Top Canadiens Rookies That Improved Their Training Camp Odds

The Montreal Canadiens rookies may have lost their two games against the Toronto Maple Leafs, but a handful truly stood out and improved their odds of making an impact at the upcoming main camp.

Despite back-to-back 5-4 losses for Montreal, both games were entertaining and showed a lot of the promise that Canadiens fans have in their team’s current prospect pool.

With notable prospects like Michael Hage, Ivan Demidov, Jacob Fowler and more missing from the roster, certain Canadiens prospects had a better opportunity to shine;especially at forward.

With current NHL betting odds currently placing the team for another bottom-10 finish this season, measuring the progress of the organization’s top prospects, especially on defence was imperative.

Many of those prospects showed up and demonstrated why the next few weeks will be of high interest at the Montreal Canadiens main camp.

More on which players gained momentum going into training camp this week.

Lane Hutson: The Montreal Canadiens’ Secret Weapon

Lane Huston was perhaps the most electrifying player on the ice, along with Toronto’s Easton Cowan this weekend.

Every time he touched the puck, the buzz in the Bell Centre hit mid-season form, producing exciting rushes and trying some high-risk, high-reward plays.

Paired with fellow Canadiens prospect, Logan Mailloux, Hutson showed maturity with the puck that goes beyond his 20 years of age. His patience and calmness with the puck made him look like a true general on the ice, contributing to a net-positive outcome on almost every shift.

His poise with the puck and his deceptiveness in the offensive zone made him almost impossible to cover; opening up passing lanes and causing Toronto’s defence to break down in the slot.

The Montreal Canadiens preach a lot about finding the open space on the ice and taking advantage of it; and that’s exactly what Hutson did all weekend.

There was, at times, a little too much risk in his plays, especially coming out of his zone; but, more often than not, he was right back to correct his error and get the play moving the other way for an offensive chance.

Hutson will have to clean up some of those aspects of his game, which will likely come as he progresses through camp.

But the Hockey IQ and pure talent cannot be ignored, regardless of the NHL waivers rules that could make his cracking the roster a little more difficult than previously thought.

For Hutson to crack the Canadiens roster this fall, he will have to stand above his competition, which will also include Justin Barron, Jayden Struble among others.

He did exactly that among rookies this weekend, but now, the true test begins.

SEE Highlight Video From Gregory Hamel:

Logan Mailloux: The Tip Of The Iceberg

The Montreal Canadiens showed some high confidence in Logan Mailloux this weekend, putting the “C” on his jersey and slotting him next to Hutson to lead the team on and off the ice.

He wowed the Bell Centre crowd with his exceptional offensive abilities: Most notably his howitzer of a shot.

However, what was perhaps more impressive was how Mailloux impacted the game on transition, creating multiple chances on the rush with his teammates and joining said rush as the fourth forward.

It added a level of offensive fluidity on the ice that made the Canadiens very difficult to contain. Using Mailloux on the right side boards as somewhat of a rover, the Canadiens were able to overload the defensive coverage along the wings and open up passing lanes up the middle.

Like Hutson, some defensive coverage was sometimes a little too sloppy and the decision-making was questionable during some zone exits, but the good overwhelmingly outweighed the bad. It was a rookie game, after all.

Similar to Hutson, Mailloux is also vying for one of the final spots on the Montreal Canadiens’ roster this fall, and it was important for him to stand out on his own.

He did exactly that, but in his own way. Hammering shots towards the net, playing a strong and physical game deep in his zone and starting the rush with his rare combo of size and speed.

If he doesn’t crack the Canadiens out of camp, you can tell it won’t be long until the #24 is a regular presence on Montreal’s blue line.

Owen Beck: The Canadiens’ Centre Battle Gets Interesting

Perhaps the most consistent forward throughout the two games this weekend, Owen Beck came exactly as advertised.

Defensive responsible, creative on the rush and an absolute ace in the face off circle.

It took Beck a little bit of time to find some consistent chemistry with line mates Emil Heineman and Sean Farrel, but, when they got going, they dominated possession; with Beck being a major part of it.

Beck’s skill as a puck-carrier has improved a great deal after a Memorial Cup-winning season last year, showing more explosiveness with the puck on his stick.

Beck’s defensive game is also very mature for a 20-year-old, as he routinely blocked passes and blocked off some of the most dangerous players on the Leafs. There’s a reason why a majority of the Leafs’ goals came on the power play, and that was because Beck was highly effective and breaking up their flow at even strength.

That kind of skill could very well be Beck’s way of potentially cracking the Canadiens’ roster this fall in a bottom-six role. Despite Christian Dvorak and Jake Evans seemingly having the roles of 3rd and 4th-line centres locked down, the energy and skill that Beck brings is undeniable.

Ideally, Beck would play a full season in the AHL with the Laval Rocket before making the jump, either after the NHL Trade Deadline or in case of injury.

But, if he continues playing like he did this weekend, the ideal situation may be to keep him in Montreal.

Adam Engstrom: Not To Be Forgotten

Perhaps the most interesting standout this weekend was Adam Engstrom, the Canadiens’ 3rd-round pick in the 2022 NHL Draft.

Often overlooked as one of the Canadiens’ top defensive prospects due to Mailloux, Hutson and David Reinbacher taking all the spotlight, Engstrom made a major impact this weekend and turned a lot of heads.

After a rough first five minutes, his pairing with Reinbacher was the most effective in all three zones. With the Mailloux-Hutson pairing dominating in the neutral and offensive zones, Engstrom and Reinbacher were most effective in the defensive zone, and especially at orchestrating controlled zone exits.

Engstrom also showed off his offensive abilities, showing good instincts with the puck, a strong shooting arsenal and great skating to go along with his 6-foot-2, 192-pound frame.

The way he was able to anticipate the play and attack in open ice showed a level of on-ice maturity that you’d expect from a youngster playing professional hockey over the last two years.

Although he may not have a chance of necessarily cracking the roster this fall, Engstrom made sure to remind those in attendance that he is a legitimate NHL prospect in his own right.

Honourable Mention: Tyler Thorpe

The most surprising standout from this weekend was the hulking Tyler Thorpe.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound power-forward raised a few eyebrows when he was selected as a 19-year-old overager this summer in the 5th round of the 2024 NHL Draft.

Many of those doubts were silenced this weekend, as Thorpe played with pace, aggressiveness, and a touch of skill.

On top of potting two goals this weekend, Thorpe played with a physical edge and made life hell for Toronto’s defensive brigade.

He showed great energy and wherewithal on the ice; always in the right place at the right time and using his size to create extra time for himself to execute plays.

He has no choice to head back to the WHL this fall after the Montreal Canadiens camp closes out, but Thorpe showed he had the potential to be a sizeable add to the Habs’ bottom-six down the line.