Kent Hughes has found a hidden card that could cause a big surprise in the 2023 draft
Montreal fans are excited about the idea of seeing many prospects from the organization playing with the Laval Rocket next season. Indeed, several young players such as Joshua Roy, Logan Mailloux, Filip Mesar, Sean Farrell, Riley Kidney, and Jakub Dobes should all make their professional debuts.
We should also add the names David Reinbacher, Lane Hutson, Oliver Kapanen, Adam Engstrom, Vinzenz Rohrer, and Owen Beck who will continue their development in Europe, in junior or college ranks, in 2023-2024. One thing is for sure, the Canadiens have one of the best prospect pools in the entire NHL, and the team's future looks very promising.
If this year's draft generated a lot of discussions because of the selection of David Reinbacher, who was chosen over Matvei Michkov in the fifth spot, Marc Dumont believes the Habs might have struck gold by acquiring Filip Eriksson at the 165th pick.
"Eriksson was chosen in the sixth round of the 2023 draft, and even though his statistics last year are quite encouraging with 10 points in 11 games (U-20, Vaxjo), we also have to keep in mind that he suffered a significant injury that kept him out of play for about five months.
If we consider his overall production over the years, it is clear that the forward, with a very high intelligence, knows how to score. His high IQ should help him transition to the next level this season in the SHL." - Marc Dumont
If we consider his overall production over the years, it is clear that the forward, with a very high intelligence, knows how to score. His high IQ should help him transition to the next level this season in the SHL." - Marc Dumont
The 6-foot center had a stunning season in the Swedish junior ranks with a haul of five goals and five assists, in just 11 games, and at just 17 years old. Had it not been for his shoulder injury, the forward might have been drafted much earlier last summer, as he was ranked 56th among European prospects by the NHL Central Scouting.
Moreover, Filip Eriksson could make a significant step forward this season, as he will try to secure a spot with the HC Växjö in the Swedish top division (SHL). It would indeed be a very impressive feat for an 18-year-old who hardly played in 2022-2023.
Of course, even if many prospects have promising potential, only the future will tell if they will have a real impact in the NHL. However, it will be delightful to follow the progress of the organization's young players this year and, according to Marc Dumont, we should keep a close eye on forward Filip Eriksson.
| POLL | ||
AOUT 15 | 214 ANSWERS Kent Hughes has found a hidden card that could cause a big surprise in the 2023 draft Which prospect are you looking forward to seeing play with the Rocket next year? | ||
| Joshua Roy | 83 | 38.8 % |
| Logan Mailloux | 91 | 42.5 % |
| Filip Mesar | 21 | 9.8 % |
| Jakub Dobes | 19 | 8.9 % |
| List of polls | ||
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