Montreal Canadiens prospect Rhett Pitlick is cooking for the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Pitlick is playing himself into late-round draft gem territory, if he isn’t careful he could put himself into the conversation for a draft steal. Now let’s not get ahead of ourselves, it’s impressive, but making those assumptions could end poorly. He couldn’t have picked a better time to play like this; as he has put himself right onto Laval’s radar.
The 2019 fifth-round selection is playing in his third NCAA season. And he has already bested his career-high 25 points in 45 games from 2022-23. In just 24 games, Pitlick has 15-13-28 totals.
He has scored plenty of goals, capped off by his first career hat trick. In his last 10 games, Pitlick has posted 9-7-16 totals. On Friday night against the Ohio State Buckeyes Pitlick went off.
First career hatty. 4-point game. 8 points in his last 4 games.
— Minnesota Men’s Hockey (@GopherHockey) January 20, 2024
Rhett Pitlick is on FIRE 🔥 pic.twitter.com/SxMmZH4zs6
Random tidbit, each of his goals were assisted by a Chicago Blackhawks prospect. Oliver Moore and Sam Rinzel had two assists apiece. Pitlick is hanging with the first-round pick, Moore, and not looking out of place.
At five-foot-nine and a smidge above 160 pounds, he will need to add some muscle to his frame. It’s not as though a player his size isn’t useful, the Buffalo Sabres love Zach Benson. I just think that Pitlick will be a trade asset. The Habs already have Sean Farrell, who I think won’t play for the Habs unless he becomes a superstar, mostly because of his size.
It’s meant as no insult to Pitlick, but the Canadiens have their undersized quota filled with Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson. But, once again the Habs drafting could be used as leverage in a trade. Not everybody that the Habs draft will play, but acquiring pieces that will fit on the team through trades will help the team.
Rhett the Jet looks like a great piece for the Habs, much like Rem the Gem was before him. He appears to have more offensive upside than brother Rem and his cousin Tyler. Another name in the line that the Canadiens took a chance on after Tyler and Rem were solid adds to the team.
His offensive explosion will surely garner attention, which should serve him well in his ascension to signing his first pro contract. Whether that is with the Canadiens, remains to be unseen, however, it would be wise to give him an NHL contract. Let's not risk losing him for nothing, when he can be used as draft capital if he doesn't fit into the plan.