The Montreal Canadiens have kicked off the 2025 offseason with perhaps not the flashiest move, but a necessary one to keep the prospect cupboards stocked. Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton did this by signing Austrian prospect Vinzenz Rohrer.
In 2022, just one year after making it to the Stanley Cup Final, the Canadiens ended up winning the draft lottery and selecting first overall, and they surprised many by picking Juraj Slafkovsky over Shane Wright. Their second-round pick was Owen Beck, and their first third-round pick was Rohrer out of the Ottawa 67s.
Rohrer was selected right around where he was projected by most scouts, 75th overall. He was seen as an entertaining energy player, a good skater, and a hard competitor. But he was tall and not well filled out, and could struggle when the game became physical.
Rohrer has developed in Zurich
The good thing is that some of those issues would be rectified as his body grew. He put up decent numbers with the 67s in his draft year, 25 goals and 48 points in 64 games. After another year in the OHL, he went overseas to play with the Zurich SC in the Swiss-A league.
The Swiss league would be a good place to develop, as it is the top league in Switzerland, meaning that Rohrer would be developing against men rather than younger players in the OHL. Though his offensive output understandably lowered in the big league, the fact he was able to compete in the league itself is a good sign.
Rohrer was never projecting to be a big point scorer in the NHL anyways. You never know how players will develop, but it seems like a middle-six energy role is the ceiling for Rohrer. Which, is still pretty great for a third-round pick.
Despite being a bit lost the league's best prospect pool, Rohrer reminded everyone what he could do in the World Championship in May. Playing with Austria, Rohrer proved himself to be a top prospect, and was the best player on the Austrian team that ended up losing to Switzerland in the quarterfinal.
Rohrer has also learned what it means to be a champion, as he has won the Swiss-A league with Zurich twice. Much has been made of creating a winning culture, and Rohrer has proven himself as a winner.
So, the Montreal Canadiens signed Rohrer to the standard three year entry level deal. So, what is next for the young Austrian?
When can we expect Rohrer to arrive?
Rohrer's situation is pretty similar to another forward that joined the Canadiens last year in Oliver Kapanen. Rohrer is still signed for a year in Zurich, but would be invited to the Habs training camp, and could play in the NHL if he makes the team.
Which is exactly what happened with Oliver Kapanen last year. Kapanen made the team out of training camp, partially due to the Laine injury, and played 18 games before being sent back to Timra in Sweden.
In the 2025-26 season, Rohrer will either play in the NHL or the Swiss-A league. And at this point it looks like he should play back in Zurich. Even the season after, Rohrer will probably need a year or two in the AHL to adjust back to North American ice and develop.
Rohrer is definitely more of a project prospect, and we shouldn't expect to see him in a Canadiens' uniform immediately. But, if he continues to develop well, he might become a fixture in the bottom six for a long time.
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