BREAKING NEWS: Canadiens Sign another 21-yearts old key man to huge contract with $862,500 cap hit.

When an NHL team drafts a prospect, the player might feel like they’ve achieved their goal and that the toughest part is behind them. However, this is rarely true unless they are a generational talent. Players like Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby went straight to the NHL after being drafted, but most draftees require further development. The later a player is picked in the draft, the less likely they are to become a top NHL player, although there are a few exceptions. Yesterday, the Montreal Canadiens faced the decision of what to do with four prospects from Kent Hughes’ first draft class of 2022.

Jared Davidson Gets a 2-Year Entry-Level Contract

Jared Davidson went undrafted in the NHL twice before the Montreal Canadiens took a chance on the overage junior by selecting him 130th overall in the fifth round of the 2022 Entry Draft. Initially, Davidson had 16 points in 59 games, but in the season prior to being drafted, he impressed with 89 points in 64 games, likely convincing the Canadiens to pick him. The center spent five years with the Western Hockey League’s Seattle Thunderbirds before signing an American Hockey League contract with the Canadiens’ affiliate, the Laval Rocket.

In his first professional season with the Rocket in 2023-24, Davidson played 38 games and recorded 16 points, including 11 goals, ranking third in goals among the team’s rookies, behind Logan Mailloux and Joshua Roy. Pleased with his performance, the Canadiens offered him a two-year entry-level contract with a cap hit of $862,500.

Cedrick Guindon Is No Longer a Canadiens Prospect

Cedrick Guindon, a native of Rockland, Ontario, was selected 127th overall by the Canadiens in the 2022 Draft. Despite his notable scoring progression, it wasn’t enough to earn him an entry-level deal from Montreal.

Additionally, NHL teams can only have up to 50 contracts at a time, and the Canadiens, having made many draft picks in recent years, are likely to face similar situations in the future. Guindon’s shorter stature and lack of standout skills further contributed to the decision. He doesn’t excel in any particular area to distinguish himself. While his French language skills are a plus, it’s reassuring to see that it didn’t automatically secure him a contract.

Petteri Nurmi Can Stay in Finland

Finnish left-shot defenseman Petteri Nurmi has continued to play in his home country since the Canadiens drafted him 194th overall in the seventh round. Despite a slight improvement in his offensive output, with 15 points in 48 games and 16 points in 60 games over consecutive seasons, it wasn’t enough to earn him a contract.

Given the Canadiens’ crowded blue line, particularly with left-shooting defensemen, this outcome isn’t surprising. Similar to Jared Davidson, Nurmi was already overage when Montreal drafted him, and after two years, he has shown minimal progress. His plus/minus ratings of minus-7 and minus-9 over the past two seasons, though often a misleading statistic, likely influenced the Canadiens’ decision, backed by scouting reports from their staff in Finland.

Miguel Tourigny Is No Lane Hutson

Miguel Tourigny, selected 216th overall in the seventh round of the 2022 NHL Draft, faces challenges in making it to the NHL due to his 5-foot-8 stature, despite being a right-shot defenseman. In the QMJHL, Tourigny was an offensive powerhouse, amassing 80 points with the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada and the Acadie-Bathurst Titans the season before his draft.

However, the Canadiens have already designated the role of a small offensive defenseman to Lane Hutson, who is similarly sized but more agile and faster. After his draft year, Tourigny played in Slovakia but struggled to secure a spot with the Laval Rocket upon returning to Canada, resulting in his assignment to the Trois-Rivières Lions in the ECHL.

The Canadiens currently have 21 players on their reserve list, and with 12 picks in the 2024 NHL draft, this number could significantly increase. However, it might also decrease if General Manager Kent Hughes finds a favorable trade to bolster his current lineup. For example, the team’s second first-round pick could be traded to acquire offensive support. We will see Hughes’ plans unfold in less than a month.