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It’s time for Daily Faceoff’s third annual NHL Prospect Pool Breakdown, looking at the best all 32 teams have to offer. We’re highlighting the top 10 prospects for every franchise, their biggest strengths and weaknesses and so much more.

The criteria for being labeled a “prospect” are simple: players generally have to have played in 50 or fewer NHL games or spent more time outside of the NHL than in it last year (Ivan Ivan, for example, spent more time in the NHL than AHL last year, making him ineligilble for this list). Players over 23 years old are not included, with goaltenders needing to be 25 or under.

Today, we’re breaking down the Montreal Canadiens.

Ever since the team got to pick first overall in 2022, people have wondered how long it would take for the Canadiens to return to the playoffs.

That came this spring, when the Canadiens managed to snag the final spot in the Eastern Conference Wildcard race before ultimately losing to the Washington Capitals. Still, it was an incredibly big year for the franchise – and it was extra special because their top prospect, Lane Hutson, played such an important role. Hutson would go on to win the Calder Trophy as the NHL’s top rookie, putting on one of the best performances by a freshman defender in recent memory.

Montreal also had a handful of other prospects earn some NHL time, including Oliver Kapanen, Joshua Roy, Owen Beck and Jakub Dobes. Beyond that, top goaltender Jacob Fowler turned pro, Michael Hage had a huge season in college – and, perhaps most excitingly, Ivan Demidov came over to North America.

The Canadiens are in a good spot to contend for a playoff spot for years to come. They might not have the deepest pipeline, but they have at least four players who reside among the top 50 in the league.

Biggest Strength

Montreal is one of the only teams in the league with a legit top forward, defense and goaltending prospect in the system. The top three listed below are all expected to be true difference-makers, with Demidov leading the way as soon as this fall. Even if none of the three hits, I really like Michael Hage, who should become a top-six forward in the NHL. They also have some good middle-six and fourth-line options, too. Seriously, the Canadiens have so much going for them in their pipeline. It’s ridiculous.

Biggest Weakness

This is literally one of the hardest sections to fill from any team in this series. If I had to be super picky, there’s only one left-handed defender I really like in this system, and it’s Adam Engström. There are a few guys I expect can maybe be call-ups from time to time, like Rasmus Bergqvist, William Trudeau, and Luke Mittelstadt. But I wouldn’t be surprised in the slightest if none of the three ever got to take their rookie lap. But when you have Lane Hutson and Kaiden Guhle already with the big club, does it really matter?

Fast Facts:
NHL GM: Kent Hughes
Dir. Amateur Scouting: Martin Lapointe
Co-Dir. of Amateur Scouting: Nick Bobrov
Dir. of Player Development: Rob Ramage
AHL Affiliate: Laval Rocket
ECHL Affiliate: Lions de Trois-Rivières

TOP 10 PROSPECTS

*Jacob Fowler (Eric Canha-Imagn Images)*

1. Ivan Demidov, RW, 19 (Montreal Canadiens)

Acquired: Drafted fifth overall, first round in 2025

Habs fans got a small taste of what Demidov is capable of in his short NHL stint to close out the season. Now, it’s time for the main course. Demidov set the KHL U-20 scoring record last year with 49 points in 65 games. He did so despite his fluctuating ice time – from the odd benching to a sudden trip to the top line. But Demidov never seemed deterred, hung around and always made the most of his opportunities. He led the team in points despite playing fewer than 10 minutes on 20 occasions and was even healthy scratched at times. Demidov is extremely creative, has quick hands, is good on his feet and makes smart decisions with the puck. He utilizes a stutter-step move that confuses defensemen, making it hard for them to predict his next move. His shot is notably deceptive in several ways; he often lulls defenders into thinking he’s aiming high before unexpectedly shooting between the goaltender’s legs. Will it translate to the NHL? Scouts believe so.

2. Jacob Fowler, G, 20 (Laval Rocket, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 69th overall, third round in 2023

Samuel Montembeault might hold the crown for now, but Fowler is coming. He was one of just three NCAA goaltenders who boasted a save percentage above .940 last year, and he has played some of his best hockey against other high-end programs. Fowler is listed as 6-foot-2, but he covers the net so effectively. He’s positionally solid, mentally strong and rarely gives up a bad goal. He’ll spend some time in Laval, where he’ll look to show he can translate his game to the next stage. Fowler looked great in his limited AHL action, and while the playoffs were a bit of a mixed bag, he still looked solid as a 20-year-old who just turned pro. Cayden Primeau is out of the picture now, with Fowler having an opportunity to learn from veteran Kaapo Kahkonen this year.

3. David Reinbacher, RHD, 20 (Laval Rocket, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted fifth overall, first round in 2023

*David Reinbacher (Steven Ellis/Daily Faceoff)*

Expectations were high for Reinbacher in 2024-25, only for an injury to limit him to 23 games between the regular season and playoffs. That’s after another difficult year that saw him deal with coaching change after coaching change in Kloten. Reinbacher needs a drama-free season with no injuries or mishaps along the way. With Mailloux out of the way, look for Reinbacher to take an even bigger role going forward in Laval. He played quite well when he was healthy – showing that on a more consistent basis is the real challenge, though. I’m still a believer – I like him with the puck and I think he’s very impressive defensively, too. Reinbacher just needs the chance to actually prove it.

4. Michael Hage, C, 19 (University of Michigan, NCAA)

Acquired: Drafted 21st overall, first round in 2024

Hage was one of the primary reasons to watch Michigan last year. He finished second in team scoring with 34 points in 33 games, earning him Big Ten rookie of the year honors. The two-way center has been productive at every level and there’s no reason to believe he won’t take that up another peg this coming season. Michigan might not have benefited from the CHL like other programs around college hockey, but that just means Hage will have even more opportunities to put himself in the spotlight. I love his game, always have, and I see him as a potential No. 2 center behind Nick Suzuki one day.

