At the 2024 draft, the Habs had a lucky hand in getting Ivan Demidov with the fifth pick. The talented forward was seen by many as the second-best prospect of the auction (behind Macklin Celebrini), but he was the fifth player drafted.
And that, of course, made the Canadiens’ fans very happy.
That said, it’s interesting to try and understand why Demidov fell the way he did. The Russian factor and his contractual situation in the KHL were factors, and it’s conceivable that some teams were put off by his rather unorthodox skating technique.
But on an episode of The Shaun Starr Show, Marco D’Amico talked about Demidov in the 2024 draft… and he mentioned something interesting:
Everyone knew that Ivan Demidov wanted to be drafted by the Canadiens. – Marco D’Amico
We don’t know exactly why Demidov wanted to come to Montreal, but we can assume that he liked the young core that was being built. It’s also likely that Nick Bobrov, who has his ear to the ground in Russia, played a part in all this.
As D’Amico points out, Bobrov gives the Habs a huge advantage when it comes to Russian prospects, since he has a Russian passport and can enter and leave the country at will. There’s a reason Alexander Zharovsky was the Canadiens’ first choice this year, you know.
And according to D’Amico, the fact that Demidov wanted to come to Montreal explains why he fell. The Blackhawks, Ducks and Blue Jackets knew the kid was headed for Montreal, so they looked elsewhere instead.
It’s reminiscent of Matvei Michkov a year earlier: he wanted to go to Philadelphia, so he fell… to the Flyers.
We know that for the past few years, the Habs have been trying to get their hands on guys who want to be in Montreal. This was the case with Noah Dobson recently, but also with Mike Matheson a few years ago.
On the other hand, the club is lining up players who don’t want to be in town. Jeff Petry and Ryan Poehling, for example, wanted to leave… and were traded to Pittsburgh.
That said, it’s very cool to see that Demidov wanted to be drafted by the Habs so badly.
And that’s a good sign for the kid’s future: if he wanted to come here, he probably won’t want to leave at the first opportunity he gets.
The latest NHL draft was rather… ordinary. For the first time, the league opted for a decentralized format, so that instead of all 32 teams being in one place, they were in their own facilities.
The result? It took forever… and made for some uncomfortable moments to watch.
At the conclusion of the draft, just about everyone expected a return to a centralized formula for the next amateur auction. We knew the whole thing would be put to a new vote by the 32 general managers, and we figured they’d come to their senses…
Reporting on this only because I’m a bit surprised by the outcome. Expect the NHL to give the Decentralized Draft model another try next year. Strong majority of GM’s voted in favour of the new status quo with some potential production tweaks to move the 1st round along.
For the teams, of course, a decentralized draft is interesting. It allows all members of the organization to get down to business, which saves money (in travel).
For the fans, however, it’s a different story. As we’ve seen this year, the draft has lost some of its charm, not least because we’ve been deprived of some great moments between the youngsters and their new team.
It’s all very well to say that we’re trying to find ways to make the pace faster (although, quite frankly, it would be hard to do worse than 2025): the experience is still more beige.
The centralized draft was something that set the NHL apart from all other leagues. It made for a more dynamic and, above all, more enjoyable event.
But clearly, general managers don’t care about the fan experience. And that’s a real, real shame.
The implication is that Kuznetsov would like to sign in Montreal and would be willing to join forces with the Canadiens and Ivan Demidov (with whom he played in the KHL in 24-25 with the SKA), but that the interest is not mutual.
Kuznetsov’s agent believes that his client would be a great fit with the Habs, but that the Habs don’t have room, and that’s what the team would have explained to Babev.
“Evgeny would be a good fit. He wants to play in Montreal, but there’s no room. I don’t think he’ll get the chance.” – Evgeny Kuznetsov
Habs officials reportedly explained their situation to Kuznetsov’s agent to make him understand that, despite all the respect they have for Kuzy, there’s no room for the veteran.
So, in a way, the Habs turned down Kuznetsov’s services, arguing that there was no room for him in the lineup.
This means that the Russian wasn’t seen as an option as a second center, because otherwise there would be room for him, given that the Habs are looking to improve at this level.
Or, Kent Hughes and his team are confident with the current group, and don’t want to add anything to it.
In short, despite Kuznetsov’s strong interest in Montreal, the Habs are not considering him as an option, which suggests that Hughes has other options and plans in mind, which take precedence over Kuznetsov.
