Could Tyler Thorpe be an upgrade on Josh Anderson
He drives the net hard and has some good finishes for his size, Tyler Thorpe was impressive. Anderson's size and speed make a difference, but he doesn't have the finish, however, Thorpe is still putting it all together.
If the Montreal Canadiens want to turn a corner from being a small team, to a team that is skilled and can stand up for themselves, their bigger prospects will need to pan out.
As we watched during the prospects showcase, the Habs' fourth line dominated and gave glimpses to a future trio for the Habs. With Luke Tuch, Florian Xhekaj and Tyler Thorpe, the trio doesn't get pushed around and wears down the opposition with their size. Not only are they bigger than most opponents, but they are skilled and can chip in offensively.
Thorpe is especially of interest, the 2024 fifth-round selection is looking like a potential late-round gem. At 6'5" and 212 pounds, Thorpe could develop into a scary power forward, whose shot has the potential to bully NHL goaltenders. In Elite Prospects 2024 Draft Guide Thorpe was described as a shooter whose ability is uncommon given his stature, he shoots well in motion and his catch and release are equally impressive.
Tyler Thorpe was quite good at development camp, and now again at rookie camp. If he can turn into a smarter Josh Anderson, that's all you can ask for in a 5th round pick.
— Mike Veenie (@fnveenie) September 16, 2024
It's easy to compare Thorpe to Brendan Gallagher since he was also a fifth-round selection and played his junior hockey in the Western Hockey League. Thorpe plays for the Vancouver Giants; as Gallagher did when the Canadiens drafted him. So, the story makes it easy to draw comparisons, but his stature is comparable to that of Josh Anderson, although he is a bit taller than the National Hockey League veteran.
But Thorpe exploding with the Giants this season could spell out a perfect bet by the Canadiens on the hulking forward. With 44 points through 51 games, a 38-point increase from his rookie season to his sophomore year, he has shown promise. Perhaps another big jump in year three could give him plenty of confidence to make his case for an NHL role if not one with the American Hockey League's Laval Rocket.
What's next for Thorpe?
If Thorpe's performances at the rookie camp just after being drafted, and then his play at the prospect showcase are a sign of things to come, Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton have to be excited. Thorpe, like Xhekaj, is a bigger player, who has the physical traits, but their offence is coming along a bit behind schedule. That isn't necessarily a bad thing, since this could prove to the benefit of the Canadiens.
It seems like there is a real possibility for Thorpe to have a breakout season, and put himself on the Rocket radar, perhaps ahead of the playoffs. If the playoffs aren't a possibility for Laval, or the Giants end up making some noise, then next year might be a possibility. But there should be plenty of excitement surrounding Thorpe - he could be a huge addition to the Habs depth going forward, which is always important during the offseason.
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