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Welcome to the September edition of the DobberProspects 32-in-32 Series. This month, we are diving into the depth of each organization, looking at their recent graduates, risers, fallers and top-20 prospects.

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The Montreal Canadiens are now three years into their rebuild, and excitement is rightfully more palpable than ever. Any doubt that was put into Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton’s vision, whether it be following the Juraj Slafkovsky selection in 2022, the David Reinbacher selection in 2023, or any of the risky trades (there are some losses, but certainly a winning record), has now been mostly usurped by hope as the team of the future comes together.

The Atlantic division is undeniably getting weaker, with Tampa Bay’s core rapidly aging, the Boston Bruins trying everything to stay relevant (successfully so, granted), and the Ottawa Senators, Detroit Red Wings, and Buffalo Sabres all still trying to get over the hump. With this in mind, the path to the playoffs for the Canadiens, likely in 2025-26 or 2026-27, is starting to emerge clearer.

This was as close to a perfect off-season as the Canadiens could have had, and the 2024-25 season will be a pivotal one in the rebuild.

Offseason Moves:

Had this story been written two weeks ago, this section would have been incredibly short. Luckily, Kent Hughes pulled off an exciting trade by acquiring former 44-goal scorer and second overall pick Patrik Laine from the Columbus Blue Jackets.

Patrik Laine Acquisition:

On August 19th, the Montreal Canadiens acquired Patrik Laine from the Columbus Blue Jackets in exchange for defenseman Jordan Harris. In addition to Laine, the Canadiens were given a second round pick in 2026 as additional compensation to take on Laine’s behemoth $8.7 million annual contract.

While the salary is significant, the Canadiens are far from a money-strapped team, and the team has loads of cap flexibility for the next few years, even with Kaiden Guhle and Juraj Slafkovsky having signed long-term extensions that kick in next year. This thus makes this trade as close to a no-risk deal as possible, with extremely high upside as well.

While I love Jordan Harris, and I believe he will be great with the Blue Jackets not only as a player, but as a person, the depth of left handed defensemen on the Canadiens roster was undeniable, and had Harris been moved on his own, it likely would have been in the value range of a second round pick – which the Canadiens did acquire from the Blue Jackets. With that team still early in its rebuild, there is a high likelihood that it will be a high pick as well. That, however, is not the main point of the deal.

Acquiring Patrik Laine gives the Canadiens their most uniquely talented player in a long time; a player that has scored 44 goals in the league, and a player who was considered a phenomenal consolation prize for Auston Matthews in 2016.

Laine’s shot is nothing short of elite, with a lightning quick and strong release. When he is on his game, he can take over shifts with his size (6-5, 216), dynamism with the puck, and the aforementioned shot. Likely to be centered by Kirby Dach, who is also a large (albeit not physical) player, Laine will be equally be given one of his best playmaking options down the middle in his NHL career.

It is no secret that Patrik Laine has struggled both on and off the ice, but his mental health work over the last year shows that he can not only be an NHL player, but an NHL leader. He has helped destigmatize mental health in the NHL, and the fit with the Montreal Canadiens’ culture seems evident. As far as a player archetype, there is nothing this team needed more than dynamic scoring, and they got that here.

It is hard not to like this trade, as it presents essentially no downsides (it’s not like Habs fans are paying for the contract), it fits the long-term structure of the team (the Canadiens were reportedly looking at short term rentals in free agency), and it provides undeniable massive upside (40 goals?). While expectations must stay tempered, Laine has 117 points in his last 129 NHL games, all of which came in what were considered ‘down seasons’ in Columbus. This trade was just absolutely incredible.

Jonathan Kovacevic Trade:

The Ivan Demidov selection at the draft and the Patrik Laine trade have both clouded the minds of Habs fans, but Kent Hughes did make one trade earlier in the off-season, sending Jonathan Kovacevic to the New Jersey Devils in exchange for a fourth round pick. This is a pretty inconsequential move, but it does represent Kent Hughes’ knack for asset management, turning a waiver claim (and two years of quality NHL play) into an asset. The New Jersey Devils will get a truly lovable player and person in Kovacevic, and his size and smooth skating will help bolster their team in a depth role. No complaints here.

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Projected Opening Night Lineup:

Slafkovsky-Suzuki-Caufield

Newhook-Dach-Laine

Roy-Dvorak-Anderson

Gallagher-Evans-Armia

Pezzetta

Matheson-Guhle

Hutson-Savard

Xhekaj-Barron

Struble

Montembeault

Primeau

If there is one theme with the Canadiens during this rebuild, it has been surplus. There are still too many forwards on the team, as well as too many left-shot defensemen. This will likely force Kaiden Guhle to play on the right side of Mike Matheson again this season. This will also likely limit deserving players, like Emil Heineman, from getting roster spots out of camp. While the problem is less bad than last season (Rafael Harvey-Pinard will miss a long chunk of the season with a broken leg), there are still variables. It is possible that Joshua Roy returns to the Laval Rocket for more conditioning time alongside potential long-term linemate Owen Beck. It is equally possible that Lane Hutson starts the year in Laval (although the Habs beat seems to suggest he is making the team). Other players, such as Logan Mailloux (who has an advantage due to his handedness),  may push for a spot.

