10 Promising Young Players For The Montreal Canadiens
Who’s the best prospect for Montreal?
Montreal Canadiens has a ton of young prospects getting ready to make their entry in the NHL. After making terrible choices in NHL drafts, they sated themself with good picks like Cole Caufield. Here are your 10 most promising young players for the Montreal Canadiens.
1. Cole Caufield (LW, University of Wisconsin, NCAA)
Cole Caufield, born in 2001, is a pure goalscorer who is often compared with Alex Ovechkin because of his natural goalscoring talent. The Montreal Canadiens prospect, evolving with the University of Wisconsin, recorded 72 goals in 64 games last year with the U18 US National Team, which is the most for any player in the history of the program. This year, in the NCAA, he has 12 goals and 8 assists for 20 points in 18 games, the best for a U19 player. The American 5-foot-7 winger is the first to explode up ice in transition. The hallmark of his game is his exceptional goal-scoring ability. He has a shot that leaps off his stick with pinpoint accuracy when he lets loose and a low center of gravity that facilitates fast and flashy puckhandling at pace.
2. Alexander Romanov (D, CSKA Moskva, KHL)
Alexander Romanov is a terrific defensive defenseman evolving for CSKA Moskva in the KHL. Drafted 38th overall in 2018, he is a stud. Already playing in the KHL, for his second year, at 19 years old, he currently has 4 assists in 33 games, with a differential of +12. The Russian athlete is a great skater with good offensive skills. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound frame player likes to play a physical brand of hockey. Decision making is a bit questionable at times.
3. Nick Suzuki (C, Montreal Canadiens, NHL)
Nick Suzuki is a 20-years-old center already evolving for the Montreal Canadiens, often playing on the third line. Drafted 13th overall by Vegas Golden Knights in 2017, he got traded to the Montreal Canadiens in January 2019 including Tomas Tatar and a second-round pick for Max Pacioretty, a swap easily won by the Montreal club. The 5-foot-11, 183-pound frame offense currently has 7 goals and 13 assists in 40 games in the NHL, the 5th best for a U21 player. The London native athlete is a smart offensive center who thinks the game at a fast pace and makes very good decisions consistently. Though he may not be the biggest player on the ice, Suzuki plays a thick, sturdy game and is hard to knock off the puck, especially when he has his feet moving. He’s an excellent skater that knows his own game well. Skilled with the puck and has a high level of hockey sense. This blend of talent and work ethic is hard to come by, invaluable in the long run.
4. Jesperi Kotkaniemi (C, Montreal Canadiens, NHL)
Jesperi Kotkaniemi is an intelligent forward currently playing with the Montreal Canadiens at only 19 years old. Even if he has a difficult season this year, he is an important and promising player for the team. He has 7 points in 25 games in the NHL, still 7th for a U19 player. The Finnish center is a smart forward with a dangerous shot. Kotkaniemi possesses a high hockey IQ and determination with the skills to back it up. The 6-foot-2, 194-pound frame athlete positions himself well and often seems to be a step ahead of plays. Stickhandling and creativity allow him to split professional defenses as a teenager. Decent size and frame, yet a very capable skater.
5. Cayden Primeau (G, Laval Rockets, AHL)
Cayden Primeau is a potential first goalie for the Montreal Canadiens evolving for the Laval Rockets in the AHL. 1 time WJC U18 gold medal champion, the 199th overall in 2017 is definitely a steal. The American goalie currently has a 902. save percentage with the Laval Rockets in 16 games, which is extremely good for a 20-years-old goaltender. The $880,833 thousand dollar goalie is definitely worth it. Often considered has a number one goalie in the NHL, he never stops surprising us.
6. Ryan Poehling (C, Laval Rockets, AHL)
Ryan Poehling is an offensive playmaker and two-way forward evolving for the Laval Rockets. As a 20-years-old athlete, he is playing relatively good with the Montreal Canadiens school club, racking up 12 points in 26 games. The American center is a plus-defensive player, having struck a balance between pressure and positioning. His stickwork, undoubtedly, is one of his defining traits. On the forecheck, he uses his stick to block plays up the middle and funnel them to the outside, where he has a knack for stealing possession. On the backcheck, the 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame player always takes the extra stride to disrupt the carrier and recover possession.
7. Victor Mete (D, Montreal Canadiens, NHL)
Victor Mete is a defensive defenseman currently playing for the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL. The Canadian athlete is currently 11th in points for a U22 player, with 8 points in 30 games, which is really promising for the 1-time WJC U20 championship gold medalist. The 5-foot-9, 183-pound frame defenseman is a small two-way defenseman with excellent skating abilities and tremendous quickness. Victor Mete reads the play well and competes for the puck, but needs to get stronger in order to contain his men better along the boards. He has good vision and makes a good 1st pass out of his zone and can make quick plays, although he tends to play too overhasty and more poise with the puck would suit his game well. He can rush with the puck, making good use of his speed and is not afraid to join the offense, as his offensive instincts are still developing.
8. Josh Brook (D, Laval Rockets, AHL)
Josh Brook is an offensive defenseman playing for the Laval Rockets in the AHL. He currently has 8 points in 35 games. The Canadian athlete is a dynamically well-rounded two-way defenseman with high-end puck-moving ability accented with speed and evasiveness, drafted 56th overall in 2017 by the Montreal Canadiens. Worth $795,000, he is definitely a steal for the Montreal Canadiens, knowing he’s only 20 years old playing in the AHL.
9. Cale Fleury (D, Montreal Canadiens, NHL)
Cale Fleury is a defensive defenseman evolving for the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL. With only 1 point in 34 games, it’s a matter of time before he gets a secured spot in the top-six of the Montreal Canadiens. The 21-years-old, 6-foot-1, 203-pound frame has a terrific vision in the defensive zone and is the perfect player to secure the puck on a penalty kill.
10. Jordan Harris (D, Northeastern University, NCAA)
Jordan Harris is a 19-years-old defenseman evolving for Northeastern University in the NCAA. With 13 points in 18 games at only 19 years old, he is very promising. The American athlete is an offensive defenseman with a remarkable snipe. He has a great vision and distributes the puck extremely well. The 5-foot-11, 179-pound frame player makes a good first pass and walks the blue line well in order to open shooting and passing lanes.
Sources:
- Cole Caufield — https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/316168/cole-caufield
- Alexander Romanov — https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/396529/alexander-romanov
- Nick Suzuki — https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/300436/nick-suzuki
- Jesperi Kotkaniemi — https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/363872/jesperi-kotkaniemi
- Cayden Primeau — https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/256228/cayden-primeau
- Ryan Poehling — https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/288045/ryan-poehling
- Victor Mete — https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/232703/victor-mete
- Josh Brook — https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/201551/josh-brook
- Cale Fleury — https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/200710/cale-fleury
- Jordan Harris — https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/321687/jordan-harris
