Scout’s Analysis: Progress report on Canadiens prospects in NCAA and Europe | Sports News

Over the previous 4 draft cycles the Montreal Canadiens have been probably the most lively NHL groups in buying extra draft capital. From 2018–2022 the Habs have chosen 49 gamers, and having that many prospects of their pipeline is a luxurious. Not all the gamers will find yourself in Montreal, in fact. Some will grow to be a part of different transactions alongside the best way, however the Canadiens have positioned themselves very effectively for the longer term.

Right here’s an replace on some Canadiens prospects who’re creating within the NCAA and Europe:

Lane Hutson (Freshman)
Group: Boston College, NCAA
Drafted: 62nd total in 2022
5-foot-8 / 160 kilos / Left Shot D

Hutson is enjoying to his identification to begin his school profession at Boston College. He’s a transitional defenceman who is difficult to examine when main the push. His small space playmaking is excellent. Hutson’s an elite distributor, however he’s additionally not shy about directing pucks on aim and his stats communicate to his goal-scoring pedigree.  

He’s skating upwards of 25 minutes an evening for the Terriers and being deployed in all conditions, together with quarterbacking one of many energy performs models. Hutson competes extraordinarily exhausting in all three zones and he’s calculating. He has a plan when participating defensively. His stature isn’t going to carry him again. Will there be instances when he’s muscled off a play on the NHL degree? Sure. Nevertheless it gained’t be typically sufficient to remove from the general impression he has on the sport.

There are transitional defencemen within the NHL who’re very lively on the offensive blue line. Some benefit from the complete zone to make performs (assume Quinn Hughes in Vancouver). Hutson is lively within the offensive zone, however retains nearly all of his playmaking to his robust facet/the center. He isn’t shy about biking deep into the zone, however looking at his playmaking warmth map, it reveals the place he creates nearly all of his offence:

My perception is Hutson would require two, possibly three, seasons on the school degree earlier than turning professional.

Luke Tuch (Junior)
Group: Boston College, NCAA
Drafted: forty seventh total in 2020
6-foot-2 / 210 kilos / Left Shot Ahead

Tuch is an enormous physique ahead who is difficult to deal with from the hash marks down within the offensive zone. He’s a sound skater who initiatives to be fast and quick sufficient for the NHL sport, and he’s being utilized in all conditions at Boston College. On the ability play he stations himself across the crease as a bumper and to create screens. On the penalty kill he does a pleasant job of fronting the play and getting in taking pictures lanes. Tuch isn’t a misleading participant with the puck on his stick. He doesn’t produce a lot off the push or direct a ton of performs to the web.

I admire the function Tuch performs and consider he would possibly present some depth scoring. It’s going to take time, however massive physique forwards who play to an identification constantly, and can be utilized up and down the lineup, are helpful belongings.

Confirming my remark about Tuch’s puck play from across the prime of the circles/hash marks down within the offensive zone, here’s a have a look at his tried pictures on aim over his previous 10-game phase:

Jayden Struble (Senior)
Group: Northeastern College, NCAA
Drafted: forty sixth total in 2019
6-foot / 205 kilos / Left Shot D

With Struble set to graduate faculty on the finish of the season the Habs can be on the clock to get him signed. Faculty gamers, who’re seniors, have the choice to signal with the crew that drafted them or select to grow to be a free agent in the summertime (on August 15) and signal elsewhere. I don’t see there being a difficulty getting Struble signed, nonetheless. He’s a former shopper of present Montreal GM Kent Hughes, so the connection is already in place.

I admire Struble’s sport. He’s a little bit of a throwback. He isn’t shy about mixing issues up — not too long ago served a suspension for combating, which isn’t allowed in school hockey. He skates effectively and distributes pucks successfully. Though he’s utilized in all conditions at Northeastern, averaging over 21 minutes per sport, I don’t see him contributing on the ability play as a professional. Struble leans two-way/match-up defenceman. Some secondary scoring is feasible, however not one thing I forecast as a requirement. Struble could be an extra “piece of the puzzle” for Montreal, one that matches a task and identification.

Sean Farrell, Junior
Group: Harvard, NCAA
Drafted: 124th total in 2020
5-foot-9 / 175 kilos / Left Shot Ahead

Farrell is, arguably, Harvard’s Most worthy participant. He contributes in all sides and is averaging over 21 minutes per sport. Farrell has produced offence at even power and the ability play. He additionally has two shorthanded objectives on the yr, and is Harvard’s main scorer with seven objectives and 11 assists in 11 video games.

