Ivan Demidov, David Reinbacher lead Montreal Canadiens 2024-25 NHL Prospect Pool

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Austin Kelly
July 23, 2024 (10:50)

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The Montreal Canadiens have one of the top youth groups in the entire league. With Juraj Slafkovsky, Cole Caufield & Kaiden Guhle already emerging as talented players, the Habs also had to boast in their pipeline youngsters such as David Reinbacher, Owen Beck & Jacob Fowler.

While the Canadiens have strong depth, many fans criticized the team for passing on star Russian forward Matvei Michkov, picking Reinbacher at 5th over the SKA forward who dominated on loan to Sochi.

At the time, valid concerns existed about Michkov's contract, which ran until the end of the 2025-26 season, and potentially could be extended. Michkov, drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers at 7th overall, is expected to play for Philly next season, which the untimely passing of Michkov's father allowing for SKA to pass sympathy by allowing for the termination of the contract to chase his goal.

The contract was a real question answered by a tragedy, but it helped paved the way for Ivan Demidov, who this time, Montreal did not let the fellow talented Russian get away.

Also drafted in the first round was boyhood Habs fan Michael Hage, who underwent multiple setbacks, including a season-ending injury and the passing of his father, a mixed first half turned into a dominant late season effort that returned Hage, once a top prospect in this draft, into a first rounder.

With a potentially healthy roster and more youth talent possibly on the way, the Montreal Canadiens are close to leaving the NHL's basement, poised sooner rather than later to put their youth movement into full swing.

European Prospects

Ivan Demidov - RW

The Montreal Canadiens took the most widely proclaimed best player available in Ivan Demidov at fifth overall, while also filling a need for an impact right winger.

Demidov, considered by many to be the second best player in the 2024 NHL Draft class, was widely seen as the top player remaining by Montreal's pick, although last year passing on a talented Russian in Matvei Michkov at the same position. Two things benefited Demidov's stock in the late run, a strong showing at a camp held by his agent, Dan Milstein of 'Gold Star Hockey' in which Demidov showcased a strong hockey ability but also strong proficiency in English.

Also helpful to his cause was reports of Michkov, expected to not come over until 2026 at the earliest, now planning to play with Philadelphia in the 2024-25 season. Demidov is expected to play out his contract with SKA which expires at the end of this year.

Demidov is a high-end playmaker and puckhandler with incredibly strong self-creation and mobility. A mixture of natural creativity and IQ, Demidov has the potential to be a first line NHL winger. His defensive game is quite mature for his age as well, another positive for his game. Perhaps the only flaw in his game is that he wasn't tested enough at a higher level, obviously too good for the Russian juniors where he spent his season, but couldn't make a loaded SKA roster in the KHL, which isn't a terrible problem for his upside given the same was true for Matvei Michkov.

Whenever Demidov comes to Montreal, and right now it looks a case of when and not if, he'll immediately be expected to make an impact, and likely should.

David Reinbacher - RHD

It's hard to analyze Reinbacher's season in the context of his games for Kloten given the team's instability throughout the year. Multiple coaching changes led to multiple tweaks to the team's play style, impacting Reinbacher, confusing the young defenseman who's already a key player.

Perhaps the best outlook is Reinbacher's games in the AHL for Laval. Reinbacher had a decent 5 points in 11 games while being a strong defender. Reinbacher may need another year in the AHL, but in a stable environment, Reinbacher may find himself graduating very quickly from the minor ranks.

Aatos Koivu - C

The son of Former Canadiens captain Saku, Aatos Koivu made prominence not just on name value but in big growth to his game, going from just 7 points in 28 games in the Finnish U18 to 31 points in 28 games in the U20.

Koivu is a primarily offensive forward and will need to improve playing in the defensive end, but he's had a positive progression both on the scoresheet and in game that leads to a lot of promise.

Bogdan Konyushkov - RHD

A fan favorite of Habs fans, Konyushkov has been a strong offensive defenseman in a Torpedo team that's friendly for young players. The 21-year-old had 28 points in 65 games for the KHL club. He looks more like a bottom-four pairing defender, but one with promise, albeit on a team that caters to his strengths.

Vinzenz Rohrer - LW

Rohrer is someone perhaps the expectations were a bit much. He does well playing against men and looks the part, but he doesn't play with a lot of dominance as you'd like. He's a bit undersized but works hard. Rohrer can still be an NHLer but needs to get stronger and play with more pressure.

