Montreal Canadiens 2018 Draft Class: Depth Players Highlight Big Group of Prospects
By Nate Duffett
Round 2
35th Overall - Jesse Ylonen
Ylonen stayed in Finland until the end of the 2019-20 season, leaving the Liiga once his team fell out of contention to sign an AHL contract with Laval. The pandemic caused Ylonen to not play for Laval, leading him to sign a three-year entry-level contract with the Canadiens. Ylonen was loaned back to the Liiga with the pandemic delay in 2020-21, but returned to Montreal for the opening of training camp.
Ylonen had 17 points in 29 games before making his NHL debut in the last game of the season. He split time between Laval and Montreal in the next two seasons, but 2023-24 was his first full-time run in the NHL, recording eight points in 59 games.
38th Overall - Alexander Romanov
Romanov signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Canadiens in 2020 after two seasons in the KHL. He played 54 of 56 games in the Covid season but just four of 22 during the 2021 Stanley Cup Final run. He returned to the Habs lineup in 2021-22, playing 79 games with 13 points. However, his relationship with the Canadiens never recovered.
The Canadiens traded Romanov to the New York Islanders during the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, the first of a series of trades that helped them acquire Kirby Dach.
56th Overall - Jacob Olofsson
Olofsson's career has gone on a downward trajectory in Sweden. He played in the SHL since 2018-19, except for a stint in the Allsvensken in 2020-21 when he went to Timra. Olofsson went on loan to Frolunda in 2021-22 but returned to Timra. His return to Timra didn't last long, as he joined Bjorkloven in Allsvenskan permanently.