Also, don’t expect to see Kuzy reunited with Alex Ovechkin in Washington, according to Kuzy’s agent.
Overtime
– As already reported, the general managers voted to resume the decentralized draft formula.
Reporting on this only because I’m a bit surprised by the outcome. Expect the NHL to give the Decentralized Draft model another try next year. Strong majority of GM’s voted in favour of the new status quo with some potential production tweaks to move the 1st round along.
– Marc-Olivier Beaudoin (@MOBeaudoin1) July 12, 2025
– A non-decentralized draft would only benefit the host city, economically speaking.
The #Sens weren’t in favour of this. Michael Andlauer believes the picture on stage in the jersey is an important moment for the players. The cost of the draft is the reason it’s staying this way. Only the host city benefits. https://t.co/AqmiFTPcew
We were all shocked to see a rather credible insider make this connection, considering that Hart hasn’t played since the 2023-2024 season due to the accusations against him in the Junior Team Canada scandal.
Of course, we know the Oilers are desperate for a goaltender, but perhaps we didn’t think they’d go this far.
Well, in the end, this big rumour turned out to be false, having just been denied by Jason Gregor, a journalist who mainly covers the Edmonton Oilers.
Any report about the Oilers having interest in Carter Hart is incorrect.
Edmonton will not be approaching him, even if he is found not guilty. #NHL
Indeed, Gregor took the time last night to inform everyone on X that any rumors or information circulating that the Oilers might be interested in Carter Hart is false and erroneous.
He then went on to say that the Oilers would not approach Hart, even if he is found not guilty by the current trial.
It’s a big rumour that Gregor has just strongly denied, and one that completely contradicts what Kevin Weekes had originally reported.
The solution in front of the Oilers’ net will have to come from someone other than Carter Hart.
Edmonton needs to improve its situation in front of the net, and it needs to do so quickly, because it’s probably cost them two Stanley Cups, or at least one.
If we forget the whole scandal, on paper only, Hart could have been a nice risk to take for the Oilers, considering he’s always had so much potential.
Anyway, let’s see what the Oilers do, and also whether Carter Hart will ever return to the NHL if he’s found not guilty.
Overtime
– It’s going to be tough for him to make it in Montreal.
With their farm system trending upward in 2025, the Blue Jays have a chance to add another cornerstone piece in Sunday’s MLB Draft. @Worden_Zach looks at some options for Toronto with the eighth-overall pick. https://t.co/Vxevm0Pc00
Reaves himself said as much, as he’s been spitting on the Toronto Maple Leafs ever since he was traded.
Reaves directly explained that the Leafs never trusted him, right from the start. He explained that he was never really able to gain momentum, because he was always taken out of the lineup.
Reaves on Brad Treliving: “I told him at the end of the year, I just thought this wasn’t obviously a good fit. I’m assuming he probably thought the same after putting me on waivers & sending me to the minors & just thought it was kind of time to part ways. We both agreed …”
Reaves didn’t like the fact that he never got a real chance, so he went to Leafs general manager Brad Treliving that it just wasn’t working out.
The two men then agreed that a change was in order.
Reaves hadn’t been sent to the AHL for nothing…
The Leafs’ former No. 75 also took the time to express what he thought of the team’s fans in general, and let’s just say, it wasn’t very positive either.
Reaves explained that he had been very surprised by the ups and downs of the fans, using the playoffs as an example, where the amphitheatre could go from the loudest to complete silence.
Reaves says “there is for sure” more pressure in TOR
Felt it amid slow start to 23-24
“Things were going really wrong & all of a sudden this whole city wanted me out & I don’t think you see that in other organizations … It definitely is different, but it’s nothing too crazy”
Reaves added that as soon as things went wrong, the whole city came down on him and wanted him out of the team.
In short, Reaves in Toronto really didn’t work out, and everyone knew from the start that signing the tough guy for three years was a big mistake by the Leafs.
He was already barely making any headway when he signed that contract, and let’s just say it didn’t get any better.
Now let’s see how things go for him in San Jose, when he’ll be tasked with protecting the young players.
It will also be interesting to see him in action in the same division as Evander Kane, who is now a new member of the Vancouver Canucks.
Reaves said earlier this week that he hates Kane to death.
Overtime
– To watch.
Elliotte Friedman: Re Columbus goaltending: We’ll see what’s going to happen in goal, it looks like Jet Greaves and Elvis Merzlikins, is everybody okay with that? – 32 Thoughts Podcast
– NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 12, 2025
Right-handed defensemen are a rare commodity in the National Hockey League, so when one becomes available, it’s normal to see several teams interested.
