While the big club rounds the midway mark of its training camp for the 2016-17 season, a number of Montreal Canadiens prospects’ seasons have already begun. With that, we bring you a first instalment of our weekly Catching the Torch report: a look at how the next generation of talents is developing on their quest to someday earn a spot with La Sainte-Flanelle.
Each week we will take an in-depth look at one young member of the organization, while providing an overview on performances over the last seven days of all players below the NHL level. This includes players at the junior (CHL, USHL, etc.) and collegiate (NCAA) levels, and professional (AHL, ECHL) levels.
Prospect Spotlight: Matthew Bradley, C, Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL)
Trevor Timmins is well known for his prowess in the NHL Entry Draft’s fifth round. While Brendan Gallagher is the only real prize taken that late in recent years, as Gabriel Dumont and Darren Dietz fell just short at the professional level and Charles Hudon continues his attempt to break through the AHL-NHL barrier, a less-heralded contender for a “steal” is Matt Bradley of the Medicine Hat Tigers.
Montreal’s fifth-round selection in 2015, 19-year old Bradley is entering what will likely be his final season with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers. After a 17 goal and 40 point draft year, Bradley improved his offensive numbers last season, ranking among his team’s leaders with 23 markers (third) and 51 points (fourth) in 68 games. At 5’11” and 187 lbs, the Vancouver native is decidedly average in stature, but what he lacks in height, he makes up for with hard-working two-way play. Indicative of the gritty game he aspires to deliver, Bradley cited Gallagher (even prior to the draft) and Jake Virtanen as some of his favourite players.
The Canadiens will have to make a call on Bradley at the end of the current season, and the first few weeks have seen him helping his own case towards earning a contract. With the top tier of WHL talent away at NHL camps, Bradley has taken advantage of lesser competition to put up three goals and six points in his first four contests. Initially pivoting a line between Steven Owre and John Dahlstrom, Bradley benefited from all Tigers that had been at NHL camps returning to the team early which led to big Friday and Saturday wins this weekend. His goal on Friday was typical of his play style, going hard to the net and potting a loose rebound after a Maxwell Gerlach attempt.
To secure a future in Montreal, Bradley will need to work on his foot speed. In terms of other recent prospects, one might draw a comparison to Brady Vail, a player that seemed to have all the right tools without any one particular strength. Like Vail in his junior years, Bradley’s overall skill level is enough to keep up and standout against peers at his current level, but his penchant for playing in all zones won’t be as effective in the big leagues if he finds himself a step behind the play. A quicker Bradley, however, would be a nice asset in a collection of players in a mold that Montreal appears to be keen on.
CHL
Defenseman Victor Mete rejoined his junior club after an up-and-down Montreal rookie camp in his home rink in London. Considered a good value pick in the fourth round this past June, the offensive blueliner is pacing well ahead of his past season results, with two goals in four games (he had 8 in 68 games last year). He will need to not only improve his production, but also work on his game without the puck, which is likely the biggest barrier he must overcome before graduating.
Simon Bourque is wearing the ‘C’ with Rimouski for a second, and likely final, season. The 19-year old improved his output last year compared to his draft season, and started this year at a point-per-game clip. He had his biggest night so far on Sunday, registering four assists in a 7-3 victory, and earning him co-honours for points on the Oceanic roster. His January birthday makes him eligible for Team Canada at this year’s World Junior Championship, but he was not among the six blueliners from the QMJHL invited to this summer’s Development Camp for that tournament.
Will Bitten also had an eventful week, as the feisty forward saw his trade request accepted from the Flint Firebirds to the Hamilton Bulldogs. The OHL Bulldogs, who replaced Montreal’s AHL affiliate in Hamilton (but retained the same name) is off to a 4-1-0 start on top of its division, including a 4-3 victory in the Montreal rookie camp standout’s debut Saturday. Playing center, the hard-nosed Bitten went 11/19 in the face-off dot but finished the game a -1 with no shots on goal.
Michael Pezzetta sat out this week due to his four-game suspension.
Noah Juulsen was returned to the Everett Steeltips after being cut from Canadiens camp on Sunday. Mikhail Sergachev and Jeremiah Addison remain with Montreal, and the latter is eligible to play in the AHL/ECHL this season if the team prefers that option to another year of junior hockey.
NCAA
NCAA seasons tend to kick off a little later than those in the CHL, but 2016 5th rounder Defenseman Casey Staum, is still a year away from beginning College (with University of Nebraska-Omaha), and his Dubuque Fighting Saints’s season is well under way. After being held off the scoreboard in a 2-1 win on Friday, Staum picked up his first two points of the season (one on the powerplay) in a Saturday loss. Staum should be considered a long-term project at this stage.
Goalies
While Hayden Hawkey is another prospect awaiting the start of the NCAA season, Michael McNiven was part of Sunday’s Canadiens cuts, rejoining Owen Sound who has slumped to a 1-3-0 start in his absence.
AHL / ECHL
The first round of significant training camp cuts in Montreal on Sunday sent eight prospects to the St. John’s IceCaps. The IceCaps’ first practice was yesterday, and they begin a three-game preseason tournament against the Toronto Marlies on Thursday.
Zachary Fucale was another victim of Sunday’s cuts in Montreal, and is the lone goalie currently in St. John’s. With Carey Price back from his World Cup of Hockey tour de force, Charlie Lindgren will join Fucale as the other netminder for AHL preseason contests later this week.
