Habs Prospects 2020-21

[NWTHabsFan]

The annual update to reflect the recent draftees and to remove those that have moved on. I will update the list as needed throughout the season.

QMJHL


OHL

Jacob LeGuerrier - SSM Greyhounds (invited to Laval Rocket camp in the interim)
Jan Mysak - Hamilton Bulldogs (invited to Laval Rocket camp in the interim)

WHL

Gianni Fairbrother - Everett Silvertips
Kaiden Guhle - Prince Albert Raiders

NCAA

Jordan Harris - Northeastern University
Jack Gorniak - University of Wisconsin
Brett Stapley - University of Denver
Cole Caufield - University of Wisconsin
Jayden Struble - Northeastern University
Luke Tuch - Boston University
Blake Biondi - University of Minnesota-Duluth

USHL

Sean Farrell - Chicago Steel
Jack Smith - Sioux Falls Stampede
Jakub Dobes - Omaha Lancers
Rhett Pitlick - Tri-City Storm

BCHL

Kieran Ruscheinski - Salmon Arm Silverbacks

Finland

Joni Ikonen - Ilves

Sweden

Jacob Olofsson - Timra
Mattias Norlinder - Frolunda

Russia

Alexander Gordin - SKA St Petersburg

Denmark

Frederick Dichow - Odense Bulldogs

[Tankdriver]

Fans in the province aren't going to be thrilled about 0 in the Q.

[PTH]

Oct 7, 2020 17:28:18 GMT -5 Tankdriver said:

Fans in the province aren't going to be thrilled about 0 in the Q.

Meh. I'm ticked at the general trend over more than 10 years now, to avoid local talent, or at least, not to prioritize it. I've gotten to wondering if Timmins just doesn't connect with guys who don't speak much English, and so they always just slide lower in his lists than they should. So he can legitimately claim he wanted them, but somehow other teams always had them rated higher.

For this draft though, there were 6 QMJHL players taken in the first, 5 of those available when he picked. He needs to have hit a home run.

[PTH]

Oct 7, 2020 17:28:18 GMT -5 Tankdriver said:

Fans in the province aren't going to be thrilled about 0 in the Q.

Dealing our 7th rounder to Chicago who then proceeds to draft a local kid is not a good look.

[NWTHabsFan]

Olofsson pops his first SHL goal of the season. Battles behind the net for the puck, battles for position in front of the net, and gets his stick on the puck.

[NWTHabsFan]

Reposting this to highlight four names now: Caufield, Struble, Farrell and Tuch.

[Cranky]

Are they allowed to select Tuch on the team?

What if he ummmm "accidentally" maims someone? What if he damages property....like driving a player through the boards?

All these should be serious considerstions......that is why he should be signed and sent to the AHL sooner rather then later....i mean, who cares if he thumps a few AHL lifers.....

[Tankdriver]

I am wondering if the covid situation had an impact in their decision. Basically the CHL is on life support for this year and even though the Q is playing, the Armada and the Phoenix are in quarantine for the next 2 weeks having 18 and 8 people infected at the moment.

[folatre]

I believe that Tuch would be eligible to play in the AHL if he definitively gave up his right to play NCAA hockey (Boston University).

But honestly, the NCAA season is probably just as likely to happen as an AHL season with no gate, so my best guess is that Montreal's front office wants him to prepare for what he was planning to do, which is to play at BU.

[NWTHabsFan]

Some Gordin highlights from last year.

[NWTHabsFan]

Gordin back in the junior league (MHL), and he fired this bullet today. He has already got at least one game now in the three leagues this season: KHL, VHL - second league, and MHL. He also added an assist in the game.

[GNick99]

Craig Button has Struble rated ahead of Norlinder

[seventeen]

Craig Button is a good guy to use as your measuring stick. The higher he has a guy, the more you should question it. That is a general observation and not related to Struble/Norlinder. On that point, Struble is a 19 year old, who looked ok playing in the NCAA, given he missed so much time. Lots of potential there, but the potential is still larger than the proven part. Norlinder is 17 months older, and looking ok in the Swedish Elite league. From the little I've seen of both, I'd say Struble is a more physical player and Norlinder has more offensive ability. Projecting ahead, it's a tough call, though right now Norlinder would be better, IMO because of the league he's playing in, against men of all ages with much higher skill level than the NCAA.

