Published 1 hour ago • loading... • Updated 1 hour ago
No star prospects at Canadiens’ rookie camp, but plenty of gems to polish
With top prospects absent, the Canadiens will use two rookie-camp games to identify overlooked players and gauge invited prospects, staff said.
Montreal Canadiens prospects gather at the Slush Puppie Centre this weekend for games against the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday and Ottawa Senators on Sunday, with new Laval Rocket head coach Daniel Jacob leading evaluations.
Management promoted Jacob to head coach of the Rocket this summer after seven seasons as an assistant coach in the American Hockey League, marking his first rookie camp in the role.
Of the 23 players invited to camp, only three—Tyler Thorpe, Luke Mittelstadt, and Owen Protz—have signed NHL contracts, while top prospects remain unavailable due to NCAA or European league commitments.
Assistant coach Martin Laperrière emphasized that "every year, there are some great finds, even among the invited players," noting staff seek talent to develop into future NHL contributors.
Developing championship habits remains the coaching staff's primary objective as they work daily to prepare these athletes for potential roles within the Montreal Canadiens organization.