Your Montreal Canadiens 2017 Draft Class

1st Round 25th Overall: Ryan Poehling

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Ryan Poehling is a 17 year-old centre from St.Cloud University in the NCAA. He primarily plays a two-way game with good defensive presence, good forechecking abilities, and strongs hands in front of goal. Standing at 6’2” tall and 185 lbs, Poehling uses his size to his advantage to create a dominant net-front presence that allows him to create scoring opportunities. He is projected to play a bottom-six role with top-six forward potential.

2nd Round  56th Overall: Josh Brook

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Josh Brook is a defenseman from the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL. Brook is a defense-first defender who uses his 6’1”, 182 pound frame that has developed in a two-way role for his team last year. With 40 points in 69 games, Brook has shown that he has the potential to contribute at a higher level for his team and was named to Team Canada’s squad for the U-18 world championships. If developed correctly, he is projected to be a NHL-level shutdown defenseman that can contribute offensively.

2nd Round 58th Overall: Joni Ikonen

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Joni Ikonen is a C/RW from Frolunda’s U-20 team in the Swedish league. Extremely skilled and dominant at the pivot spot, Ikonen has all the makings of a later-round steal from the Canadiens. He uses his skill and speed to dominate at the centre of the ice, with is further reflected by his 41 points in 40 games for the club. His well-rounded offensive game frustrates opponents who try to contain him as he consistantly poses the shoot or pass question to opposing defenseman. If he develops correctly, he can become a reliable top-six option with the Canadiens.

3rd round 68th Overall: Scott Walford

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Scott Walford is a 6’2” tall, 193-pound defenseman from the WHL’s Victoria Royals. He is the prototypical stay-at-home defender that can contribute offensively and doesn’t panic when puck handling under pressure as he recorded 30 points in 60 games played for the Royals this season. The Canadiens’ need of left-side defensive prospects can open up opportunities for this young man to develop into a solid two-way prospect and possible NHL-level defenseman.

3rd round 85th Overall: Cale Fleury

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Cale Fleury is yet another defenseman from the WHL, however this time from a lackluster Kootenay Ice team. Fleury is a two-way defensman with a great first pass and decent puckhandling abilities. He plays an aggressive game that can cause opposing-side turnovers and facilitates his forwards on offense with his passing. Last year, he captained a uninspiring Ice squad and finished with 38 points in 70 games as well as posting a -61 in the plus/minus column. Fleury can be an interesting NHL-level prospect for the Canadiens, as he may have been undervalued because of his team’s performance last season.

5th round 149th Overall: Jarret Tyszka

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The Canadiens made sure to add to their defensive depth by selecting Jarret Tyszka of the WHL’s  Seattle Thunderbirds. Tyszka, like many other defensemen Canadiens selected, is a mobile two-way defenseman that has offensive potential. His 24 points in 54 games reflects that when called upon, Tyszka has the ability to contribute. Tyszka slid a bit in the draft, with some scouting services having him as a second round prospect, and the Canadiens took advantage of his position to swipe him up in the fifth round.

7th round 199th Overall: Cayden Primeau

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As the 2017 draft was coming to an end, the Canadiens traded with the Flyers to select goaltender Cayden Primeau in the seventh round. Primeau, who is the son of former NHL player Keith Primeau, has committed to Northeastern University for next season as the Habs continue to solidify their depth at the position. Due to the Habs depth, they can afford to take their time on a NCAA-developing goaltender which has yielded some good results for the organization in the past such as Mike Condon and Charlie Lindgren.

Are you happy with the Habs’ draft picks?