Before the 2015-16 season began, the EOTP staff ranked the Top 25 Prospects Under 25 in the Montreal Canadiens organization. The 2015-16 season is over half done, so we think now is a good time to take a look at their progress, and whether their stock for next year’s vote is rising or falling.
The Habs have several interesting prospects at the defensive position, who are slowly developing into useful assets at various levels.
N/R Joel Hanley (LD)
Contract Status: UFA 2016-17
Current Team: St. John’s IceCaps (AHL)
Joel Hanley was a complete unknown when Marc Bergevin signed him to a one-year deal in the summertime, hence why he was unranked in the T25U25. Assumed to be nothing more than a depth defender for the IceCaps, Hanley has acquitted himself quite well, and has earned himself regular ice time on a deep defensive roster. While other defenders rotate in and out of the lineup, Hanley has only been a scratch four times this season.
It’s unknown what the future holds for Hanley and whether he will be extended beyond this season, but regardless, he will not rank in the T25U25 since he turned 25 this year, and is therefore ineligible for the annual ranking next season.
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2016-17 T25U25 PROJECTED MOVEMENT |
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N/R Ryan Johnston (LD)
Contract Status: RFA 2017-18
Current Team: St. John’s IceCaps (AHL)
Ryan Johnston was another free agent signed by Marc Bergevin in the off season who didn’t rank on the T25U25 due to being an unknown commodity, but he impressed greatly at the rookie tournament. There were whispers of him even competing for a spot on Montreal’s defensive core. Unfortunately a recurring back injury forced him to undergo back surgery on a herniated disc, which forced him to miss four months of action.
Returning from surgery, Johnston has shown little rust in his offensive game, as his explosive bursts of speed remain a staple to his game. His addition to the team has been a definite positive, and he stands a good chance of making the top 25 this year in his final year of eligibility.
He should continue to be a major part of the IceCaps defence, and although a shot at the big club may be a ways off, it is certainly a possibility in the future.
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2016-17 T25U25 PROJECTED MOVEMENT |
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#30 Simon Bourque (LD)
Contract Status: Unsigned, needs to be signed by June 1st 2017
Current Team: Océanic de Rimouski (QMJHL)
Drafted in the sixth round by the Canadiens, Simon Bourque was largely an afterthought, and was ranked 30th in the T25U25. People have since been forced to take notice, as he is having a career season with the Océanic de Rimouski. He has taken a leadership role on the team, plays in all situations including power play and penalty kill, and the offensive numbers he has put up speak for themselves.
He’s already showing flashes of being a well-rounded defenceman, and it should be interesting to see whether he stays in the QMJHL next season as an overager, or whether he begins his professional career among a deep pool of defencemen in the AHL.
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2016-17 T25U25 PROJECTED MOVEMENT |
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#28 Dalton Thrower (RD)
Contract Status: RFA 2017-18
Current Team: St. John’s IceCaps (AHL), Brampton Beast (ECHL)
In his second professional season, Dalton Thrower continues to struggle in the AHL, and as a result finds himself playing more often than not in the ECHL with the Brampton Beast. On a deep defensive squad with the IceCaps, the physically imposing defenceman has been a healthy scratch at the AHL level, due to a lack of an offensive upside and questionable skating ability.
Although there is still time to round out into a solid defenceman, the results are not there right now, and it will be hard to see him rank in next year’s edition of the T25U25.
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2016-17 T25U25 PROJECTED MOVEMENT |
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#27 Morgan Ellis (RD/LD)
Contract Status: RFA 2016-17
Current Team: St. John’s IceCaps (AHL)
Given that he spent the majority of last season in the ECHL, hope was low that Morgan Ellis would be able to display the talent that he displayed when he won the Memorial Cup in his final year of Junior hockey. In spite of this, Marc Bergevin accorded Ellis a one-year ‘show me’ contract extension, and Ellis has absolutely not disappointed.
At the beginning of the season, Morgan Ellis teamed up with fellow defenseman Mark Barberio, forming a solid defensive pair for the St. John’s IceCaps. Since Barberio has found a potentially permanent spot with the Canadiens, Ellis has been able to showcase his skills, and prove he is an asset to the team. Currently he sits fifth in scoring for the IceCaps, and tops among defensemen with 24 points (10 G, 14 A).
