Now that the first-round summary has spanned four articles, here is our ranking for the second round, highlighted by two players that would be of interest to the Habs in the first half of the round and two more of interest in the second half of the round. Hope you’ve enjoyed this look into the upcoming draft and what it may hold for the Canadiens.
#33 – Jayden Perron – RW – Chicago Steel (USHL)
#34 – Samuel Honzek – LW – Vancouver Giants (WHL)
#35 – Michael Hrabal – G – Omaha Lancers (USHL)
#36 – William Whitelaw – RW – Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
#37 – Noah Dower-Nilsson – LW – Frolunda HC J20
#38 – Alex Ciernik – LW – Södertälje SK J20
#39 – Dmitri Simashev – RD – Yaroslavl Lokomotiv (KHL)
#40 – Daniil But – LW – Yaroslavl Lokomotiv (KHL)
#41 – Luca Pinelli – C – Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
#42 – Tanner Moldendyk – LD – Saskatoon Blades (WHL)
#43 – Luca Cagnoni – LD – Portland Winterhawks (WHL)
#44 – Theo Lindstein – LD – Brynas (SHL)
#45 – Oliver Bonk – RD – London Knights (OHL)
#46 – Maxim Strbak – RD – Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)
#47 – Bradley Nadeau – C – Pentiction Vees (BCHL)
#48 – Kalan Lind – LW – Red Deer Rebels (WHL)
#34 – Samuel Honzek
Vancouver Giants (WHL) – LW
He’s a 6’4″ centre that projects as a middle-six winger at the next level. This Slovakian playing in the WHL has taken a significant step this season as he was not on many boards to start the season. Now on many first-round lists, the first detail that grabs the attention is obviously his size, which he uses to protect the puck more so than to separate an opponent from it. His vision is quite good too, though his play away from the puck needs some work.
46 points in 35 games in this year’s most heavily scouted league will generate some hype and attention and that’s what is happening with Honzek. This is his first season in the WHL too, so it might explain why he wasn’t on many lists to start the season as his production in a men’s league last season wasn’t worth noting. He only got to play in two games at the WJC and didn’t make much of an impact at all.
Recency bias being what it is, it’s fair to think Honzek won’t be around when the Habs get to pick in the second round. Should he still be available, it might be worth a gamble pick to bring in a fellow Slovak for Slafkovsky that could play the down-low cycle game the Habs seem to want out of their first overall pick as they could then build a big grind line with some skill to complement the Caufield-Suzuki duo.
#45 – Oliver Bonk
London Knights (OHL) – RD
Bonk played his 21-22 season in Junior B. This likely explains why he was on nobody’s radar to start this campaign. Recently, London refused to cough up the 6’2″ scoring defenceman Bonk when negotiating trades in the OHL and we know the Knights are excellent at developing NHL-ready talent. So, there must be something there, right?
34 points in 56 games makes Bonk one of the leaders in rookie scoring, significant considering he plays the blue line!
The son of Radek Bonk, who did play in Montreal, consider this another player who is trending up and will not be available at the 45-rank come the draft. How high up he goes remains to be seen but should the Habs decide that they need a big defenceman who excels at puck retrieval and breakouts, then Bonk might be an excellent addition with an early second-round pick.
#49 – Emil Jarventie – RW – SaiPa Lappeenranta (Liiga)
#50 – Danny Nelson – LW – USDP
#51 – Carson Rehkopf – LW – Kitchener Rangers (OHL)
#52 – Timur Mukhanov – C – Omskie Yastreby (MHL)
#53 – Carson Bjarnason – G – Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
#54 – Jesse Kiiskinen – LW – Lahti Pelicans (Liiga)
#55 – Mathieu Cataford – RW – Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL)
#56 – Lenni Hameenaho – RW – Assat Pori (Liiga)
#57 – Andrew Strathman – LD – Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
#58 – Ondrej Molnar – LW – Erie Otters (OHL)
#59 – Denver Barkey – C – London Knights (OHL)
#60 – Gracyn Sawchyn – C – Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
#61 – Tom Willander – LW – Rogle BK Jr (Sweden)
#62 – Roman Kantserov – LW – Stalnye Lisy (MHL)
#63 – Etienne Morin – LD – Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL)
#64 – Martin Misiak – C – Nove Zamky Mikron HC (Slovakia)
#51 – Carson Rehkopf
Kitchener Rangers (OHL) – LW
Described as a player that will mold his game according to where he is placed in the lineup, Rehkopf was a high pick in the OHL but has been derailed by a lack of playing time due to the pandemic. At his best when engaged physically suggests that consistency is an issue, but with his big frame, if he can put it all together, the team selecting him will get an NHL player although a Pezzetta-style bottom-of-the-lineup guy might be a more realistic projection.
48 points in 55 games in the OHL is some good production for a late second-round pick.
The Habs aren’t likely to select in the range Rehkopf finds himself in and that might not be a bad thing. Considering the number of selections they have, I would prefer bigger swings than what is being offered at these positions. The later selections in this round might be more enticing for a Montreal team picking for the fourth or fifth time.
#60 – Gracyn Sawchyn
Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) – C
Described as an undersized centre with pest-like tendencies, Sawchyn is finding himself on more and more lists as the season progresses. That is to say, he’s trending up and over this rank, but who knows where he ends up.
57 points in 56 games for a late second-round pick is once again quite good. The 60 rank is unrealistic as this is another player that was on very few top-64 projections coming into the season. The opportunity has presented itself and Sawchyn has run with it.
This is a player that has an endless motor and wants to get the absolute most he can out of his body. In the latter portions of the second round, someone that can play with that chip on his shoulder is an excellent trait and one that allows players to beat the odds and maybe make it all the way. He’s consistently attacking the dangerous areas on the ice and at 5’11″, he isn’t as small as I thought when I first started to read about him. I think the Canadiens would be wise to make this gamble and see where it ends up.