[NWTHabsFan]

Oct 11, 2020 13:03:48 GMT -5 seventeen said:

Craig Button is a good guy to use as your measuring stick. The higher he has a guy, the more you should question it. That is a general observation and not related to Struble/Norlinder. On that point, Struble is a 19 year old, who looked ok playing in the NCAA, given he missed so much time. Lots of potential there, but the potential is still larger than the proven part. Norlinder is 17 months older, and looking ok in the Swedish Elite league. From the little I've seen of both, I'd say Struble is a more physical player and Norlinder has more offensive ability. Projecting ahead, it's a tough call, though right now Norlinder would be better, IMO because of the league he's playing in, against men of all ages with much higher skill level than the NCAA.

Yeah, it is all about projection and they both are at very different places, playing in very different leagues, and playing different styles of LD.

Struble is the more raw of the two. He is just one season removed from unstructured high school hockey, and he missed the start of the season. He has adapted well, but Northeastern is a great program and Madigan is a very good coach. He is a big, strong body and plays a much more physical game, and likely plays a stronger game down low in his end. He is very mobile and is still learning when to chose his spots to jump in on offence and when to go for the big hits (which he did a lot of in HS). His offensive game is there, but still very much an evolving work in progress.

Norlinder has been playing against men for the past few seasons, with him now playing in the SHL on a top team against the best players in Sweden. Again, he has a superb coach in Ronnberg (easily NHL calibre). He also plays a style more akin to a rover. He is such a smooth skater and easily jumps into offence and/or joins the play. With his mobility, he can easily get back into the play. He is not a physically imposing player, so has to rely much more on positioning and good stick work to defend. How he further develops the defensive side of things should dictate how he projects into an NHL role.

Right now just based on more advanced development, I would have Norlinder ahead. That could change if Struble really takes off say with a great WJC and second NCAA season where he loses more of that rawness to his game. I want to see how his hockey IQ evolves against increasingly tougher competition.

Neither have made it yet, but both are trending in the right direction.

[NWTHabsFan]

We all need a little Cole Caufield news. BTW, Leaman is the WJC head coach.

[Willie Dog]

Heres a video about Cole's off season lower body improvements

www.tsn.ca/video/habs-prospect-caufield-off-to-special-start-at-usa-hockey-camp~2053167

[NWTHabsFan]

I often hear that many fans want the Habs’ scouting team to take more home run swings with picks. The biggest swing, IMO, this past draft was getting Sean Farrell at #124. The Smith and Dobes picks may have been big head scratchers, and the Mysak and Biondi picks were really good value for when they were picked, but the Farrell pick was taking a huge swing on a very talented player that dropped too far because of his size. His skills, compete level and hockey IQ are all way above average. His fatal flaw is his size. What remains to be seen is can he overcome size with all the other really tangible and intangible attributes he brings to the table? He is one of this draft class that I am really excited to watch and follow. Oh yeah, he was also accepted into Harvard, so he is also a bright kid.

Here is a very thorough scouting report with lots of highlights and video. A little glimpse into his game. I had only watched a couple of his games over the past two years, so will be looking to see him play more now that he is property of the bleu-blanc-rouge.

One last observation about Farrell...when you watch his team play you notice this kid playing, and in a good way.

He is #21 in these highlights.

[GNick99]

Oct 12, 2020 9:53:59 GMT -5 NWTHabsFan said:

I often hear that many fans want the Habs’ scouting team to take more home run swings with picks. The biggest swing, IMO, this past draft was getting Sean Farrell at #124. The Smith and Dobes picks may have been big head scratchers, and the Mysak and Biondi picks were really good value for when they were picked, but the Farrell pick was taking a huge swing on a very talented player that dropped too far because of his size. His skills, compete level and hockey IQ are all way above average. His fatal flaw is his size. What remains to be seen is can he overcome size with all the other really tangible and intangible attributes he brings to the table? He is one of this draft class that I am really excited to watch and follow. Oh yeah, he was also accepted into Harvard, so he is also a bright kid.

Here is a very thorough scouting report with lots of highlights and video. A little glimpse into his game. I had only watched a couple of his games over the past two years, so will be looking to see him play more now that he is property of the bleu-blanc-rouge.