It is no secret that I am uncertain about a long-term top line of Slafkovsky, Suzuki, and Caufield, but the former two have undeniable chemistry at 5-on-5, and they will almost certainly stay together. All three will play on the same power play. Kirby Dach’s injury history is worrying, but hopefully he will be able to cement himself as the team’s second-line centre this season. If I were head coach, I would be starting Patrik Laine with Suzuki and Slafkovsky, and giving Cole Caufield the dynamic playmaking talents of Dach and Newhook, but no matter how the top-six shapes up, it is the best we have seen in a very long time in Montreal.

Graduates:

OHL to AHL/NHL:

Owen Beck:

While Owen Beck has already played in one NHL game, he has now officially graduated from junior. Coming off a Memorial Cup win (as the MVP no less), Beck seems poised to fill a top-six spot with the Laval Rocket right away as the organization attempts to untap his offensive upside. Beck looks to be a very solid shot to be a bottom-six centre in the league, with a knack for faceoffs, a strong 200-foot game, and a layer of physicality he has developed in the OHL. Extremely good value for 33rd overall.

Filip Mesar:

Filip Mesar played pro level hockey in hs draft year, but was relegated to the OHL for his D+1 and D+2. He will play his first full North American pro season in 2024-25. While the OHL season started off well for Mesar, his lack of chemistry with Seattle Kraken forward prospect Eduard Sale in the OHL slowed him down. He took off in the OHL playoffs, however, rebounding his stock a little bit. With other selections from the 2022 draft, notable the aforementioned Beck, and Lane Hutson, outplaying him, his stock has undeniably fallen in the Canadiens system.

Florian Xhekaj:

There is still a possibility that Florian Xhekaj returns to the OHL for his overage season, but barring such, he will be a member of the Laval Rocket next season. His stock has skyrocketed since being selected 101st overall in 2023, and the ‘Xhekaj development curve’ has yet to fail the Montreal Canadiens.

NCAA to AHL/NHL:

Lane Hutson:

Lane Hutson is a point-per-game NHL defenseman. While that is from only a two-game sample against the Detroit Red Wings at the tail end of the 2023-24 season, Hutson proved that, while it won’t be easy, he will be able to adapt his dynamic offensive prowess to the pros. We are all extremely excited to see it happen.

Luke Tuch:

There was significant uncertainty on whether or not Luke Tuch would sign his entry-level contract with the Canadiens, or head towards free agency. Ultimately, Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton convinced him to stay in the organization, and the 6-2, 203 pound power forward will be a solid member of the Laval Rocket’s bottom six (or potentially the Trois-Rivieres Lions’ top-six).

Risers:

Bogdan Konyushkov:

Nobody really knew who Bogdan Konyushkov was when he was selected 110th overall in the 2023 draft. What he turned out to be was one of the best defensemen in the entire KHL, and the pillar (and captain) of Torpedo. His meteoric rise to becoming a legitimate defensive prospect with top-four potential came out of nowhere, and if he does come to North America, he could play a key role for the Canadiens.

Florian Xhekaj:

As mentioned earlier, Florian Xhekaj went from being a bottom-six OHL player already in his D+1 (a profile that seldom makes the NHL), to a top-six physical stud for the Brantford Bulldogs. Going from less than half a point in the OHL to an entry-level contract in a year is all-too fitting for a Xhekaj brother. We will see how he fares with the Laval Rocket (most likely), next season.

Logan Mailloux:

I am not afraid to admit when I am wrong, and I was certainly wrong about Logan Mailloux. While he is not the most efficient thinker in the sport, his physical tools elevated to the professional level beautifully, and he was an AHL all-star in his rookie season (and, like Lane Hutson, a point-per-game NHLer). It is a toss-up whether he will play in the AHL or NHL next season, but he has cemented himself as a truly exciting prospect, with his big body, shot, and speed combining to be a true offensive threat.

Lane Hutson:

It is hard to consider Lane Hutson a ‘riser’, simply because I, as well as many other Habs fans, have been extremely high on him since well before the 2022 NHL draft. However, there has always been a layer of uncertainty with him, due to his diminutive size (his D+1 growth spurt absolutely changed the game). He proved that he can adapt to the NHL last season, and thus his stock has been cemented as one of the best prospects not only in the Montreal Canadiens system, but in the league as a whole.

Jared Davidson:

I didn’t expect Jared Davidson to play in the AHL much last season, as his pace of play and skating seemed more suited for development in the ECHL. However, he made the team, and played 38 games where he did not look out of place at all. For a fifth round pick, he seems to be on a very good track.

Filip Eriksson:

Filip Eriksson had a perfect developmental season, earning a full time spot in the SHL, and completely dominating HockeyAllsvenskan. Eriksson has become a very legitimate prospect, despite having very little buzz in his draft year.

Jakub Dobes:

Dobes emerged as Laval’s clearcut starter last season, and got progressively better as the season went on. Expect him to be a large part of Laval’s core next season as the team pushes for the playoffs.

Fallers:

Emmett Croteau:

Emmett Croteau’s first NCAA season was nothing short of a disaster, playing in just six games and putting up a .835 save percentage. He has transferred to Dartmouth College for the 2024-25 season, where hopefully he will get back on track.

Jacob Perreault:

Many people have already forgotten that former first-round pick Jacob Perreault is even in the Canadiens system, coming from a mostly inconsequential trade one-for-one with Jan Mysak. However, for a first-round pick, he was disappointing in the AHL, putting up only two points in 13 games with Laval. We will see what is next to come for Perreault, but there are much more intriguing prospects in the Canadiens’ system.

Organizational Depth Chart:

Top-20 Fantasy Prospects:

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Thank you so much for reading! You can follow me along on Twitter @itovitch, and at Markerzone.com.

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