Owen Beck

April 2026 – Beck’s transition to the pro ranks has been inconsistent. As a 22-year-old centre, his NHL production has been minimal through limited looks with the Montreal Canadiens, appearing in 28 games across three years with just two points. At the AHL level with Laval, he has been a regular contributor, but his scoring has taken a step back in his second full campaign. After a solid rookie year in 2024-25 with 44 points (15 goals, 29 assists) in 64 games, his totals dipped to 27 points (10 goals, 17 assists) in 49 games in 2025-26. This regression – especially for a player with middling NHL results – is not a welcome sign for a 2022 second-round pick trying to break onto a roster already loaded with young talent.

Beck’s game is built around hockey IQ and responsible two-way play, traits that helped him stand out in junior hockey and early in his AHL time. At the NHL level, though, he has yet to find a consistent offensive foothold, and his limited impact on both sides of the puck ha snot translated into regular ice time. For a centre who projects as a bottom-six option, year-over-year growth in the AHL is an important next step. Beck still has the toolkit to become a useful, smart depth centre, but the combination of stripped-down NHL output and a downturn in AHL production raises questions about the timing of his next jump. If he hopes to stick in the NHL, he will need to show he can drive play and contribute more reliably on the scoresheet, especially with the competition for middle-six minutes in Montreal’s crowded forward group. Ryan Downey

November 2025 – After strong signs of a mature and confident game, Beck has trended in the other direction since the preseason with Montreal. His inability to secure a spot in the bottom-six with Montreal to start the 2025-26 season was a surprise for most, and he has had a slow start offensively in the AHL season with four points in 12 games for Laval. A sophomore slump in the NHL is one thing, but for a player of his perceived ability in the AHL is a red flag that needs to be closely monitored for fantasy managers in dynasty leagues. Currently, Beck is not more than a defensively minded center in the bottom-six. Ioan Gheordanescu

June 2025 – Beck will be an NHLer for a very long time. He got into 12 NHL games this season on top of his 64 games in Laval and looked exactly how you want a 200-foot center to look. Defensively responsible, capable penalty killer, can chip in on offense, and is a good skater. Beck is a total package. He does everything well. Plus, 44 points in 64 games is nothing to scoff at against professional competition. He was 7th among U21 players in the AHL, ahead of numerous first-round picks. Beck will, barring anything unforeseen, go deep into the Canadiens’ training camp and should strongly contend for an opening-night roster slot. He may start out as the Canadiens’ fourth-line center, but will one day become either the second-line center or one of the best third-line centers in the entire NHL. It is an embarrassment of riches in the Canadiens. Beck looks to be the most projectable player within the Canadiens’ system right now and will undoubtedly have a long career at the highest level. James Connelly

June 2024 – Owen Beck has added another title to his trophy case, winning Memorial Cup MVP as a member of the Saginaw Spirit. His 14 points in 16 games led the team, featuring draft-eligible defenseman Zayne Parekh, and top 2025 prospect Michael Misa, to the biggest achievement in junior hockey. Beck will make the permanent leap to the pros this coming season, despite having made his debut back in the 2022-23 season, and it will be an interesting decision for the Montreal Canadiens organization to decide whether he will play in the NHL or the AHL. Top-six minutes in the AHL will likely be better for Owen Beck to untap his offensive upside, but filling a role in the NHL at 20 is equally tantalizing. Known for his leadership, work ethic, and character, the Montreal Canadiens seem to have a longtime NHLer on their hands. Aaron Itovitch

June 2023 – While Peterborough couldn’t make it all the way to the Memorial Cup, Owen Beck’s impact on his new team can’t be discounted. It will be interesting to see if Beck returns to Major Junior or makes the big leagues for the 2023-24 season. Aaron Itovitch

May 2023 – In a flukey turn of events, Owen Beck made his NHL Debut on January 28th. While the one NHL game was a joyous event, his platform for this season was the OHL, where he broke out as a PPG player. A major proponent to Peterborough’s success, he is now fighting for a bid to the Memorial Cup. The only question now is whether Beck can be an NHL mainstay come September. Aaron Itovitch

