While Samuel Montembeault held down the fort as best he could against the Edmonton Oilers, a few Montreal Canadiens prospects stood out with fine performances in their respective leagues.
Here are the prospects who performed well yesterday.
Owen Beck – Centre – age 19
The Habs prospect drafted in the second round (33ᵉ overall) in 2022 is really enjoying a fine season in the OHL.
He had amassed 30 points (16 goals, 14 assists) in 25 games with the Peterborough Petes before recently being traded to the Saginaw Spirit.
One might have thought that it would take Beck some time to adapt to his new environment, as was the case last season when he moved from the Mississauga Steelheads to the Petes, but in the end, the opposite is true.
Beck has been simply dominant since his arrival in Saginaw.
After earning six points in his first game with his new team, Beck added more yesterday in his third game with Saginaw, when he collected a goal and two assists.
Great puck steal and breakaway goal by Owen Beck. He has 1g 1a so far tonight. pic.twitter.com/fzyVtFcs05
– Grant McCagg (@grantmccagg) January 14, 2024
He now has nine points in three games since being traded to the Spirit.
A goal and two assists for Beck tonight, including this one on the PP late. Nine points in his first three Saginaw games. With all due respect to Peterborough, there was no Parekh on the point on the PP. Beck will pile up points in Saginaw. pic.twitter.com/7AZwchodft
– Grant McCagg (@grantmccagg) January 14, 2024
Good for Beck and for the Habs that he’ll be able to dominate like this with his new team, which is one of the OHL’s best.
Beck is a solid Tricolore prospect, and could join the professional ranks (Montreal or Laval) as early as next season.
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Florian Xhekaj – Left wing – 19 years old
While his brother Arber is doing very well in the AHL with the Laval Rocket, Florian Xhekaj is having a fine season in the OHL this year.
After just 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) in 68 games last season, Xhekaj already has 30 points (14 goals, 16 assists) in just 36 games this season.
It’s a great offensive blossoming for Xhekaj, who was a criticized selection at the last draft.
Yesterday, Xhekaj scored a goal and an assist in the Brantford Bulldogs’ 4-3 win over the Barrie Colts.
Nice little night for Florian Xhekaj, so far. 😏
2 points so far, including a goal on a beautiful exchange with Marek Vanacker and Jake O’Brien! @BulldogsOHL #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/6clngksLyp
– Canadian Hockey League (@LCHhockey) January 14, 2024
In short, Xhekaj is having a great season, and it will be interesting to see how far he’s able to go.
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Other noteworthy performances by Habs hopefuls
OHL :
- Cédrick Guindon picked up an assist yesterday in a 6-4 Owen Sound Attack loss to the Ottawa 67s. Guindon has 41 points (19 goals, 22 assists) in 39 games this season.
NCAA:
- Luke Tuch had two assists yesterday in Boston University’s 3-0 win over the University of New Hampshire. This brings his total points this season to 18 (five goals and 13 assists) in 19 games.
Bursting at the seams
– Good news.
Tanner Pearson, who has missed the last 15 games with a hand injury, on the ice this morning in Brossard with Adam Nicholas, the #Habs director of hockey development #HabsIO pic.twitter.com/0S72hdVgwQ
– Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) January 14, 2024
– Well said.
… and how the team learns to play the style it wants with the elements it has. This change of analysis grid is not for everyone.
Sometimes I agree with Bergevin, who once told me that the MTL market didn’t have the patience for a rebuild.
2/2– Marc Antoine Godin (@MAGodin) January 14, 2024
– Read more.
How did those responsible for stopping McDavid do, an assessment of Roy’s first, and Mailloux’s big moment in Laval in this Call Of The Wilde for @Global_Montreal https://t.co/1nriCEpzWx
– Brian Wilde (@BWildeMTL) January 14, 2024
– Interesting.
“I think there’s no like specific formula.”
You don’t have to be an athletic freak of nature to be an NHL goalie.
Joey Daccord joined the pod to discuss.
📺: https://t.co/5EuepNIpHr pic.twitter.com/bOiC1fsCf6
– Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) January 11, 2024
– What do you think?
Novak Djokovic is the best player of all time according to Andre Agassihttps://t.co/NO7Y5XZJa9
– RDS (@RDSca) January 14, 2024