There’s even more interest in a top-notch right-handed defenseman, as was the case with Noah Dobson before he was traded to the Canadiens.
It’s not every day that a 25-year-old right-handed defenseman who can play on a first pair is available on the market.
So it’s easy to see why so many teams seemed interested in Dobson, and have been for quite some time.
Jeff Marek: I want to say Dallas was probably, and this probably extends back into the season, in the conversation for Noah Dobson – The Sheet
– NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 11, 2025
Dallas was actively looking to add a top-notch right-handed defenseman to its line-up so that he could play on the first pairing with Miro Heiskanen, and Dobson was an option the Stars had been monitoring for some time.
One wonders if Jason Robertson, whose name has been circulating somewhat in trade rumors, was part of the potential discussions between the Stars and Islanders regarding Dobson.
In the end, the Stars were unable to get their hands on Dobson, while the Montreal Canadiens won the derby.
Seriously, when you look at this, and see that the Habs managed to beat out a whole host of teams to get a top player like Dobson, it’s really encouraging.
Let’s just say it’s a change from the years when the Habs always finished a close second in the race for a player on the trade market or for a top free agent.
The new management of Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton has brought a nice wind of change, and the acquisition of a top player like Dobson via a large transaction is very good proof of this.
The Habs can compete very well with other NHL teams in various derbies, and even manage to win now, beating out better offers like the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Dobson wanted to come to Montreal, and you have to wonder if that’s what knocked the Stars out of the running too.
Overtime
– A fine achievement.
TEAM OF THE YEAR
The @RocketLaval were given the President’s Award as the AHL Team of the Year last night during the #AHLAwards Gala at our Annual Meetings in Hilton Head Island, S.C.
We’re back at it again this summer with our “Top 15” of the Habs’ most important prospects!
What’s special about this countdown is that it takes into account the fact that more and more teams are continuing to develop their young prospects in the NHL.
In Montreal, this will obviously be the case next season with Ivan Demidov, but Hutson and Slafkovsky can also still be considered prospects by our definition.
For us, a prospect is simply a young player who can still aspire to the NHL or from whom we can still realistically expect a clear progression to the NHL.
It’s not a count based on age or an arbitrary number of games played or a certain level of performance achieved.
Of course, Slafkovsky and Hutson already have a certain amount of experience. They’re established, successful players.
In the case of the little American, we can even talk about a fairly high level of excellence: he’s won the Calder Trophy!
But can they still improve significantly?
We think so.
It will be no small task for Hutson to record 66+ points, but he can certainly score more than 6 goals, and there’s still room for significant defensive progress in his case.
The same goes for Slafkovsky, who was expected to produce more last season, but instead repeated his 50 or so points from the previous season.
But even though he has already played 200 games (!) in the NHL and is preparing for his fourth season in Montreal, it’s not unusual to take a small step to the side before making a big leap forward. Take a look at the careers of the Tkachuk brothers for proof. Even Nathan MacKinnon took five years to explode into the player he is today…
So what’s to stop us hoping for 70 points and a lot more consistency from Slafkovsky next year at just 21 years of age?
In short, we’ll have time to come back to these two “super prospects” and Demidov towards the end of our countdown, but let’s start today with the graduates, departures and honorable mentions.
Graduates
Kaiden Guhle The 16th pick in 2020 under Timmins-Bergevin played 30 fewer NHL games than Slafkovsky. But given his slightly later arrival, his many injuries and his progress curve that is drawing to a close – unlike Pierre McGuire, I no longer expect a great leap forward in his game – Guhle is now one of the graduates of this ranking.
Habs goal of the day:
Kaiden Guhle vs Carolina Hurricanes (April 16th, 2025)
Guhle will probably never play another minute on the powerplay in his Montreal career.
On the other hand, he will undoubtedly be one of the organization’s top two shutdown players for a very long time to come, and will play a crucial role at 5-on-5 as well as on the power play.
He simply has to learn, again and again, to manage his somewhat “kamikaze” nature and protect himself better on the ice..
Arber Xhekaj Another “vestige” of the Bergevin era, Arber Xhekaj – 24 years old, 165 games – has also served his time in this countdown.
