Sean Farrell starting to resemble his former NCAA self

The Montreal Canadiens have an embarrassment of young players, some of which will become key pieces for the team in the future.

Sean Farrell, the Canadiens 2020 fourth round pick (124 overall) played 58 NCAA games with the Harvard University Crimson over two seasons, including his draft plus one, and two years. In the NCAA, Farrell displayed the same playmaking skills, and quick release that allowed him to torch the United States Hockey League with the Chicago Steel (29-72-101 in 53 games).

Farrell played six games with the Canadiens, most notably scoring his first NHL goal during that time. But he has predominantly spent his time in the AHL with the Laval Rocket, where he has worked on a myriad of things. The five-foot-nine, 174-pound winger is not about to intimidate anybody in the professional ranks, so he needs to make sure he is on his toes.

Improving his speed and quickness are going to be crucial for his future, and he has done tremendous work improving both of those things. Farrell has displayed a quickness in his decision-making, and his skating outbursts. But his speed, both off the rush and attacking between the dots, has been tremendous, though he could stand to shoot more; which will open up passing lanes.

Farrell was a weapon in the NCAA, and after his first 99 AHL games, he is starting to show shades of the electric playmaker, goalscoring threat that he is capable of becoming. During his current hot streak, Farrell has only gone four games without a point over his last 15 games. In those 15 games that he did score, well, he has done some damage.

I do think that the Canadiens have plenty of small forwards, but I think that there is a certain level that Farrell needs to reach to fill a top-nine role. There are plenty of small players in the NHL, but there aren't many five-foot-nine wingers that I would add to the Canadiens lineup, if I could. Brad Marchand and Jonathan Marchessault, along with Alex DeBrincat, are the only sub five-foot-nine forwards that I would consider in Montreal.

Being effective at that size isn't an easy feat, and that stacks the odds against Farrell, but it's not impossible. Mats Zuccarello is another guy who is under five-foot-nine, that is an absolute menace on the ice - especially around the front of the net. Farrell has some work to do, but he is well on his way to gaining some serious traction.

Give him a triggerman

Farrell isn't likely going to be a goalscorer, but so long as he is lined up with one, he will provide the team with what he is best at. Very good, detailed playmaking, and a tenacity to burn teams in transition, and off the rush.

Farrell has the vision, and passing skill to execute circus-style plays, and having a sniper, which the Rocket have, to setup will unlock his true talents. Jared Davidson most definitely fits the bill with Laval, but he has made many players look good with his pinpoint passing,

Emil Heineman's ascension to the Habs lineup, and permanent role has hurt the Rocket goalscoring. Joshua Roy's recent callup also hurt them pretty bad, but Davidson serves as a perfect option to score off those Farrell feeds.