5. Alexander Zharovsky, RW, 18 (Tolpar Ufa, MHL)

Acquired: Drafted 34th overall, second round in 2025

Zharovsky was one of the biggest risers this year, and a guy many scouts are excited about. He put up excellent numbers in the Russian junior league while being so dangerous on the rush. He definitely needs to add more muscle but if he can even add 15 pounds, he’d be significantly tougher to steal the puck off of. He’s crafty, smart and dangerous in open space – he’s easily one of the best players out of Russia. Zharovsky is still a long-term project, but there’s a lot going on in his game.

6. Oliver Kapanen, C/RW, 21 (Montreal Canadiens)

Acquired: Drafted 64th overall, second round in 2021

*Oliver Kapanen (David Kirouac-Imagn Images)*

After starting the season with the Canadiens, Kapanen was sent to Sweden to earn more ice time and play a bigger role with Timra IK. It was an excellent plan, with Kapanen thriving with 35 points in 36 games. He then came back to North America and had a solid, yet short, playoff run with the Canadiens before looking impressive in the AHL with Laval. Kapanen has all the makings of a reliable 200-foot player who can play deeper in the lineup and do so without making many mistakes. Kapanen reads plays well and has some decent strength, and knows a thing or two about putting some power behind his release. Look for Kapanen to attempt to make the big club out of training camp.

7. Owen Beck, C, 21 (Laval Rocket, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 33rd overall, second round in 2022

Beck had an excellent first AHL season, scoring 15 goals and 44 points in 64 games. He continued to improve as the season progressed, and he demonstrated a level of aggressiveness I had never seen before. Most scouts will agree he’s more likely to become a third-line center. But his increased proficiency with the puck last year was a good sign. He didn’t do a whole lot offensively in his 12-game stint with the Canadiens, but he showed his defensive reliability and his commitment to never losing an individual puck battle. I think another year in the AHL will be good for him, and maybe Beck will hit full-time NHL status come 2026-27.

8. Joshua Roy, LW, 21 (Laval Rocket, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 150th overall, fifth round in 2021

Many expected Roy to make the Canadiens out of training camp last year. Instead, a quiet training camp forced him to start back in Laval. From a skill perspective, Roy is one of Montreal’s best prospects. But I’m not sure where the pathway lies for him to become a full-time NHLer, especially with subpar skating. I think there’s more upside in Roy compared to Kapanen. But I think Kapanen has a better chance of becoming a full-time NHLer – albeit in a more minor role. That being said, he’ll be 22 when training camp opens so he’s still young. It doesn’t hurt that he’s been quite productive in the AHL the past few years. I’d feel more confident about Roy if he had an explosive offensive season in Laval this year.

9. Jakub Dobeš, G, 24 (Montreal Canadiens)

Acquired: Drafted 136th overall, fifth round in 2020

*Jakub Dobes (Jerome Miron-Imagn Images)*

Dobeš played more NHL games than AHL games last year, so he was almost eliminated from this list. But given that he only played 16 NHL games, I decided to let him stay. Dobeš started as Montreal’s third-stringer last year but stole the backup job from Cayden Primeau and never looked back. He had a shutout in his NHL debut, and while he had some iffier starts down the stretch, his play midway through the year is partly to thank for Montreal’s playoff appearance. He’ll be Samuel Montembeault’s backup again this year, and while I’m not convinced Dobes is anything more than a backup, I think he can be an important piece of this team for a few more years while Fowler develops in Laval.

10. Adam Engström, LHD, 21 (Laval Rocket, AHL)

Acquired: Drafted 92nd overall, third round in 2022

Engström had a good first year in North America, putting up 27 points from the blueline in Laval. He showed a nice physical edge and proved to be difficult to contain during the Calder Cup playoffs. His offensive awareness has come a long way in recent years, and his confidence continues to shine through. He is mobile, has good size and has the makings of a decent third-pairing defenseman. There’s just lots of competition still, even if he is the best LHD in the pipeline. On many other teams, Engström would be their best defensive prospect. That’s a good spot for Montreal to be in right now.

The rest: Vinzenz Rohrer, C (20), Luke Tuch, LW (23), Filip Mesar, RW (21), Tyler Thorpe, RW (19), Florian Xhekaj, LW (21), Jared Davidson, C (23), Riley Kidney, C (22), Sean Farrell, C (23), Hayden Paupanekis, C (18), LJ Mooney, RW (18), Makar Khanin, RW (20), Aatos Koivu, C (19), Ben Merrill, C (19), Logan Sawyer, C (19), Filip Eriksson, C (20), Sam Harris, LW (21), Alexander Gordin, RW (23), Ty Smilanic, C (23), Jack Smith, C (23), Daniil Sobolev, RHD (22), Dmitri Kostenko, RHD (22), Luke Mittelstadt, LHD (22), Bogdan Konyushkov, RHD (22), Owen Protz, LHD (19), Rasmus Bergqvist, LHD (20), William Trudeau, LHD (22), Bryce Pickford, RHD (19), Carlos Handel, RHD (18), Andrew MacNiel, RHD (19), Maxon Vig, LHD (19), Mikus Vecvanags, G (19), Quentin Miller, G (20), Alexis Cournoyer, G (19), Arseni Radkov, G (17), Evgeni Volokhin, G (20), Emmett Croteau, G (21)

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