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2016-17 T25U25 PROJECTED MOVEMENT |
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#26 Brett Lernout (RD)
Contract Status: RFA 2018-19
Current Team: St. John’s IceCaps (AHL)
At a hulking 6’4″ he is a fearsome physical presence, and it is scary to think that this kid could still grow. Brett Lernout will be an interesting prospect to watch develop, as large defensemen with potential offensive upside are pretty rare.
In his rookie professional season he has already found a permanent place as a shutdown defender, although he has been unable to carry over the offensive success that he saw in his final year of Junior. His work so far with the IceCaps, while not earth-shattering, should earn him a bump in this summer’s rankings.
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#25 Mac Bennett (LD)
Contract Status: RFA 2016-17
Current Team: St. John’s IceCaps (AHL)
Bennett has struggled to find a regular spot in the defensive rotation for the IceCaps, and more often than not finds himself a healthy scratch. When he does play, he has demonstrated mental errors, and has looked rather shaky in high pressure situations.
This season should definitely be considered a regression for him in his standing with the organization, but since he is turning 25, he will graduate from the T25U25. The big question is whether Marc Bergevin will decide to extend his contract after this season is over.
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#24 Darren Dietz (RD)
Contract Status: RFA 2016-17
Current Team: St. John’s IceCaps (AHL)
If there is one defenseman on the IceCaps this season who exemplifies both progression and dependability, it would be Darren Dietz. He has developed into a top defender for the IceCaps this season, and is used in all situations by Sylvain Lefebvre, displaying both defensive reliability and offensive ability.
He now seems to project as a two-way defenceman with significant NHL potential. If there is a knock on Dietz, it would be that he is still inconsistent. He appears great certain games, and disappears completely in others. His offensive production would also benefit greatly from using his powerful slap shot more often, as he fails to use it regularly.
Most important for Dietz is that he is finally staying healthy after several injury-shortened seasons. For him to actually be staying healthy for once is likely huge for his development.
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#18 Noah Juulsen (RD)
Contract Status: RFA 2019-20, contract eligible to slide
Current Team: Everett Silvertips (WHL)
This season needs to be considered a bit of a disappointment for the Canadiens’ first round draft pick in 2015. He was hoping to showcase his abilities at training camp, but an injury during the Junior Super Series forced him to miss all of the Rookie Tournament and most of camp as well.
He did get to play in one preseason game, and played well, but was returned to the WHL shortly thereafter. His difficult season continued, as he failed to make the roster for Team Canada at the World Junior Championships, and his offensive production with the Everett Silvertips dropped significantly.
It will be interesting to see whether he will start his professional career next season, or if he’ll stick to the WHL for now. His struggles this year should be reflected in his T25U25 ranking next season, so it would be tough to project a major rise there.
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#9 Jarred Tinordi (LD)
Current Team: Arizona Coyotes (NHL)
We all knew this was a make-or-break year for the towering defender. He had the size, stride, and tenacity for a successful career, but his fragile confidence was definitely a noticeable weakness. That confidence certainly wasn’t helped by him being buried in the press box during his time with the Canadiens this year.
On a conditioning assignment to St. John’s, Tinordi played five games with the IceCaps and was generally dominant, showcasing his skillset that was beyond the AHL level. Unfortunately, time ran out for the former first round pick, and he ended up being traded to Arizona in the very confusing deal that brought Victor Bartley and John Scott to Montreal.
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#3 Nathan Beaulieu (LD)
Contract Status: RFA 2017-18
Current Team: Montreal Canadiens (NHL)
It has been a breakout season for Beaulieu thus far. He has finally begun to earn his coach’s trust, and plays big minutes, sometimes on the top pair with P.K. Subban. He hasn’t blown the doors off in terms of scoring, but he has been great defensively, and puts up generally strong possession numbers.
He has one more year left on his contract after this season, and if he keeps playing the way that he is, he’ll earn himself a raise on his next agreement. As for improving his position in the top 25, that could prove to be a little difficult since he has a few high profile guys still ahead of him.
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That does it for the defensemen, and we’ll continue updating you on the rest of the team’s prospects in the coming days.