Oliver Kapanen - C

Kapanen is consistently a top young point producer in Finland and now goes to Sweden for next season. For all his talent, questions still seem to remain over his average skating and if he'll stay at Center. He'll need to get a lot faster and more competitive to ensure that.

Filip Eriksson - C

Eriksson had his draft season cut short due to injury, but managed to get back on track this year in Sweden, doing well on loan in the Swedish 2nd tier with Nybro, netting 10 goals and 24 points in 21 games. He's not the most physical player and still has catching up to do from lost development time, but some good promise to keep an eye on in the Habs system.

Adam Engstrom - LHD

Despite an underwhelming season, Engstrom still looks quite promising, and could be an NHLer if everything comes together. He needs a bit of consistency to his game but he's showing flashes of being a tro-way defenseman, putting some flesh into his raw game.

Dmitri Kostenko - LHD

Kostenko hasn't really progressed in recent years that makes him seem like he'll do much to become an NHLer. Some time, but he hasn't taken the next step to make the jump as a proper pro, either in the KHL, much less for NA.

Makar Khanin - RW

An overager out of Russia, Khanin had some good offensive growth and didn't look out of place against men in the Russian 2nd tier. A longshot, but one worth hoping to hit for his maturity.

Yevgeni Volokhin - G

Volokhin looked like one of Russia's best goalie prospects, if not one of the best in the NHL. Unfortunately he didn't get to showcase that in terms of consistent games while competing with an equally talented netminder in Flyers prospect. Yegor Zavragin. Ridiculous stats in the MHL with a 22-4-4 record with a 1.57GAA and .938SV%. Zavragin being traded to SKA opens up a proper development door for Volokhin to take.

North American Prospects

Lane Hutson - LHD

Lane Hutson is ready for the NHL. One of the most hyped defensive prospects of this decade, Hutson is a highly mobile and offensively gifted defenseman who could be the next big D star in the league, and his size is more typical of dominant NHL lefties.

Hutson led the NCAA in PPG with 1.29, 2nd in PTS with 49 points, netting 15 goals with 34 assists. A really strong and creative playmaker with PP1 potential. His game will need someone who can allow him to play his offensive-minded game, and if so, he could be a star.

Michael Hage - C

Michael Hage has gone through a lot to get to being a first round pick, both on and off the ice. A former top prospect out of Ontario, Hage picked the USHL route, being seen as a top player before a season-ending torn labrum cost him playing time in the 2022-23 season. While recovering from his injury, Hage lost his father, adding a gut punch to what was already a year of setbacks.

Without fellow Canadian Macklin Celebrini with the Chicago Steel, a recovered Hage was tasked with carrying Chicago forward, a tough task in the first half of the season that didn't look convincing, and led to questions if Hage would be a first rounder still. In the second half, Hage turned the rest of his game on, looking far more like the promised player hoped of him.

Although from Ontario, Hage is a Canadiens fan. Taken 21st by his favorite team, Hage has shown he can put a lot of adversity behind him and continue pushing forward, and it's that work ethic that instills confident that Montreal is not only getting a great player, but a great character as well.

Owen Beck - C

A Memorial Cup caps off Beck's OHL career, where he consistently made himself one of the league's best talents. Really strong hockey sense and faceoff ability. Beck is someone who should stick down the middle, even if he's more of a middle-six forward. Will not be a surprise if his pro progression is quick with his maturity and IQ.

Filip Mesar - RW

Mesar may have had a bit more expectations in a weak right wing group for Montreal pre-Demidov, but Mesar has dealt with a bit of inconstency and has struggled to be a shutdown player at times with his lack of size. He may still be a bottom-six winger with 3RW potential but Mesar still need to add some finesse to his game.

Jacob Fowler - G

Fowler was a top goalie last season as a draft prospect, but his size was a bit of a question mark. It doesn't seem that's much of a concern right now, or at least is alleviated by just how good Fowler has been. Already one of the best Goalies in the NCAA, Fowler had a fantastic year with Boston College, going a whopping 32-6-1 in 39 games with the Eagles, with a 2.14GAA and .926SV%. Fowler looks like a potential starter and one of the NHL's best goalie prospects.

Florian Xhekaj - LW

The brother of Arber, Florian finds himself a fan favorite like his older brother. Like his brother, Florian had a massive growth, going from 25 to 65 points in the OHL, being a top player for Brantford. Xhekaj is a hard-working winger who plays with a lot of effort. Easy to root for to make it.

