WATCH: Filip Mesar Shows Off Skill During Shootout Attempt

(Editor’s note: The play was initially mistakenly reported as a goal. The puck hit the post.)

Filip Mesar continued his impressive play, building on the momentum he gained at the Montreal Canadiens training camp, where he stood out as one of the best forward prospects in the organization.

While he possesses a strong offensive instinct and great skating, it’s his elite stickhandling that impressed the most, particularly when he was forced into tight areas. He showed he was able to not only maintain possession of the puck in those situations but also quickly find his way towards the net.

On Wednesday morning, Mesar reminded everyone why the Canadiens selected him in the first round, by pulling off a great move that hit the post, including a fantastic behind-the-back finishing move that would leave most goaltenders with nothing but regret and Slovak-themed nightmares.

Filip Mesar 🥶#GoRocket pic.twitter.com/337qMMjM7f

— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) October 5, 2022

It’s unclear where Mesar will play next season. The OHL’s Kitchener Rangers own his rights, but regardless of where he ends up, his assignment to Laval was the first hint that the Montreal Canadiens are quite happy with his current development.

“I think it’s something we’ll evaluate over time,” said Hughes in July. “We’ll let him show us what he can do. We want him to continue to have success offensively. If we can’t offer this in Laval, we’ll see about Kitchener.”

All signs point to Mesar being ready for AHL action, especially when you consider he spent last season playing professional hockey in Slovakia. The greatest concern coming into camp was his ability to endure physical play, but he’s yet to show he’ll shy away from physical interactions.

Most importantly, he possesses the type of offensive tools that are best developed in the AHL, alongside players that are on the cusp of making the jump to the NHL.

If the Rocket can find him a healthy dose of minutes and he keeps pulling off ridiculous moves, Filip Mesar very well may be described as a Draft steal in the near future.