One last observation about Farrell...when you watch his team play you notice this kid playing, and in a good way.

He is #21 in these highlights.

Never seen him play, so don't know. He's the guy we got for trading 2nd to Tampa for 2nd next year.

Did he play with Brisson and Colangelo?

[seventeen]

A reasonable question is:

How does 2021 stack up with 2020? From reading an early assessment of the 2021 draft, there is no one like Lafeniere and a smaller number of guys (around 4) who would have fit into that next tier with Byfield etc. It also does not seem to be as deep, though players can develop and rise as the year goes along, of course. Early indications are that it just isn't as good. I personally wouldn't be trading from a strong draft into a weaker one without moving up a lot of slots. Not much chance of that with the Tampa pick.

PS. 2022 has Shane Wright being available so that one at least has a potential franchise player at the top.

[GNick99]

Oct 12, 2020 13:18:09 GMT -5 seventeen said:

A reasonable question is:

How does 2021 stack up with 2020? From reading an early assessment of the 2021 draft, there is no one like Lafeniere and a smaller number of guys (around 4) who would have fit into that next tier with Byfield etc. It also does not seem to be as deep, though players can develop and rise as the year goes along, of course. Early indications are that it just isn't as good. I personally wouldn't be trading from a strong draft into a weaker one without moving up a lot of slots. Not much chance of that with the Tampa pick.

PS. 2022 has Shane Wright being available so that one at least has a potential franchise player at the top.

Too early yet for me to judge. Most of that decision would lay in opinion of Timmins and Churla.

Grant McCagg once told me our 2012 draft would go down as one of our best ever. Ended up one of our worst. McCagg was editor of McKeen's. He probably was bias though. As he was part time scout for Habs and did Canadiens write up for Hockey's Future Watch issue. He said Galchenyuk was big #1 center we been lacking. Collberg was steal of draft after world junior he had. Then Bozon got a virus and never was same. Hudon made it but ended up fringe player.

[NWTHabsFan]

The 2021 draft is notable for its lack of top end players compared to 2020 and even other drafts. With Raty as your early projected top pick, that is quite underwhelming compared to other big catches at first overall in past years. However, it has a lot of good prospects throughout the first round for sure. It is especially strong for defenders compared to this recent draft. It should be another decent year for the Q, there are some really interesting players from out west (including two junior A guys that should go in the first round) and the US national development program should see more players taken in round one than this past off-year for the program.

2022 will have some real exciting flash at the top end, and scouts are already buzzing at a draft that will include Wright, Savoie and Lambert. And it does not stop there. Lots of anticipation about this draft so far.

Lots can happen between now and those two drafts, but those seem to be the early feelings of those watching future draft classes closely.

Berg has 14 picks right now in 2021, but as this year showed, he will almost assuredly move some out to 2022 or to help pick up roster players. A lot also depends on when Montreal gets to host the next in person draft. Bettman said they would get one back within the next few years. Berg will want a few extra picks that year to play up the crowd a bit. TT may even pick a few local kids in that particular draft.

[NWTHabsFan]

Gordin with his second straight MHL (junior league) game with a goal and an assist. His junior team seems like a powerhouse given its lopsided wins in which he has participated.

It is not very clear video, but his assist is a nice cross seam pass for the one timer. His goal is a nice puck retrieval behind the net leading to a wrap around goal.

[BadCompany]

Oct 13, 2020 9:46:00 GMT -5 NWTHabsFan said:

The 2021 draft is notable for its lack of top end players compared to 2020 and even other drafts. With Raty as your early projected top pick, that is quite underwhelming compared to other big catches at first overall in past years. However, it has a lot of good prospects throughout the first round for sure. It is especially strong for defenders compared to this recent draft. It should be another decent year for the Q, there are some really interesting players from out west (including two junior A guys that should go in the first round) and the US national development program should see more players taken in round one than this past off-year for the program.

2022 will have some real exciting flash at the top end, and scouts are already buzzing at a draft that will include Wright, Savoie and Lambert. And it does not stop there. Lots of anticipation about this draft so far.

Lots can happen between now and those two drafts, but those seem to be the early feelings of those watching future draft classes closely.

Berg has 14 picks right now in 2021, but as this year showed, he will almost assuredly move some out to 2022 or to help pick up roster players. A lot also depends on when Montreal gets to host the next in person draft. Bettman said they would get one back within the next few years. Berg will want a few extra picks that year to play up the crowd a bit. TT may even pick a few local kids in that particular draft.

