Montreal Canadiens 2019 Draft Class: Habs Select Their Sniper of the Future At 15
By Nate Duffett
Round 3
64th Overall - Mattias Norlinder
Norlinder spent most of his career in Sweden, eventually getting promoted to the Swedish Elite League with Frolunda from 2020-22. He had 12 points in 58 games with the historic club but decided to come to North America for the remainder of the 2021-22 season, splitting 12 games between Montreal and Laval.
It was Norlinder's last glimpse at the NHL level, as he's been relegated to the AHL for the last two seasons. He had a good first full-season in Laval, recording 19 points in 67 games, but regressed to nine points in 50 games this season after losing his spot to better defensemen. Norlinder's RFA contract is up for renewal this offseason but he may end up looking for greener pastures.
77th Overall - Gianni Fairbrother
Fairbrother's lone contribution to the Habs is that he was the player who went the other way in the Alex Newhook trade. The Canadiens sent Fairbrother, a first-round pick, and a second-round pick in the deal before the 2023 NHL Draft. Fairbrother played 28 games with Laval over three seasons.