Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens Went For Upside In The 2nd Round

Published

2 years ago

July 8, 2022

The Montreal Canadiens took players with high hockey IQ and great growth potential in Round 2

Owen Beck was the first pick of Day 2 at 33rd overall. The two-way centre from the Mississauga Steelheads was a rookie in the OHL this year and was one of the best two-way centres in the league. Beck possesses great hockey IQ, allowing him to impact the game at both levels of the ice. In a conversation with Montreal Hockey Now, Beck compared his game to that of former Montreal Canadiens Phil Danault. He plays with a relentless motor and is always in the right place at the right time; allowing him to create offence out of his opponents’ mistakes.

Beck will be tasked with evolving his role on the Steelheads next season by being more involved in the offensive production of the club during a full season; a task he believes he’ll thrive in.

“I feel I can contribute more in every way, especially offensively,” said Beck when asked how his game can continue to grow.

Owen Beck (MTL) checks off a ton of boxes: above-average tools, inside-driven, defensive skill, give-and-go game. Easy to envision him playing in the NHL, and there's plenty of runway for improvement. pic.twitter.com/C5WeAPO033

— Mitchell Brown (@MitchLBrown) July 8, 2022

Lane Hutson is perhaps the most intriguing defenceman in the 2022 NHL Draft, as his explosive skating and exceptional playmaking skills are absolutely off the charts. He plays a game predicated on carrying the puck up the ice with incredible speed; making him extremely effective for both zone exits and zone entries in open ice. The main concern of some scouts is his small stature (5’8, 159 lbs), as it is extremely difficult for defencemen of that size to defend at the NHL level, especially in the playoffs.

Ultimately, the raw skills and skating ability would have made Hutson a great gamble for any team in the late 1st round or early 2nd round, let alone the late 2nd round. He’ll have all the time to develop at his pace in the NCAA next season for Boston University.