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Habs Prospects

Canadiens Sign Jayden Struble To ELC, To Join Laval

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1 year ago

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Montreal Canadiens

The Montreal Canadiens announced they signed prospect Jayden Struble to an entry-level contract and that the youngster is set to join the Laval Rocket for the rest of the year.

The 21-year-old has agreed on terms for a two-year contract effective for the 2023-2024 season and has also signed a professional try-out (PTO) with the Laval Rocket.

By delaying the start of his ELC to next season and signing a PTO for the remainder of this current season, Struble will be eligible to join the Rocket for their end-of-season push and will also be eligible for the AHL playoffs.

The defenceman’s NCAA career came to a conclusion on Saturday, as the Northeastern Huskies were eliminated by Providence in the Hockey East Tournament quarterfinals.

The 46th overall pick at the 2019 Draft served as Northeastern’s alternate captain, scoring one goal and 11 assists in 31 games this season. He finishes his time in the NCAA with nine goals and 39 assists in 104 games.

Struble is one of the strongest prospects outside of the NHL, let alone the Canadiens’ prospect pool.

He has good offensive instincts, jumping into the rush at opportune times, however, he never quite unlocked his offensive potential in his time in the NCAA. His puck-moving abilities are good, though unlikely to easily translate to the professional level.

MUST READ: Interview with Montreal Canadiens prospect Jayden Struble

Defensively, Struble’s strong skating allows him to do a great job defending off the rush, although he could stand to improve his defensive positioning. His aggression, which is often one of his greatest assets, could turn into a weakness if he struggles with discipline in the AHL or NHL.

He’s far from a polished prospect, but his raw skill alone is worth an extended audition with the organization, especially now that the Canadiens have a legitimate development system led by Adam Nicholas.

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