After playing 70 games and posting his most modest statistics since joining the NHL in 2024-2025, we feel that Arber’s potential has been reached. Only small defensive improvements and the return of a little more offensive production are realistic in his case.
We’re definitely talking about a third-pair defenseman in a limited role who doesn’t have enough hockey IQ to take on the best players in the league night after night.
That doesn’t take away his offensive (especially his shooting) and pugilistic qualities, but it does take away minutes and favorable opportunities to deploy them.
Logan Mailloux the day after he was selected by the Canadiens in 2021. (Credit: Screenshot: Youtube.com)
In retrospect, that’s what happened.
Over the years, we’ve also never missed an opportunity to talk about a “possible Mailloux departure” in this annual ranking , where the Ontarian has never climbed higher than 9th place for several reasons.
Firstly, we never felt that the new administration – which had not committed the “odious” act of drafting him – was going to do everything in its power to find a niche for him in Montreal.
Quite the contrary, in fact.
Kent Hughes’ first big deal was another big, mobile, right-handed defenseman: Justin Barron, who had already been converted into another right-handed defenseman, Alexandre Carrier. We’ll come back to this later.
Then, a few months later in the 2022 draft, the organization quickly drafted two talented, ultra-mobile left-handed defensemen in Lane Hutson (62nd), a talent many knew was worthy of the first round, and Adam Engstrom (92nd); two guys who quickly moved ahead of Mailloux in the minds of Hughes and Gorton.
But it was in 2023 that the fatal blow was probably struck with the selection of right-hander David Reinbacher at#5 overall, almost a carbon copy of Mailloux in physical terms, but with a far superior hockey processor between the ears.
In managing the Mailloux file itself, the organization did what we always suspected it would do: manage the initial crisis and turn the negative into a positive.
We helped Mailloux say and do the right things, then let him develop in the OHL and Laval at his own pace, away from the big spotlight, while making sure to give him a few NHL call-ups to boost his value just enough.
Time was also allowed to run its course in the NHL and, unsurprisingly, the old fans eventually returned to the dance floor.
That said, to my knowledge, no one in Quebec predicted that Mailloux would be traded for such a return. Zachary Bolduc was selected 17th overall by St. Louis in 2021, 14 spots ahead of Mailloux.
At 22, he recorded 19 goals and 36 points in 72 games, playing an average of just under 13 minutes last season.
In any case, Bolduc, with 97 games of NHL experience, will replace Mailloux in our rankings and should end up higher than 11th, the last position occupied by the Ontarian in 2024..
The Justin Barron mystery Barron has been much, much less talked about during his time in Montreal.
I personally believed for a long time that his potential was slightly greater than Mailloux’s, but for some reason, Barron never managed to find confidence and consistency with the Habs.
It may come in Nashville, but in Montreal, we felt we’d been patient enough in his case. So the Habs welcomed veteran Alexandre Carrier with open arms, and everyone’s been better off ever since.
The departures of Barron and Maiiloux (and the health of Reinbacher’s knees?) undoubtedly motivated the organization to sacrifice its two first-round picks to acquire Noah Dobson and then turn to three other right-handed defensemen at the last draft: Pickford, Handel and MacNiel.
Will one of these three newcomers find a place in our 2025 rankings?
Stay tuned!
Cayden Primeau With only 44 NHL games under his belt, Primeau found himself in 13th place in last year’s rankings.
A year later, and now with 55 games under his belt, he’ll now be playing for one of the organizations his father was familiar with, the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes, after being traded for a7th-round pick in 2026.
Following a fairly solid 2023-2024 season in Montreal and Laval, the American had his share of difficulties before being returned to Laval, where he quickly found his feet. Then he ran into trouble again in the playoffs, among others against the Charlotte Checkers and the man who “replaced” him in the organization: Kaapo Kahkonen.
Good luck Cayden!
Emil Heineman Heineman was never a big “star” in this countdown. But for the record, he was ranked 13th two years ago…
After an ordinary first season in Laval in 23-24, the Swede surprised everyone last camp by earning a spot in Montreal, stealing a chair sadly “abandoned” by Joshua Roy…
Very consistent and effective until his famous accident in Salt Lake City, which left him with a fractured wrist (10 goals, 17 points in 40 games), it was much more difficult on his return. He no longer seemed able to unleash his powerful shots with ease and precision.
We hope he’ll be back to his best under Patrick Roy on Long Island. A role player who clearly had some value, and a fine addition to the Islanders’ bottom line.
