Montreal Canadiens Organizational Players of March

NHL Player of the Month: Mike Matheson

Matheson was the most impressive Canadiens player in February, finally seeing an extended period of health to show what he could really do. It wasn’t just a temporary run of form, as he now claims the player of the month title for the second consecutive month.

He’s producing at just under a 60-point pace over an 82-game season after leading all Habs players with 14 points in March. Eleven of them were primary, including four goals.

We knew he was a good defenceman from his time with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and the feeling was that the trade of Jeff Petry last summer was a lateral move at worst. But it’s becoming apparent that Matheson is a great defenceman, not only two points shy of a new career high despite missing so much time, but also using his excellent mobility and quick stick to close down opposition scoring chances. Having just turned 29 in February, he could be a fixture at the top of Montreal’s lineup for several years to come.

Honourable mention: Rafaël Harvey-Pinard

Harvey-Pinard’s story is one of the best of this season, perhaps only eclipsed by Arber Xhekaj’s. A good offensive player in the Junior ranks and a consistent contributor in Laval, he’s really found a new level in the NHL. His scoring rate has dropped only slightly from what he was managing in the minors, leading the Habs in goals with seven in March, including a hat trick in one period of play.

Early in the season, the quality of Montreal’s wingers was the biggest question mark for the team’s hopes of contending in the future, but it turns out there may have already been a middle-six, maybe a top-six option hidden in RHP. He has the skill set to be effective with any centre on the team, and has assured his spot for next season, likely with a substantial raise for his efforts.

AHL Player of the Month: Pierrick Dubé

The old saying goes “some have greatness thrust upon them.” In the month of March, the Laval Rocket were in desperate need of someone to step up and be great for them.

That player ended up being ECHL call-up Pierrick Dubé, though dubbing him an ECHL call-up when he’s been with the Rocket most of the year feels disingenuous. In the last month, Dubé tallied a solid seven goals and six assists while playing in whatever role the coaching staff asked.

Dubé is not a player of flash and sizzle, but his effort creates nothing but chances for himself and his teammates. Around the net he has become an ace at creating rebounds off his shots, or being there to finish off those scramble plays at the side of the net.

He’s never been a high-scoring forward at any level, but is certainly finding consistency with the Rocket that bodes well as he tries to secure a contract for next season.

European Prospect of the Month: Adam Engström

The finish of the regular season was strong from Engström, however he took it to a new level in the playoffs. Rögle first bested Emil Heineman’s Leksand in three games (2-1) and then fell to Skellefteå AIK in six games. Engström’s playoffs were a revelation, and something that even the opposing coach highlighted in his post-series interview.

Engström finishes the playoffs as Rögle’s primary scorer and point leader, but his defensive play has been strong and he has been used in both special-teams situations.

The full thread bellow is a good insight into Engström’s skill set, with some areas for improvement thrown in as well:

North American Prospect of the month: Lane Hutson

In all likelihood, this month’s honours should have gone to Joshua Roy, who earned a whopping 28 points in his 12 games in March, pushing himself to within one goal or assist of the 100-point mark on the season.

However, once again, Lane Hutson came up clutch for his team in the playoffs and dragged them into the Frozen Four, while also earning an absurd amount of awards and honours, which ultimately made him the front-runner among North American prospects.

He earned nine points in seven games in March, including five goals, as his Boston University Terriers ran away with the Hockey East title. Hutson was named the conference MVP, was the league’s leading scorer (forwards included), and his four points in three games in the Hockey East playoffs earned him the title of Tournament MVP as well.

Right before the end of the month, Hutson added to his already-full trophy case by earning himself the Walter Brown Award as the best NCAA player in New England, along with earning top defenceman and top rookie.

In one month, Hutson won the league and tournament for the Hockey East conference while being named MVP for both, he earned a conference scoring title, a place on the first all-star team of both the conference and the league, as well as many, many other awards.

The NCAA hasn’t seen a season like this from a defenceman since Cale Makar, when he won the Hobey-Baker in 2018-19 as a 20-year-old with 49 points in 41 games. The most points ever by a defenceman Hutson’s age was John Gibb with 51 in 46 games back in the early 1970s. Hutson still has two potential games left, and he is sitting on 48 points in 38 games, which is third all-time among draft-plus-one blue-liners.

Logically, a prospect having this kind of season would be expected to at least make the final three nominees for the Hobey Baker, awarded to the NCAA’s most valuable player. Unfortunately, Hutson missed out in favour of Adam Fantilli, Logan Cooley, and Matthew Knies. Better luck next year.

Shoutout to Sean Farrell for scoring his first NHL goal on his first NHL shot. The sheer amount of projectable elements he displayed in the transition leading up to that goal more than make up for the way that “shot” trickled in. He should continue to be an exciting player to follow once he settles into his role on the Canadiens.

In this episode you get to hear Anton Rasegård, Matt Drake, Hadi Kalakeche, Jared Book, and Patrik Bexell discuss the players chosen as Players of the Month: