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Meet the Future Canadiens
Prospects
Top 10 Prospects
LW Tim Stutzle - 19 Years Old – 6’0” 196 LBS
2020/21 Stats: 32 GP 17 G 28 A 45 PTS +15 (HC Orli Znojmo, EBEL)
Acquired: 1st Round 4th Overall in 2019/20 by Montreal .
Comment: Stutzle is a dynamic winger who skates well and has a hard accurate shot. The 4th overall pick in the 2020 draft projects as a power forward who will score a lot of goals at the NHL level. The 19 year old has committed to play in the NCAA this year and will play for New Hampshire. My scouts have him as a top line LW and after a year or two playing US College hockey he should be ready to at least make the jump to Laval, if not right to the National Hockey Leauge.
C Theo Rochette - 19 Years Old – 5’11” 180 LBS
2020/21 Stats: 1 GP 0 G 0 A 0 PTS (Quebec Remparts, QMJHL)
Acquired: 2nd Round Pick 34th Overall in 2020 by Montreal (Quebec, QMJHL).
Comment: Rochette had some bad luck last season. In the Remparts first game of the season he suffered a fractured larynx and missed the entire season. He scouts as a dynamic offensive play maker who can also finish when necessary. This year will be a big one as he is back to 100% healthy and were hoping from big things from him in a full season in the QMJHL.
C Cole Caufield - 20 Years Old – 5’8” 189 LBS
2020/21 Stats: 36 GP 21 G 21 A 42 PTS -6 (Wisconsin, NCAA Div 1)
Acquired: 1st Round Pick 15th Overall in 2019 by Montreal (Wisconsin, NCAA Div 1).
Comment: Caufield projects as a highly skilled elite sniper who should be an elite offensive force. He helped Team USA to a bronze medal at the 2020/21 World Junior Championships. We offered him an entry level contract this year and hope to have him make the jump from the NCAA to playing professionally in Laval where we can monitor his training and development more closely.
RW Dylan Guenther - 18 Years Old – 6’1” 207 LBS
2020/21 Stats: 59 GP 21 G 33 A 54 PTS +12 (Edmonton Oil Kings, WHL)
Acquired: 1st Round Pick 1st Overall in 2021 by Montreal (Edmonton Oil Kings, WHL).
Comment: Easily the best move made by former GM Marc Bergevin was dealing fan favorite F Brendan Gallagher, F Joel Armia and a 2020 2nd round pick to the Los Angeles Kings for their 1st round pick in 2021. The Kings ended up at the bottom of the standings and won the draft lottery giving the Habs the #1 overall pick in this past draft. Guenther is a pure shooter with a laser of a shot. He was a pivotal member of the Oil Kings Western Hockey League Championship winning team in 2021.
LD Luke Hughes - 17 Years Old – 6’0” 188 LBS
2020/21 Stats: 57 GP 9 G 25 A 34 PTS 0 +/- (US NDPT U18)
Acquired: 1st Round Pick 3rd Overall in 2021 by Montreal (US NDPT U18).
Comment: Hughes was Montreal’s own 1st round pick in the last NHL entry draft and was the top rated defenseman available in the draft. A mobile, rushing offensive style defenseman he profiles a lot like current Canadiens defenseman Victor Mette. He skates well and moves the puck well, he should fit in as a top pairing defenseman and a staple on the power play. Hughes will play for the University of Michigan in the NCAA this year.
LW/RW Daniil Gutik - 19 Years Old – 6’4” 179 LBS
2020/21 Stats: 42 GP 15 G 20 A 35 PTS 0 +/- (Loko Yaroslavl, MHL)
Acquired: 4th Round Pick 97th Overall in 2020 by Montreal (Loko Yaroslavl, MHL).
Comment: Gutilk is built to be a power forward at the NHL level. He is big and strong and loves hitting. He isn’t the best skater at the moment but is improving. He has decent offensive skills as well. I would project him as a good 3rd line defensive forward who can move up in the lineup should the need arise. He just signed a 3 year extension in the KHL so it will be a while before you see him over in North America.
C/RW Theodor Niederbach - 19 Years Old – 6’0” 172 LBS
2020/21 Stats: 34 GP 13 G 19 A 32 PTS +2 (Frolunda HC J20, SJ20)
Acquired: 3rd Round Pick 93rd Overall in 2020 by Montreal (Frolunda HC J20, SJ20).
Comment: Niederbach helped Sweden to a silver medal at the 2021 World Junior Championships, the 19 year old is a good skater who profiles as a playmaker. He also isn’t afraid to get in front of the net and will go to the tough areas. My scouts see him as a good 3rd line center and should be a good option on the penalty kill. This will likely be his last year playing in Sweden and we will look to bring him over to North American to play in Laval for next year.
C/LW Jan Mysak - 19 Years Old – 6’0” 185 LBS
2020/21 Stats: 62 GP 41 G 64 A 105 PTS +32 (Hamilton Bulldogs, OHL)
Acquired: 2nd Round Pick 47th Overall in 2020 by Montreal (Hamilton Bulldogs, OHL).
Comment: My personal favorite prospect. He has been an offensive force in the OHL. He is a pure sniper and oozes offensive potential. Defensively he has some work to do, but his skating and offensive talents far out weigh his defensive issues. He will spend one more year in the Ontario Hockey League and then we will look to sign him to his entry level contract so he can continue to develop in the AHL with Laval.
RW Zion Nybeck - 19 Years Old – 5’11” 204 LBS
2020/21 Stats: 33 GP 10 G 5 A 15 PTS +10 (HV71, SHL)
Acquired: 2nd Round Pick 43rd Overall in 2020 by Los Angeles (HV71, SHL). Traded to Montreal in 2020.
Comment: Nybek was picked up in a trade with the Los Angeles Kings and spend the 2020/21 season playing in the top league in Sweden and was an impressive +10. My scouts believe he has the future potential of a Paul Byron type, a bottom 6 forward who is responsible defensively and can kill penalties. He is an accomplished player on the International stage winning multiple medals with Sweden at the U18 and World Junior Championships. My scouts will be watching him closely as he returns for a full season in Sweden’s top league this year. We will likely look to move him over to North American next season with him starting in Laval.
RW/C/LW Roni Hirvonen - 19 Years Old – 5’11” 183 LBS
2020/21 Stats: 47 GP 2 G 10 A 12 PTS -12 (Assat Pori, SML)
Acquired: 5th Round Pick 127th Overall in 2020 by Montreal (Assat Pori, SML).
Comment: Hirvonen, plays all 3 forward positions very well. He has a below average shot and is a pass first playmaker. Not likely gifted enough offensively to play in the top 6 he is probably better suited for a 3rd/4th line role. He is another well decorated International player for Finland winning a gold medal at the World Juniors in 2020 and taking home a pair of silvers. His rights will expire after this season so we will have another year of him playing in Finland’s top league against much older competition to see if we want to bring him over to North America.
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