Logan Sawyer - LW

One of the best players in Jr. A hockey, Sawyer is a highly skilled forward with a lot of potential. Decent two-way game with good smarts. Someone who should be at the a higher level, won't be in the NCAA until 2025.

Luke Tuch - RW

Not the most exciting player but plays a responsible and smart two-way game that should make Tuch a potential bottom-six NHLer if the offense he's shown in the NCAA can translate.

Luke Mittelstadt - LHD

A smaller offensive defenseman, Mittelstadt has done well in the NCAA for Minnesota, but may lack the physical edge to carve a path full time in the NHL.

Tyler Thorpe - RW

A late bloomer, Thorpe took a big step from someone who got by off his height (6'5), but grew offensively as a near PPG player. Thorpe is a good two-way offensive asset. Decent skating for his size although it could use further refinement. Obviously a project, but a fun one. Don't think his size makes him a Rempe, that's not what Thorpe is. They say you can't teach size but Thorpe doesn't play like the player you'd associate with that statement.

Rhett Pitlick

High creativity with the puck and a good skater, but uncertainty if he's in Montreal's long-term plans. He's an older prospect and someone good, but not dominant. He'll be an older player once he reaches the AHL.

Owen Protz - LHD

A really strong defensive defenseman, Protz is a powerful and physical defender who just needs the offensive game to come along to be an NHLer. Hope is that he'll blossom quickly with him not needing much work in his own end.

Quentin Miller - G

Quentin Miller, or 'Q Miller' as known by his Spotify, does better defending the net then he does creating lofi beats to make saves to. (still a better listen than Guy Lafleur's bizarrely concocted disco-backed hockey guide)

Miller has been one of the top Goalies in the 'Q' this past season. He's a composed and smart goalie with good size to back himself up. A promising goalie option ignored with Fowler & Volokhin in the pipeline, although it'll likely be a challenge usurping either.

AHL Prospects

Logan Mailloux - RHD

Mailloux answered questions had if his offensive game would translate to the pro level, and it looks as though it's a yes. Mailloux has learned to somewhat control his past proneness to create errors in his own end, showing more composure in his game, although he's still working to fully get there. Mailloux is probably a year away based on his defensive game, but looks close to the big club than what could've been expected a year ago.

Joshua Roy - LW

Roy continues to work hard and keeps pushing himself as more and more of a potential NHLer. Already with 23 NHL games, Roy appears on the cusp of the Habs lineup. He keeps working hard to close his flaws, and looks like someone who should be in the NHL full time next season.

Riley Kidney - C

A bit of a stronger start to his pro career was hoped for with Kidney, only having 7 goals and 20 points in 65 games with Laval. Kidney is no doubt a talented player, but needs to be able to produce more to ensure he's an NHLer.

Sean Farrell - C

Another player who had a good, but not great jump up to the AHL. His size and lack of physicality will be a limitation, but he's already made a debut for the Habs so there's something the team sees in him. Farrell is a strong playmaker with good hockey sense, it's all about if he has the size and strength to make up for it.

Emil Heineman - LW

For a player of Heineman's physical ability, it's clear he still needs a bit more time to be able to establish himself as handling pro opponents. He's a power winger at the AHL level, but it's a wait to see him do the same in the NHL. Should be a bottom-six NHLer if Heineman can translate, and has the tools to play in that role.

William Trudeau - LHD

Defensive defenseman who showcase good skill but hasn't managed to translate it in terms of offensive skill. Will need to be able to produce more to stand out in a deep Habs prospect pool.

Jared Davidson - C

A star in the WHL with Seattle, Davidson hasn't translated well to the AHL, a player who needs an offensive environment to thrive. A hard pathway to the NHL but a project.

Jakub Dobes

Dobes has done well taking on the role of the Laval starter, with a respectable 24-18-6 record and a 2.93GAA and .906SV%. He's in a deep Montreal goalie depth chart, but plays with a lot of translatable effort that could make him a potential backup in the NHL, even if it's not with the Canadiens.

Joe Vrbetic - G

Being 6'6, Vrbetic's size has always made him a valuable junior player even when results were mixed. At the pro level, Vrbetic has struggled to establish himself, posting a tepid 3.52GAA and a .891SV% in the ECHL. He's still young and has lots of development time left to go, but Vrbetic has not had the strongest start to his pro career, and has some catching up to do to progress.