Major rumor regarding a prospect for the Canadiens has just been confirmed: Mattias Norlinder's departure is now official

Well, it's now confirmed. Young defenseman Mattias Norlinder is leaving North America, even though he's still under contract with the Montreal Canadiens.

It's officially the end for a promising youngster who never found his rhythm in North American hockey. Despite his offensive flair, he was never dominant at this level, and not being known for his defensive game hurt his effectiveness considerably.

Now 23 years old, this third-round pick in 2019 was one of the organization's top defensive prospects a few years ago. He never fully blossomed, and that's a real shame.

It's clear that the massive influx of young defensive talents caused him to drop in the CH's defensive hierarchy. We can obviously think of young defensemen who are already with the main team, but also those who aren't yet, like Lane Hutson, David Reinbacher, Logan Mailloux, William Trudeau, Adam Engstrom, Jayden Struble, Nicolas Beaudin, etc.

He finished his last season with the Laval Rocket, with a tally of two goals and 19 points in 67 games. He also has one assist in six career NHL games.

Credit : HabsetLNH.com