This year, we are going to run our draft preview in descending order which means we begin with the second round. As per usual, this round is more of a list, though highlighted are the four players that are interesting consideration for the Habs, two from each half of the round. Hope you enjoy this early look at the upcoming draft and what it may hold for the Canadiens.
#64 – John Mustard – C – Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
Start of season rank: N/A
#63 – Sam O’Reilly – RW – London Knights (OHL)
Start of season rank: N/A
#62 – Topias Hynninen – RW – Jukurit U20 (Finnish U20)
Start of season rank: N/A
#61 – Leon Muggli – LD – Zug U20 (U20-Elit)
Start of season rank: N/A
#60 – Niilopekka Muhonen – LD – KalPa U20 (U20 SM-Sarja)
Start of season rank: 47
#59 – Teddy Stiga – LW – USNTDP (USHL)
Start of season rank: N/A
#58 – Justin Poirier – RW – Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
Start of season rank: 44
#57 – Will Felicio – LD – Madison Capitols (USHL)
Start of season rank: 49
#56 – Dean Letourneau – C – Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)
Start of season rank: N/A
The hulking pivot stands at 6’6″ and has been the talk of St. Andrew’s College to start this season. He has recently shifted to the USHL, so seeing how he adapts to a higher-level mid-season will be interesting. Letourneau is a tall and lanky centre who is quite mobile for his size as he tried to model his game after Tage Thompson.
87 points in 39 games with St. Andrew’s has catapulted Letourneau to an early debut with Sioux Falls. What he does next might really determine his final draft ranking.
I think this is precisely the type of pick I want to see the Habs take with a pick at this ranking. I’m not convinced that management sees it the same way. It’s an intriguing project, but he remains a project pick. Letourneau is a boom-or-bust player who is likely to keep the Canadiens away as they prefer looking for someone with less upside that is “a real pro”.
#55 – Ryerson Leenders – G – Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)
Start of season rank: N/A
#54 – Raoul Boilard – C – Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
Start of season rank: N/A
#53 – Cole Beaudoin – C – Barrie Colts (OHL)
Start of season rank: 34
An excellent forechecker that plays a rather linear game and prefers to drive the net than make plays with the puck. While this doesn’t sound all that sexy, it is a pick very much in line with Jake Evans and Owen Beck-type players who are usually adored by coaches and would continue to provide depth at the centre position while ensuring the team doesn’t have to overpay for a bottom-six centre for years to come.
38 points in 42 games in the OHL is some good production at this position.
Beaudoin seems like the type of player the Habs have liked in recent drafts. While I prefer the higher risk, higher reward type players myself, I think the value this late in the second round is worth the pick for Montreal and one they would be likely to make.
#52 – Tomas Galvas – LD – Liberec (Extraliga)
Start of season rank: N/A
#51 – Alexander Zetterberg – C – Orebro J20 (J20)
Start of season rank: 33
#50 – Carson Wetsch – RW – Calgary Hitmen (WHL)
Start of season rank: 39
#49 – Christian Humphreys – RW – USNTDP (USHL)
Start of season rank: 35
#48 – Dominik Badinka – RD – Malmo Redhawks (SHL)
Start of season rank: N/A
#47 – Kamil Bednarik – C – USNTDP (USHL)
Start of season rank: N/A
#46 – Miguel Marques – RW – Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
Start of season rank: N/A
#45 – Melvin Fernstrom – LW – Örebro HK (J20)
Start of season rank: N/A
#44 – Will Skahan – LD – USNTDP (USHL)
Start of season rank: 26
#43 – Simon Zether – C – Rogle (J20)
Start of season rank: 36
#42 – Charlie Elick – RD – Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL)
Start of season rank: 19
Elick is projected to be a more defensive defenceman at the next level, but for a team with a long list of defence prospects on the left side with offensive potential, another right-hand player that can insulate a dynamic offensive player lower in the lineup might be a nice target in the early second round.
20 points in 45 games in the WHL doesn’t jump off the page, but his 45 PIMS sure do if you need an idea of the type of player being discussed here.
I like the sure value of a player who plays with a physical edge. Having said that, packaging these second-rounders has been Kent Hughes’ MO so far in his tenure and if Elick is the mark, I’d be okay with a third year of trading this pick away.
#41 – Lucas Pettersson – C – MoDo (J20)
Start of season rank: N/A
#40 – Daniil Ustinkov – LD – ZSC (NL)
Start of season rank: 43
#39 – Matvei Gridin – LW – Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
Start of season rank: N/A
#38 – Leo Wallenius – LD – Vaxjo Lakers (J20 Nationell)
Start of season rank: 42
#37 – Alfons Freij – RD – Vaxjo Lakers (J20 Nationell)
Start of season rank: N/A
#36 – EJ Emery – RD – USNTDP (USHL)
Start of season rank: 31
#35 – Adam Jecho – RW – Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Start of season rank: N/A
He’s a 6’5″ winger who moved to North America this season as he follows a jagged path to this year’s draft. Despite an up-and-down few years, he’s emerged as a top-line player in Edmonton that has scouts salivating considering the physical tools at his disposal. Understandable with that frame! His wingspan is definitely the main tool that he uses to find success against smaller opposition at the junior level. Because of this, he is a very north-south player who likely projects as more of a middle-six option in the long term.
28 points in 31 games so far this season for Jecho. Remember that he’s doing this while in his first season away from home. Then, consider his 47 points in 37 games in the Finnish U18 last year. There is untapped potential here.
Considering the Habs are likely to eventually move on from both Joel Armia and Josh Anderson, drafting a big-bodied and physically capable middle-six scorer with an untapped ceiling seems like an excellent idea to me. However, if Jecho continues his hot start, he might be this year’s Samuel Honzek and be gone late in the first round, so it might not be that realistic.
#34 – Terik Parascak – RW – Prince George Cougars (WHL)
Start of season rank: 46
#33 – Veeti Vaisanen – LD – KooKoo (Liiga)
Start of season rank: 25