Honorable Mentions
Tyler Thorpe: We like Thorpe’s chances of breaking into the Habs lineup within the next few years. He fits in with the future, heavier, meaner identity the Habs seem intent on giving their final two trios. A guy “in the plans”. We can’t wait to see if he has a similar season to the one Florian Xhekaj had last year in Laval. He’s got a better shot than Arber’s little brother and has already improved his acceleration, which remains his biggest weakness. A McCarron with more finish and balance on skates.
Oliver Kapanen : ” Beige” is pretty much the color that comes to mind when I watch Kapanen play. He does a lot of little things quite well, but doesn’t really have his own identity or a quality that makes him stand out from the crowd. One of many right-handed centers in the organization, he loses quite a few points in “rarity”, let’s say… Ordinary in Montreal at the end of the season and in Laval in the playoffs… Serious candidate for a trade. If he survives next camp, the Habs will do well to increase his value by having him play games in Montreal in the fall. At worst, he’ll have to dominate in Laval.
Sean Farrell: Without making too much noise, there was a spectacular explosion on Farrell’s side last winter, when he scored something like 42 points in his last 45 games. Before that, he had 2 in 22! Often his team’s best forward, we saw a Farrell with a lot of timing, more speed and intensity, who scored a good number of goals from the slot and in front of the net. Here’s one who could muddy the proverbial waters, and who we may want to evaluate long enough for the next camp. The “little guy” knows how to play hockey and could logically finish among the AHL’s top scorers next year, but an encore is also far from impossible.
Joshua Roy: Roy has only himself to blame for last season’s disappointment. He’ll need a terrific camp to get back into the organization’s plans. From here, he should be competing with Kapanen, Farrell, Beck and Florian Xhekaj for a spot in Montreal. But the Beauceron has also become an excellent candidate for a change of address…
Vinzenz Rohrer: I’ve always liked the energetic Rohrer, who should be playing in Laval next year after a few seasons in the pros in Switzerland, where, all in all, he did well. Excellent at the last World Championship for Austria, Rohrer excels in forechecking and could become an energy player in the NHL if he continues to develop. One of the youngest players selected in 2022, we forget he’s still only 20! A great addition to the Rocket line-up. We’ll keep an eye on him.
Habs prospect Vinzenz Rohrer with his 3rd goal at the World Championship for Austria today pic.twitter.com/4EGk6bknw4
Conclusion
I’d have liked to tell you about “project” goalkeepers Evgeny Volokhin and Arseni Radkov, who certainly deserve a place in the honorable mentions, but we’ll say a few words about them instead when analyzing the relative importance of Jakub Dobes and Jacob Fowler within this very deep bank of prospects.
We’ll be right back with the “official” start of the top 15!
Many wonder if Samuel Montembeault is the goaltender who will take the Canadiens all the way to the playoffs, once the team is more dangerous than it is right now.
Personally, I don’t think so, but we all know that to win, you need a good defense and, above all, a goalie who’s “hot” at the time.
Adin Hill was never seen as an elite or concession goalie, but he was still smoking hot in the playoffs to help the Golden Knights win the Stanley Cup. The same goes for Jordan Binnington (St. Louis Blues) and Darcy Kuemper (Colorado Avalanche), who all took top honours as starting goaltender.
At least the Habs have a backup plan with prospect Jacob Fowler, who has been excellent everywhere he’s been in his young career. And we saw glimpses of him at the end of the season and in the playoffs with the Laval Rocket.
But Montembeault is certainly a very good goalie, and he’s been doing the best he can since joining the Habs.
According to him, Montembeault is the most underrated goalie in the entire NHL.
If you click on the YouTube video of the episode in question, you’ll be taken directly to the excerpt.
It’s quite a statement from Marek.
And to hear him talk, no goalie comes close to being as underrated as Montembeault: it’s as clear as day, in his words.
This is very positive for the Habs and their fans, because since Carey Price’s last game, many have been wondering about his future in front of the net.
When fans have seen what Carey Price has done over the course of his career without having a really good team in front of him, it’s hard to think of anything better.
But knowing that the Habs have the NHL’s most underrated goaltender, as well as a quality prospect in Jacob Fowler, the future looks rosier than you might think.
Let’s not forget, though, that goalie development takes time, and Fowler won’t be an NHL dominant anytime soon, even though he seems to have fooled the prognosticators throughout his young career.
Let’s wait and see what level Fowler reaches as a goalie, but for now, the Habs have a very good goalie in Montembeault.
