NHL.com is providing in-depth prospect analysis for each of its 32 teams from Aug. 8-Sept. 8. Today, the top five prospects for the Montreal Canadiens, according to NHL.com.
[Canadiens 32 in 32: Season preview | 3 Questions | Fantasy breakdown]
1. Juraj Slafkovsky, F
How acquired: Selected with no. 1 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft
2021-22 season: TPS (Liiga): 31 GP, 5-5-10
The daring choice of 18-year-old Slafkovsky as the No. 1 pick in the 2022 NHL Draft puts the stamp on the future for the Canadiens’ brain trust.
Making the top pick for the first time since selecting Doug Wickenheiser in 1980, Montreal passed up an opportunity to take top-ranked centers Shane Wright and Logan Cooley and went all in on the 6-foot-3, 218-pound left wing from Slovakia. .
Slafkovsky was voted the most valuable player of the 2022 Beijing Olympics, when he scored seven goals for Slovakia, which was awarded the bronze medal for the first time.
“There aren’t many players who can skate, who have a big body and are able to score like Juraj,” general manager Kent Hughes said. “At the same time, when you build a team, we often talk about centers and goaltenders. When we tried to differentiate one player from another, we often came back to the fact that Juraj, even when he played with men at the World Championships , wanted to make a difference. He wanted to have the puck all the time.
“One of the questions that I asked him when I met him was to know what he loved most about hockey. He told me being on the ice when they’re up 4-3 or are down 4-3. This type of response is what we saw from him as a player.”
Projected NHL arrival: This season
Video: Slafkovsky on being selected No. 1 in the 2022 NHL Draft
2. Kaiden Guhle, D
How acquired: Selected with no. 16 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft
2021-22 season: Edmonton (WHL): 25 GP, 5-20-25; Prince Albert (WHL): 17 GP, 2-13-15
The 20-year-old’s progression as their top prospect on defense made it possible for the Canadiens to trade Alexander Romanov to the New York Islanders in order to acquire center Kirby Dach from the Chicago Blackhawks.
Guhle (6-2, 199) made a strong impression at Canadiens training camp last season and will get another strong look. Traded from Prince Albert to Edmonton of the Western Hockey League, he added more offense to his hard-hitting game while helping lead his hometown team to a Memorial Cup berth.
Projected NHL arrival: This season
3. Justin BarronD
How acquired: Trade with Colorado Avalanche on March 21
2021-22 season: Montreal (NHL): 5 GP, 1-1-2; Colorado (NHL): 2 GP, 0-0-0; Colorado (AHL): 43 GP, 5-15-20
Selected by the Avalanche with the No. 25 pick in the 2020 draft, nine picks after the Canadiens chose Guhle, Barron was acquired in the trade that sent Arthur Lehkonen to Colorado.
The 20-year-old (6-2, 195) has a big opportunity to establish himself in the NHL with the Canadiens. Moving from the defense-rich Avalanche, Barron can help bolster the right side David Savard and Chris Widemanthe only other right shot in the wake of the trade that sent Jeff Petry to the Pittsburgh Penguins.
Projected NHL arrival: This season
Video: OTT@MTL: Barron circles around, rips shot in far side
4. Sean Farrell, F
How acquired: Selected with no. 124 pick in the 2020 draft
2021-22 season: Harvard (NCAA): 24 GP, 10-18-28
The 20-year-old will continue his progression at Harvard after a sensational season that saw him play for the United States at the 2022 Olympics and the IIHF World Championship in Finland.
Farrell (5-9, 175) competed against Slafkovsky in each tournament before playing alongside him throughout development camp in July.
“I have a lot to improve on before I make the jump and I really want to do well and win games with my teammates at Harvard,” Farrell said. “There’s always room to grow and I think Harvard’s a great place for me to grow. I’ll have time this summer to get a lot stronger and become even better, and I think that’ll translate into next year, and then I’ll go from there.”
Projected NHL arrival: 2023-24
5. Jordan HarrisD
How acquired: Selected with no. 71 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft
2021-22 season: Montreal (NHL): 10 GP, 1-0-1; Northeastern (NCAA): 39 GP, 5-15-20
Harris made an impressive adjustment to playing against NHL competition when he stepped into the Canadiens lineup after signing a two-year, entry-level contract at the end of his senior season at Northeastern University.
A Hobey Baker nominee when Montreal teammate Cole Caufield won the award in 2021, the 22-year-old left shot was named Northeastern’s captain last season and won the Hockey East Best Defensive Defenseman Award.
Harris (5-11, 179) blocked three shots in his Canadiens debut and scored his first NHL goal in the season finale before playing for the United States at the World Championship.
Projected NHL arrival: This season
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