and bully-like defending.

Tier two

Tier two is comprised of players that I feel will play for the Canadiens at some point, but the likelihood of them playing top-six minutes at forward or top-four minutes on defence aren't high.

Owen Beck - I think that Owen Beck should stay with the Canadiens for the rest of the season. Beck gives me a tremendous feeling of confidence with his strong, physical and responsible play style. He is fantastic in the faceoff dot, and his two-way acumen is near elite, and he makes up for it with footspeed if necessary.

I think Beck could become a top-six option, but I'm not convinced that it's so sure that he usurps Michael Hage or Nick Suzuki. To me, Beck is an ideal third line centre, and his shooting skills paired with efficient passing and tenacity will serve him well. Beck wasn't drafted to score goals, but to play defensively sound hockey as a forwad - so the offence is a bonus.

I think that Jake Evans and Christian Dvorak can be moved, because Beck will fill a role. Hughes can take advantage of organizational depth, and try to get maximum returns for his pending UFA's.

Jared Davidson - Jared Davidson was drafted as a 20-year-old over-ager, who was passed over as an 18 and 19-year-old. Hughes drafted him with the 130th pick in the fifth round of the 2022 draft. Davidson got hot at the right time - scoring 89 points through 64 games during the 2021-22 season with the Seattle Thunderbirds in the Western Hockey League.

Davidson's final season with the Thunderbirds saw him score 82 points in 60 games, before helping the Thunderbirds to a WHL Championship with 23 points in 19 playoff games. Davidson is a pure shooter, whose quick release comes off heavy, both on the one-timer or standing still. He plays with an edge, and his skating is solid - I see bottom-six potential with Davidson - I love his grit.

He plays a responsible two-way game, and his shot has translated to the AHL - where he has scored 17 goals through 44 games in his second season with the Rocket.

Florian Xhekaj - Florian Xhekaj brings something to the club that no other player does, and he does his job well, which is why I think he has NHL potential. I can't say that I pencilled him in as a top-12 forward for the Habs when he was drafted, but his play has been encouraging. I think this player was ready-made for the professional game since he was 17-18 years old, but the skill was a question mark.

I don't think that skill is going to be what earns Xhekaj a role in the NHL, not that he doesn't have any and won't use it. Xhekaj simply makes his money in the trenches - digging around the front of the net, banging bodies in the corners and good old defensive stickwork. He goes hard every shift and is the type of player who does all he can to beat his opponents.

Xhekaj's highest goal output in junior was 34 with the Brantford Bulldogs, and this season with the Rocket he is on pace to score 19 goals in 69 games, according to Elite Prospects.com

Luke Tuch - Luke Tuch is a guy who is just not fun to play against because he is physical, and he uses his physicality for a purpose. He is disruptive on the backcheck and forecheck, playing heavy with body checks, and leaning on opponent's sticks. Tuch isn't going to score any lacrosse goals, but I would hate to try one with him on the ice.

After playing three seasons with Boston University, the native of Syracuse, New York., signed his entry-level deal with the Habs. The six-foot-two, 203-pound winger is less known for his scoring and more for his physical two-way game. Tuch has a presence as a passer and shooter, but he is on pace for just 19 points in 60 games, so he is a fourth-line option.

Tuch is big, physical and smart, which I feel will blend well with the brashness of Xhekaj. Right now he is injured, and on the shelf for eight weeks with a lower-body injury.

Adam Engstrom, William Trudeau - Engstrom and Trudeau play a smart two-way game, leaning more to the defensive side. Both are mobile, left-shot defenders, who have limited offensive upside. They can shut down plays, and kill penalties, but they aren't going to net more than 5-10 goals.

For me, Engstrom has a higher ceiling than Trudeau, who I believe would be a bottom-pair defenseman in the NHL. Engstrom has a little more offensive touch, and attention to detail offensively. I think Engstrom is like a number four/five defender, but likeliest on the third defence pair because of the Canadiens' depth on left defence.

Trudeau could become a shutdown, mobile top-four defender, I just don't see it in Montreal. But if his value to another team is significant, then maybe leaving him in tier two is wise business.

Tier 3

Sean Farrell, Riley Kidney, Filip Mesar - Farrell, Mesar and Kidney are three very different players, but in my honest opinion, I don't see a future for any of them with the Canadiens. Of the three, I think Kidney is least likely because he lacks any standout quality, and his scoring in junior hasn't translated. He is kind of just there, and the six-foot, 176-pound forward hasn't taken much of a step between years one and two.

Farrell is the oldest of the trio, as a member of the 2020 draft class, drafted in the fourth round 124th overall. He was an assassin in the NCAA, but his speed and skill haven't translated to the AHL to this point, scoring just 45 points in 90 games. The five-foot-nine left-shot forward isn't big, fast or all that tenacious, so if he has hopes of playing in Montreal, he will need to add something to his game.

Mesar is a small, speedy, skilled forward - which sounds like music to Martin St. Louis's ears. Mesar, like Marty, isn't the biggest, but he is fast and tenacious on the puck. I think he needs to work on his confidence and defensive play - but ultimately watch a little bit of Brayden Point and even Xavier Simoneau with the Rocket, they aren't huge, but they are feisty and battle hard each shift.

Mesar has the highest potential of the three, in my eyes, but I'm not sure he will reach it in Canadiens' colours.