Game Preview: How To Watch The Canadiens Vs. The Maple Leafs

We’re inching closer to the start of the 2024-25 regular season, as the Montreal Canadiens rookies are set to host the Toronto Maple Leafs on Saturday afternoon at the Bell Centre. The puck drop is scheduled for 1:00 pm ET.

Updated Highlights: Lane Hutson and Adam Engstrom Shine Versus the Maple Leafs

The Canadiens will ice a lineup featuring some of their top defensive prospects, with Lane Hutson, David Reinbacher, Logan Mailloux, and Adam Engstrom leading the charge for the home team. Hutson and Mailloux are both aiming to earn an NHL job at the team’s main training camp, and will consequently face the Leafs’ best players on the top pairing. Additionally, Hutson is expected to serve as the team’s main powerplay quarterback, a role many fans are hoping he fills during the regular season at some point during his rookie season.

ON TOPIC: How Lane Hutson’s Chaotic Approach Will Help The Canadiens On The Powerplay

Engstrom and Reinbacher will look to put their professional hockey experience in Europe to good use on the second pairing, a combination that may very well be able to match Hutson and Mailloux when it comes to driving the play. It’s the first test for the ‘big four’ defensive prospects, as they will have to provide the same type of sustained effort in the defensive zone as they do in their preferred workspace, the offensive zone.

As for the forward lines, Owen Beck is arguably the lone forward with a legitimate chance to start the season in the NHL, though we’d be foolish to disregard the play of his wingers, Sean Farrell and Emil Heineman. The same can be said about Filip Mesar, who is set to play as a centre on the team’s second line, with Riley Kidney and Jared Davidson on the wing. Much has been made about his relatively underwhelming time in the OHL, however, Mesar does project as the type of player who will do a little better now that he’s playing with wingers who have professional hockey experience.

Goaltender Quentin Miller was expected to be the team’s start, but the only drafted goaltender at rookie camp will not be available to play as he’s currently nursing a shoulder injury.

MUST READ: Analyzing Montreal Canadiens Rookie Camp Lines And Pairings

Even though the Canadiens have the better team on paper, they’ll have to take the Maple Leafs youngsters seriously, particularly when it comes to the forwards. Hell hath no fury like a prospect trying to make an impression at rookie camp, which means everyone needs to keep their heads up and their pucks safe.

Easton Cowan and Fraser Minten will be a formidable duo that will force turnovers and generate scoring chances on a whim. I’d argue neither is quite ready for the NHL, especially since Cowan is set to return to the London Knights in the OHL. But they’re on the cusp, and a strong performance this weekend could be just what they need to convince the Leafs that NHL usage should be on the menu.

The last time Cowan and Beck met was at the Memorial Cup final, where Beck scored the first two goals of the game. Not only did the Saginaw Spirit emerge with the first championship in franchise history, Beck was given Memorial Cup MVP honours, a perfect end to his CHL career. This time around, Cowan will surely want to avoid leaving the showcase with a sour taste in his mouth.

It’s… beautiful.

After scoring the first goal of the game, #GoHabsGo prospect Owen Beck obliterates #GoLeafsGo prospect Easton Cowan with a huge hit. #MemorialCup pic.twitter.com/gkjlJHhZk2

— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) June 3, 2024

The good news for the Toronto prospect is that he’s almost always the best player on the ice, regardless of the situation. Most will remember London lost the Memorial Cup final, but they’ll forget Cowan participated in all three of their scoring plays. If the Knights had won, Cowan’s name would currently adorn the MVP trophy.

And while I understand this is a Canadiens-focused website, which means we don’t usually go out of our way to compliment Leafs prospects, it’s very difficult not to be impressed by Cowan’s work rate and nose for the net. He epitomizes hockey entertainment.

Montreal Canadiens Projected Rookie Lineup

Potential Toronto Maple Leafs Rookie Lineup

Cowan – Minten – Grebenkin

Hirvonen – Quillan – Voit

Lisowsky – Holinka – Kressler

Muranov – Mastrosimone – Finnie

Defence:

Webber – Niemelä

Chadwick – Danford

Mayes – McCleary

Goalies:

Hildeby

Akhtyamov

How to Watch or Stream The Montreal Canadiens vs. The Toronto Maple Leafs Game on Saturday:

The rookie camp game between the Canadiens and the Maple Leafs will be televised on RDS/RDS2. The Canadiens originally announced they would have the game on their website, however, they failed to provide a stream. Thankfully, you can stream the game via the Maple Leafs website.