A huge part of a successful NHL Draft is being able to find gems outside the first round, something the Montreal Canadiens seem to have done quite well in the 2022 NHL Draft. With another pair of first-round picks, and an early second-round choice again, can the Canadiens find that depth and quality for a second year in a row?
The options in terms of forwards is almost incalculable as the 2023 draft class is loaded to the brim with quality players even outside the first round. On the defensive side of things the group seems a bit thinner, with David Reinbacher and Axel Sandin-Pellikka stealing the first-round headlines. Inside the second round, however, lays a name that could be just what the Canadiens are looking for, and that is Kitchener Rangers defenceman Hunter Brzustewicz.
Birthplace: Washington, Michigan
Date of birth: November 29, 2004
Shoots: Right
Position: Defence
Height: 6’0″
Weight: 187 lbs
Team: Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
Brzustewicz enters the NHL Draft from the OHL where he was Filip Mešár’s teammate on a Rangers team that failed to live up to potential in many ways over the course of the season. As a rookie in the OHL though, the American blue-liner put up impressive numbers, finishing with 57 points in 68 games. That placed him eighth in overall scoring, while his 51 assists placed him sixth among defenders.
Considering the struggles of the Rangers in the regular season and Brzustewicz being a rookie, his production is impressive and there’s plenty more to like about his game as he develops. The biggest among them is that he remains an extremely mobile threat, constantly making himself an open threat throughout the offensive zone. It’s with that skating and mobility that he makes his hay so to speak, and in transition it makes him a handful for opposing teams.
The entirety of his game is built around him carrying the puck out of his defensive zone and transitioning quickly into an offensive attack. While he carries the puck out of his own zone with relative ease, his entries trend a bit lower but it’s not exactly an area of weakness.
Once inside the offensive zone, the young defender uses his skating to leverage situations and create looks for himself and teammates. The chart above shows he has a knack for working the outer walls and getting pucks into the high-danger areas in the slot. Therein lays the reason why he should be on the Canadiens’ radar: he’s a fantastic facilitator.
With his edge work and skating ability, he can run a five-on-five cycle, and quarterback a top power-play unit without much difficulty. The proof is in the pudding with his assist totals, but looking at his overall stats there is still room for growth.
As we look at the chart from Mitch Brown, the playmaking and transition stats are outstanding, however, his shooting metrics leave plenty to be desired. Brzustewicz doesn’t possess a high-end shot and it currently stands out as a limiting factor in his overall upside. His playmaking will serve him well, but without a true goal-scoring touch it’s unclear what his NHL potential could be.
As is the case with many offensively gifted puck movers at the junior level, the aggressiveness of trying to constantly move the puck leads to some lapses in defensive situations. He does love to meet opponents as they try to enter the zone, but if the opponent is able to get through, the defensive play has plenty of room to grow.
Preliminary Rankings
Dobber Prospects: #36
Elite Prospects: #44
FCHockey: #45
Hockey Prospect: N/R in Top 75
Hadi Kalakeche: N/R in Top 75
McKeen’s: #71
Bob McKenzie (TSN): #44
NHL Central Scouting: #41 (North American skaters)
Corey Pronman (The Athletic) N/R in Top 34
Scott Wheeler (The Athletic): #36
Early rankings have Brzustewicz as a mid-second round pick at best right now. As said above the defensive crop in this year’s NHL Draft lacks many real standout options, and even as one of the top picks (potentially), he lacks truly elite shine to his game. He does many things well but none in such a way that will truly separate him from his peers.
With the Canadiens picking at 37th overall in round two, it would be a slight reach, which in and of itself isn’t a bad thing. The question becomes if it’s worthwhile to take that reach on what could be seen as a “safe” option on defence. Admittedly the defensive depth in the Canadiens prospect pool has a few big names, but needs a bit of bolstering as more and more players hit the professional ranks.
Given the newer uptempo offence the Canadiens want to instill in their players, it does seem like Brzustewicz should be a perfectly appealing option. A good, agile skater with playmaking instincts is always a welcomed option. But in the end it comes down to betting on a lower ceiling for a higher floor, or vice versa, and also what the Habs do with their first-round choices.
There’s a lot to like in the game from Hunter Brzustewicz, and with Montreal’s emphasis in player development he would be a huge candidate to find that crucial next level. It just remains to be seen just how high that next level can be in the near future.
Anton Rasegård
