After three weeks of training camp, the Montreal Canadiens have whittled down the initial group of 57 players to their final count of 23 healthy bodies. This is how the organizational depth now looks throughout the organization, from seasoned veterans in the NHL to newly drafted prospects.
The NHL roster features 13 forwards, eight defencemen, and two goaltenders (with Michael McCarron and Gustav Olofsson requiring waivers should they be healthy enough to return to the AHL this season.)
One noteworthy aspect of the Canadiens group is that it features just three free agents, all of whom were signed this summer. Montreal’s inability to lure free agents over the years has been well documented, forcing the team to build largely through the draft and make trades to address roster holes.
Signing players to play in the minors is less of an issue for the organization. Over half of the player on NHL deals (and three more recently assigned to the ECHL) were inked as free agents, and several of them will be recall options during the season. The top talent in the minors remains players the Canadiens have drafted themselves, even if they do make up a smaller portion of the AHL roster.
That could all be changing very soon. Montreal holds the rights to 22 players developing in either Junior, collegiate, or European leagues, and some of them will be beating out free agents next season for roles with the Laval Rocket. Others, like Cole Caufield and Alexander Romanov, could be jumping directly to the main roster in one year’s time.
To follow along with the young prospects playing in North America, be sure to read our Catching The Torch series throughout the season. Our European Prospect Report, and the new Dispatch podcast series, keeps you up to date on everyone playing overseas. As usual, we’ll have coverage of the AHL team as well, featuring plenty of conversations with the top prospects and coaches all year long.
The organizational depth chart is regularly updated throughout the season, and can always be found here.
