With the draft less than two weeks away, it’s time to look at this year’s hopefuls and what they bring to the table. This first segment examines the second round. As usual, this segment is less detailed, though four players are highlighted as they were identified as intriguing targets for the Habs.
Two from each half of the round have been selected despite the Canadiens only picking late in the round coming at number 57. One never knows what trades could happen or which player might slip through the teams that would allow the Habs to pounce and add a value pick so we’ll consider the possibility of them winding up with a pick in the first half as well.
#33 – Tanner Howe – LW – Regina Pats (WHL)
Previous Rankings: Start – 23 Midseason – 25
#34 – Henry Mews – RD – Ottawa 67’s (OHL)
Previous Rankings: Start – 12 Midseason – 24
#35 – Maxim Masse – RW – Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL)
Previous Rankings: Start – 17 Midseason – 32
When writing the midseason rankings, I wrote that Masse’s style of play was one that fit in well with what the Habs try to do on the ice. This hasn’t changed. His production held steady too as he finished with 75 points and 36 goals in 67 games. I also wrote at the All-Star break that Masse would be an ideal target should his stock continue to plummet, and he found himself in the early second round. This is precisely what has happened, but the Habs aren’t picking 37th, but rather 57th, and Masse should be long gone by then.
#36 – Alfons Freij – RD – Vaxjo Lakers (J20 Nationell)
Previous Rankings: Start – N/A Midseason – 37
#37 – Leo Wallenius – LD – Vaxjo Lakers (J20 Nationell)
Previous Rankings: Start – 42 Midseason – 38
#38 – Lucas Pettersson – C – MoDo (J20)
Previous Rankings: Start – N/A Midseason – 41
#39 – Stian Solberg – LD – Farjestad BK (SHL)
Previous Rankings: Start – N/A Midseason – N/A
#40 – Dean Letourneau – C – Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)
Previous Rankings: Start – N/A Midseason – 56
#41 – Matvei Gridin – LW – Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL)
Previous Rankings: Start – N/A Midseason – 39
#42 – Dominik Badinka – RD – Malmo Redhawks (SHL)
Previous Rankings: Start – N/A Midseason – 48
Badinka has bounced around a few of the European leagues over the last season, but that has allowed him to play more games than a usual calendar for those leagues which is good. His stats won’t jump off the page which is why he finds himself in the thick of the second round. A few rankings have him in the first round, but it doesn’t appear to be a popular thought. I would be surprised if he were still available when the Habs pick at 57, but if he is, he could be a very Romanov-like pick. He has excellent poise, a high hockey IQ, and a strong first pass. Add that with good mobility for a six-foot-three defender and the recipe is there for some impressive play on a smaller ice. Oh yeah, I almost forgot, one of the knocks against him is that he sometimes lacks discipline and crosses the line with his physical play. While not a sexy puck mover like Lane Hutson was, he would be a very solid pick at a position of need for the Habs.
#43 – Teddy Stiga – LW – USNTDP (USHL)
Previous Rankings: Start – N/A Midseason – 59
#44 – Luke Misa – Mississauga Steelheads (OHL)
Previous Rankings: Start – N/A Midseason – 29
#45 – Veeti Vaisanen – LD – KooKoo (Liiga)
Previous Rankings: Start – 25 Midseason – 33
#46 – Matvei Shuravin – LD – Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL)
Previous Rankings: Start – N/A Midseason – 30
#47 – Yegor Surin – C – Loko Yaroslavl (MHL)
Previous Rankings: Start – N/A Midseason – N/A
#48 – Adam Jecho – Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL)
Previous Rankings: Start – N/A Midseason – 35
#49 – Julius Miettinen – C – Everett Silvertips (WHL)
Previous Rankings: Start – 51 Midseason – N/A
#50 – Will Skahan – LD – USNTDP (USHL)
Previous Rankings: Start – 26 Midseason – 44
#51 – John Mustard – C – Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)
Previous Rankings: Start – N/A Midseason – 64
#52 – Jesse Pulkkinen – LD – JYP (Liiga)
Previous Rankings: Start – N/A Midseason – N/A
#53 – Marek Vanacker – LW – Brantford Bulldogs (OHL)
Previous Rankings: Start – N/A Midseason – N/A
#54 – Tomas Galvas – LD – Liberec (Extraliga)
Previous Rankings: Start – N/A Midseason – 52
#55 – Justin Poirier – RW – Baie-Comeau Drakkar (QMJHL)
Previous Rankings: Start – 44 Midseason – 58
#56 – Harrison Brunicke – RD – Kamloops Blazers (WHL)
Previous Rankings: Start – N/A Midseason – N/A
Set to be the first drafted player born in South Africa since Olaf Kolzig, there is a chance that a team falls in love with Brunicke and selects him far ahead of this 56 slot. He is a right-handed defender with size and a high ceiling, after all. He makes the cut at 56 more for his floor than ceiling though. He plays an excellent defensive game that should guarantee an NHL look for the defender. While some rankings have him higher, his limited offensive upside capped him in many other rankings consulted.
#57 – Sam O’Reilly – RW – London Knights (OHL)
Previous Rankings: Start – N/A Midseason – 63
The OHL’s rookie scoring leader, O’Reilly continued to improve his draft stock with a Gallagher-like motor and a good showing at the Memorial Cup. The Habs are picking at this exact spot on draft day and a replacement for a fan favourite would certainly be a selection that most of the fan base should get behind. Much like Gallagher, the knock on O’Reilly is the skating, but the Habs have put a lot of work into their player development assets, and a player that will come in with the right attitude considering the strong London program can be a great project for that team.
#58 – Linus Eriksson – C – Djurgardens (J20 Nationell)
Previous Rankings: Start – 52 Midseason – N/A
#59 – Kamil Bednarik – C – USNTDP (USHL)
Previous Rankings: Start – N/A Midseason – 47
#60 – Leon Muggli – LD – Zug U20 (U20-Elit)
Previous Rankings: Start – N/A Midseason – 61
#61 – Ben Danford – RD – Oshawa Generals (OHL)
Previous Rankings: Start – N/A Midseason – N/A
#62 – Spencer Gill – RD – Rimouski Oceanic (QMJHL)
Previous Rankings: Start – N/A Midseason – N/A
#63 – Daniil Ustinkov – LD – ZSC (NL)
Previous Rankings: Start – 43 Midseason – 40
#64 – Miguel Marques – RW – Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL)
Previous Rankings: Start – N/A Midseason – 46