My cousin is close friends with Owen Power's family. I have no other insights to give you other than to say that weeks ago she told me he is a great kid. Mature, responsible, polite, hard-working, humble, etc..

#namedropping

[NWTHabsFan]

Oct 13, 2020 9:59:46 GMT -5 BadCompany said:

Oct 13, 2020 9:46:00 GMT -5 NWTHabsFan said:

The 2021 draft is notable for its lack of top end players compared to 2020 and even other drafts. With Raty as your early projected top pick, that is quite underwhelming compared to other big catches at first overall in past years. However, it has a lot of good prospects throughout the first round for sure. It is especially strong for defenders compared to this recent draft. It should be another decent year for the Q, there are some really interesting players from out west (including two junior A guys that should go in the first round) and the US national development program should see more players taken in round one than this past off-year for the program.

2022 will have some real exciting flash at the top end, and scouts are already buzzing at a draft that will include Wright, Savoie and Lambert. And it does not stop there. Lots of anticipation about this draft so far.

Lots can happen between now and those two drafts, but those seem to be the early feelings of those watching future draft classes closely.

Berg has 14 picks right now in 2021, but as this year showed, he will almost assuredly move some out to 2022 or to help pick up roster players. A lot also depends on when Montreal gets to host the next in person draft. Bettman said they would get one back within the next few years. Berg will want a few extra picks that year to play up the crowd a bit. TT may even pick a few local kids in that particular draft.

My cousin is close friends with Owen Power's family. I have no other insights to give you other than to say that weeks ago she told me he is a great kid. Mature, responsible, polite, hard-working, humble, etc..

#namedropping

He is going to be a good one. A late birthday, so one of the older kids in the 21 draft, but already a man child at 6’5” and 210 lbs. He played on that stacked Chicago Steel team this season (with Sean Farrell), and is committed to the NCAA this year.

[NWTHabsFan]

This means no inter-league club games for Norlinder, Olofsson and Ikonen as all of their teams had qualified for this year’s 32 team championship.

[NWTHabsFan]

Promising news for our two prospects playing in that conference: Stapley (Denver) and Biondi (Minn-Duluth). Mystery man Smith is also committed to UMD, but not until the following season.

[seventeen]

Oct 13, 2020 9:59:46 GMT -5 BadCompany said:

My cousin is close friends with Owen Power's family. I have no other insights to give you other than to say that weeks ago she told me he is a great kid. Mature, responsible, polite, hard-working, humble, etc..

#namedropping

Obviously Canadian. 

[NWTHabsFan]

Oct 13, 2020 16:16:11 GMT -5 seventeen said:

Oct 13, 2020 9:59:46 GMT -5 BadCompany said:

My cousin is close friends with Owen Power's family. I have no other insights to give you other than to say that weeks ago she told me he is a great kid. Mature, responsible, polite, hard-working, humble, etc..

#namedropping

Obviously Canadian. 

Ontario kid. Same as the highly touted Fantilli brothers who will both play for the Chicago Steel this year. A very good program that is an attractive option for some Canadian kids thinking of a non CHL route.

[seventeen]

That would be a scout's smorgasbord. The Fantilli's, Samoskevich and others.

[NWTHabsFan]

A bit of surprise news that sent a little ripple of shock/protest over on HF. Rhett Pitlick (#9 pictured in this tweet) is part of the USHL’s Muskegon Lumberjacks training camp roster, instead of the Big Ten’s U of Minnesota roster, where he was expected to play this year. It is definitely a bit unusual to see a prospect spend his D+2 season in the USHL rather than the NCAA, especially if he has already committed to that NCAA program. Better competition, playing against bigger and more mature opponents, better off ice training facilities, etc. I would expect that San Jose Sharks fans are wondering the same as their 2020 third round pick Daniil Gushchin is also on the USHL roster rather than Niagara Ice Dogs, where he was scheduled to play. Good news for Muskegon getting their two top scorers back. Odd news for their development path.

Muskegon is scheduled to start play in late November, and the Big Ten in the middle of November, so it is not a Sean Farrell type situation where he will play for a few months in the USHL waiting for Harvard’s season to start in January.