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Montreal Canadiens Reveal Their Top Prospects 15-11
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- Montreal Canadiens Reveal Their Top Prospects 15-11
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We've almost reached the top 10 Montreal Canadiens prospects, as voted on by Habs fans.
Before we get there, we must discuss the prospects ranked 15-11, a list that includes several players with good size who were selected in the later rounds of the NHL Entry Draft.
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Without further ado, let's get to the prospects!
Montreal Canadiens Prospects Ranked 15-11
15. Tyler Thorpe, Right Wing, Shoots Right, 20, Laval Rocket (AHL), 6'5″, 220 lb. Picked 130th overall in 2024.
One of the clear mandates put in place when Ken Hughes took over as general manager of the Canadiens was finding players who have the rare combination of skill and size to bolster the prospect pool.
Of the 20 players drafted in 2024 and 2025, 19 of them happen to be 6'0″ or taller, ample evidence to suggest the size transformation is in full effect.
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Standing at 6'5″, Thorpe is the tallest prospect in the system, and thanks to an excellent showing at development camp alongside players who were drafted well ahead of him, the 20-year-old forward already signed an entry-level contract with the Habs.
However, it must be said his introduction to professional hockey has been rather underwhelming from a production standpoint, as Thorpe has scored just two goals and seven assists in 47 games with the Laval Rocket. Of course, context is key, and it should be noted he's mostly been used in a fourth-line role, which has mitigated his scoring opportunities.
It's not a surprising result by any means, as Thorpe never produced the type of numbers in Junior hockey that would suggest he would be a reliable source of secondary offence in the AHL. In 167 games with the Vancouver Giants, Thorpe managed 54 goals and 48 assists, well below a point-per-game pace.
And yet, there's no reason to panic when it comes to his potential. Thorpe was never expected to be a top-six player. Realistically, he has the potential to one day ascend to a fourth-line role in the NHL, but to do so, he'll have to find a little more consistency in his offensive game.
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He has an excellent shot, and fantastic hands for a player of his stature, but he will need to work on his edge work, as to improve his speed and agility.
Ideally, Thorpe would find his offensive rhythm in the AHL during his sophomore season, a lot like Jared Davidson did before him.
In the meantime, his job will consist of protecting some of his teammates when opposing players step over the line, as he did when he got involved in an old-school fight with Joe Arntsen in the clip embedded below.
14. Owen Protz, Defenceman, Shoots Left, 20, Brantford Bulldogs (OHL), 6'2″, 207 lb. Picked 102nd overall in 2024.
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Few players enjoy getting involved in physical play as much as Protz. That's not to say he's void of talent, as evidenced by his invitation to take part in Team Canada's Junior Summer Showcase. Protz did not make the team, but the mere fact that he was invited despite not spending much time in any of Hockey Canada's development programs goes to show that he's more than just a violent defenceman.
His gap control and reach allow him to patrol the blueline with efficiency, and though his offensive potential is limited, he does not hesitate to join the rush when an opportunity arises.
That being said, Protz is clearly a harbinger of violence. From the very moment he jumps on the ice, he's looking to land a big hit, doing so without pulling himself out of position. One of his favourite tactics is cutting off opposing players, driving them towards the boards, and then proceeding to remind them that it was a mistake to drive down his side of the ice after he lands a massive hit.
His limited offence reduces the odds he'll ascend to a top-four role once he's ready for professional hockey, par for the course when we consider he was drafted 102nd overall, but he does have a legitimate chance to one day ascend to the NHL in a third-pairing role.
13. Bogdan Konyushkov, Defenceman, Shoots Right, 23, Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod (KHL), 6'0, 175 lb. Picked 110th overall in 2023.
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Konyushkov suffered a downtick in production following his first two season in the KHL, which saw him produce 25 and 28 points, respectively. He managed just 17 points in 67 games last season, a considerable red flag when evaluating his overall progression.
The good news is that he's back on track in 2025-26, and is on pace to finish the year with seven goals and 29 assists, which would set a new career high.
There are a few things we must keep in mind when discussing his North American potential, including his contract, which is set to expire in 2026-27. Therefore, we shouldn't expect him to make his way to Canada next season, a situation that's far from concerning when we consider he's being given ample ice time in a professional league. He's averaging 21:30 TOI with Torpedo this year, accumulating important experience while facing opponents who can bank on much more professional experience.
Konyushkov is a mobile defenceman with a heavy shot who does not hesitate to stretch his legs in the offensive zone, much like Adam Engstrom . However, he's not quite as agile as his Swedish counterpart, while offering more in the defensive and physical department.
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He projects as a player with top-four potential, though he will likely need a long runway once he makes the jump to North America, to allow him to acclimatize to his new surroundings.
12. Jared Davidson, Centre, Shoots Left, 23, Laval Rocket (AHL), 6'0″, 183 lb. Picked 130th overall in 2022.
Admittedly, I try to take an unbiased approach to describing prospects, but there are exceptions to the rule, as some players are simply more entertaining than others.
Davidson is the perfect example.
Few shifts go by without Davidson making an impact, whether it be through his excellent one timer, or his affinity for big hits and fights. He may not be the most skilled player on the ice at all times, but he has a history of outworking his opponents, while providing an honest effort every shift.
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He reminds me a lot of NHL players in the 80s, combing all the good aspects of old school hockey with a modern training regiment that allows him to offer secondary production in situations that are not conducive to scoring.
During his 10-game audition with the Montreal Canadiens, Davidson was quite clearly focused on providing a physical element to the team, and his 12.42 hits/60 still ranks fourth on the team, behind Samuel Blais , Arber Xhekaj , and Joe Veleno . He did not get many opportunities to feature his elite one-timer with the Habs, but a quick look at his AHL highlights will confirm that Davidson absolutely loves to connect on fast, hard passes in the offensive zone.
Davidson projects as a bottom-six player with above-average offensive upside who could earn a permanent role in the NHL in the next two seasons.
11. Joshua Roy , LW, Shoots Left, 22, Laval Rocket (AHL), 6'0″, 190 lb. Picked 150th overall in 2021.
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Roy is one of the few holdovers from the previous regime, having been drafted in 2021 during Marc Bergevin's tenure. He was Montreal's best forward prospect for many years, a situation that pushed the expectations beyond the realm of reasonable for a player who was drafted 150th overall.
In reality, Roy becoming the team's top prospect was a sign of a weak prospect pool, rather than his elite potential.
But we should guard against dismissing him outright at this point in his development.
With 94 points in 123 career games in the AHL, Roy has clearly shown he can produce at the professional level, as long as he's used in a situation that allows him to spend time in the offensive zone. In other words, there's very little value in using Roy as a bottom-six player in the NHL, yet another situation that works to his disadvantage.
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Of course, Roy is far from a perfect player. He's excellent in the offensive zone, and his hockey sense is off the charts, but there's still a concern when discussing his consistency from an effort standpoint.
And now that the Montreal Canadiens have added a myriad of talented players to their prospect pool, he's no longer the lone shiny toy in a poorly built cabinet. Simply put, through a combination of factors, many of them out of his control, he's at risk of becoming a classic hockey tweener.
All Montreal Canadiens prospect statistics via Elite Prospects .
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