Overtime
– Reaves isn’t the best person to criticize an organization.
What’s he criticizing? He can’t play hockey. It was mind boggling that he got a three year deal when he did. https://t.co/lpp3AZ2rAV
It remains to be seen whether the Habs are willing to part with these assets to acquire Kyrou.
Mike Matheson would be the most logical main piece of the lot, as it would be very surprising if Kent Hughes touched his core to add value to the return. What’s more, the Blues would like to improve their defensive brigade.
Matheson isn’t indispensable, and with the acquisition of Noah Dobson, the Habs would still have a fine defensive brigade.
It would also leave room for Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj to make their mark.
And let’s not forget guys like Adam Engstrom and William Trudeau, who are still very young and could surprise many in the near future as left-handed defensemen.
But what could the Habs offer (in addition to Matheson) to make it more interesting for the Blues? It’s safe to assume that the Blues will have offers from other teams for Kyrou, so Montreal needs to stand out from the crowd.
There’s always the option of adding prospects/draft picks to fine-tune the deal, but you have to stay within the Blues’ demands.
Would they be interested in a guy like Alex Newhook? Hard to say. Maybe a Kirby Dach?
Once again, the real question is whether the Habs are interested in parting with established players to improve their top-6.
With what Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton have done since the start of their reign, Habs fans can have confidence in them.
Overtime
– Tristan Jarry could certainly interest a few clubs.
Elliotte Friedman: Re Tristan Jarry: “Jarry, does anyone look there?” [in a trade] – 32 Thoughts Podcast
– NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 12, 2025
– Ryan Reaves has a lot on his mind about his time in Toronto.
Ryan Reaves on last season with Leafs:
“Just a lack of trust very early … I had one bad game & I was out of the lineup for 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 games. I’d come back in, have a good game, but taken right back out. I really could never gain any momentum… “https://t.co/kgQexAwD1t
– If you go to Mark Masters’ page, you’ll find even more comments from Reaves on the Maple Leafs, but also on the city itself.
Reaves on Brad Treliving: “I told him at the end of the year, I just thought this wasn’t obviously a good fit. I’m assuming he probably thought the same after putting me on waivers & sending me to the minors & just thought it was kind of time to part ways. We both agreed …”
Chris Johnston: Re Erik Karlsson: He’s willing to be moved; Pittsburgh views him rightly as an asset…more of an asset the closer he is to the end of his deal; it becomes a pretty moveable object, it just might not be this summer – Chris Johnston Show
– NHL Rumour Report (@NHLRumourReport) July 12, 2025
The Montreal Canadiens took a major step forward this summer with the acquisition of Noah Dobson.
I don’t need to tell you that this will solidify (by a lot) the defensive brigade.
There are still a few holes to be filled before the Habs are considered a threat, but the club is close.
Already, we can see that there’s excellent chemistry within the group.
A second center is obviously missing, and many are wondering about the situation in front of the net.
Samuel Montembeault is doing a great job, despite his contract paying him $3.15 million a year until the end of the 2026-27 season. However, few believe he can take the team all the way.
At least the Habs have a very good prospect in Laval to guard the net in the future: Jacob Fowler.
Throughout his career, he’s silenced his critics by performing well beyond expectations, and we’ve already seen some great things from him with the Laval Rocket at the end of the season and in the playoffs.
Pierre McGuire, who spoke to TSN 690, had nothing but good things to say about the young American goaltender.
In fact, McGuire believes he’ll be the Montreal Canadiens’ starter a year from now (i.e., by the start of the 2026-27 season).
In his opinion, unless he goes completely off the rails, he’ll be a star goaltender in the NHL.
That gives Habs fans even more prospects.
It’s very interesting, since Montembeault will still be under contract, so Fowler would surpass him.
And in 2026-27, Fowler will be in the second of three years of his entry-level contract.
Personally, I think this is very positive for the Habs, as they’ll have two good goalies (assuming Fowler continues to progress well) and all that for around $4 million.
That gives Kent Hughes a lot of room to maneuver on the payroll.
With around $4 million in front of the net, the Habs will certainly be able to find a second center until Michael Hage is officially ready to fill that role (if he becomes one).
Overtime
– Jared McCann’s name is circulating more and more around the league.
Seattle Kraken reportedly open to trading high-scoring forward Jared McCann. Could the Capitals be a potential trade suitor? https://t.co/TkyUWIRifB
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