January 2023 – Owen Beck appears to be an absolute steal of a pick by the Montreal Canadiens. After an incredibly impressive training camp, where he earned his entry-level contract, Beck returned to the Mississauga Steelheads of the OHL, where he’s having a breakout D+1 season. 39 points in 25 games isn’t representative of his elite game. He was traded to the Peterborough Petes in pursuit of a Memorial Cup. Hopefully, no longer playing second-fiddle to Luca Del Bel Belluz, and being given more dynamic linemates will allow him to have an explosive end of season. His defensive IQ is phenomenal. His shot has developed quite a bit, and he is becoming more comfortable playing the role of a scoring threat. While he is still a pass-first player, he has the hockey sense to know when shooting is opportunistic. Beck was in the conversation for a roster spot as early as this year, but as a second-round pick, keeping him in the OHL for development was the right move. As the Canadiens sell off veterans, Beck is likely to find himself a nice role as the teams’ third-line centre for the 2023-24 season. Aaron Itovitch

July 2022 – The selection of Beck may not have received the fanfare of Hutson’s later in the second round, but it was an astute pick. Beck has a fair amount of stylistic similarities to Shane Wright but has middle-six upside rather than first-line upside. Both centers are intelligent, defensively responsible, excellent transition drivers, and the ultimate facilitators who make everyone around them better. Beck is significantly faster than Wright, is elite at face-offs, and is better defensively than Wright, but lacks the high-end offensive instincts, the elite vision, and the overall elite offensive toolkit. I like Beck a lot, he is a high-likelihood third-line center who plays a refined game that I think could translate to pro hockey within the next year or two quite seamlessly. Adding that in the second round is a great addition for the Habs. In order to unlock second-line upside, Beck will need to unlock a more calculated and consistent playmaking game built on the deception he flashes in transition and he will need to more consistently use his shot, which is a real weapon. On top of this, he needs to use his intelligence and timing to get into soft ice offensively more frequently. But Beck is already such a refined player that projecting him to an NHL role is a simple task, the big question that remains is how high up the lineup he will be able to shine and improve his teammates. His upside is a Phillip Danault-style facilitator with more speed, a better shot, and worse playmaking ability. Sebastian High

July 2022 – The Montreal Canadiens have selected Beck with the first pick in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft, 33rd overall. Nick Richard

January 2022 – Owen Beck has been one of the Steelheads’ top players all season long and one of the highest scoring draft-eligible players in the OHL along with teammate Luca Del Bel Belluz. Denied the chance to play in the OHL in 2020-21, he came out of the gate a bit slow but the points have started to pile up and there has been consistent improvement in his game.

Beck is a reliable two-way forward with good speed, a well-rounded offensive tool kit, and strong instincts all over the ice. He maintains solid positioning off the puck, both defensively and offensively to support play. In the offensive zone, he takes intelligent routes when hunting space and has a tendency to stay inside checks to increase the likelihood of receiving a pass. Beck is a technically sound skater who employs good posture and clean crossovers to generate speed in transition. If opposing defenders don’t respect his speed, he has the hands to play pucks through or around them and the ability to do so with pace. He has dual-threat potential offensively with a hard, accurate wrist shot and above-average vision as a playmaker but it is the pace at which he plays the game that will help those skills translate to the next level. That said, he is prone to the odd rushed decision with the puck on his stick but that is to be expected for a young player in his first OHL season. Beyond his obvious offensive skills and responsible defensive nature, Beck excels in the faceoff dot which adds some sneaky utility to his game. While he may not be at the top of his class in any one area, Beck is one of the more well-rounded, versatile forwards in the 2022 draft and there aren’t any real glaring weaknesses in his game. There is certainly top-six upside there but even if he doesn’t reach his offensive ceiling, Beck should grow into a solid middle-six center at the NHL level. Nick Richard