Farrell is fast out of the gate, however isn’t a burner between the blue strains transporting the puck. What he lacks in excessive finish pace he makes up for along with his puck ability. He has the flexibility to show opponents inside out along with his handles. His learn/react sport is a power. When he will get a puck in scoring areas, he has a fast and correct launch.

It will likely be attention-grabbing to see what the plan is for each the participant and the group after this season. He’s a junior. If he stays at school the Canadiens run the chance of Farrell changing into a free agent after his senior season (if he decides he doesn’t need to register Montreal).

I undertaking Farrell as a “center six” ahead. His main minutes will come at even power and on the ability play as a professional.

Right here’s an instance of Farrell’s fast strike capacity.

On this sequence he reads the play coming into the zone, creates a turnover, then will get the puck again and shortly fires it beneath the bar for a aim. Farrell is No. 21 within the clip. That is one among his shorthanded objectives from this yr.

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Jakub Dobes (Sophomore)
Group: Ohio State, NCAA
Drafted: 136th total in 2020
6-foot-5 / 197 kilos / Goalie

Dobes is having one other stable season at Ohio State. He’s an enormous presence within the web, enjoying a butterfly/hybrid type. His mechanics are sound. He depends closely on his positional play. When he’s sq. there isn’t a lot for shooters to take a look at.

The place he will get into hassle is along with his rebound management. At instances he wants to soak up pucks extra successfully, since making second stops and shifting facet to facet takes away his measurement benefit. At instances he additionally has some problem catching pucks clear.

An space of power is his puck play. He shops pucks successfully. Dobes has began all however one sport this season for the Buckeyes.

Adam Engstrom
Group: Rogle (J20/SHL, Sweden)
Drafted: 92nd total in 2022
6-foot-2 / 185 kilos / Left Shot D

Engstrom is splitting time between the J20 and SHL ranges enjoying for Rogle in Sweden. He’s a rangy defender with some offensive upside. On the J20 degree he’s averaging virtually two factors per sport and being deployed in all conditions. When he fits up on the professional degree, he sees the ice at even power and on the ability play.

Engstrom is a sound skater on straight strains. He has good quickness out of the gate and the flexibility to steer the push. He typically will get a bit hunched over defending in opposition to the pace rush, ensuing is much less leverage and stability when closing gaps. Engstrom reads the play very effectively within the offensive zone, although, and has an correct launch and the flexibility to beat goalies from vary.

Right here’s an instance of Engstrom discovering house and scoring from the center slot:

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Oliver Kapanen
Group: Kalpa (Finnish Liiga)
Drafted: sixty fourth total in 2021
6-foot-1 / 180 kilos / Proper Shot Ahead

Main scorers in Liiga put on totally different colored helmets than the remainder of the group. A brilliant gold helmet signifies the participant is the main scorer for his crew. A participant carrying a blue “Pink Bull” helmet signifies he’s the main scorer beneath the age of 20. Kapanen wears the blue helmet at Kalpa, scoring six objectives and 7 assists thus far this season.

Kapanen is being deployed in all conditions and averages between 16-18 minutes of ice. On the ability play he stations himself within the center bumper place and when pucks arrive on his stick, he has a fast launch. For my part he’s extra of a shooter than a pure playmaker. Kapanen is a mean penalty killer. He’s in movement a lot of the time, making an attempt to remove time and house, however doesn’t look solely snug on the PK.

Kapanen is an efficient skater. He has a little bit of a brief stride, however he has first rate tempo. His agility, when he finds himself having to skate backwards, is common.

He’ll want time to develop. He’s not a heavy participant. He has room so as to add extra core power. Having mentioned that, he does maintain his personal enjoying professional in Finland and I can see a path to the AHL as a chance for subsequent season. He has potential to supply, at worst, secondary offence on projection.

Notice: Kapanen was taken into the boards closely in a latest sport versus Kookoo and didn’t return. He’s eligible for Finland’s world junior crew. Hopefully the damage won’t maintain him out of the event.

Closing Observations

The Canadiens have a variety of prospects creating in numerous leagues all through the world. A few of their younger defencemen have already graduated to the NHL roster (Guhle, Harris, Xhekaj) and so they have extra within the pipeline. Up entrance the Habs have a pleasant mixture of measurement and ability prospects on the rise. Their goaltending additionally seems to be moderately optimistic shifting ahead.

I’m an enormous fan of the prospect pool that director of scouting Martin Lapointe and his employees have drafted to this point. The “reset”, or “rebuild”, that is occurring in Montreal could possibly be so much shorter than anticipated.

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