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Three Habs players Rank in Insiders Ranking of Top 50 Drafted NHL Prospects
Scott Wheeler, a journalist for The Athletic, released his rankings of the top 50 drafted NHL Prospects this morning. All the players in his ranking must be under 23 years old, not yet be considered full-time NHLers, and either have signed an NHL contract or have been selected in the Entry Draft. It's no surprise that Owen Power is number one on Wheeler's list. "Given the continued development of his game offensively, I'm extremely confident Power is going to be a No.1 in the NHL at this point," Wheeler said. Devils prospect Luke Hughes and Kraken prospect Shane Wright round out his top 3. He also mentions that Slafkovsky, Nemec, and Cooley, as well as Matthew Savoie, could all become better players than Wright, but that, he remains the best prospect for him right now.
The first Montreal Canadien to appear on his list is Juraj Slafkovsky at No 10.
"He's got the personality and the game to rise to the moment in Montreal, and he always plays his style, looking to attack in control", Wheeler said.
He also says his Liiga production last season worries him. We'll see what the future holds for the Slovak in Montreal.
Following in 37th place is Montreal Canadiens prospect Kaiden Guhle. He made progress last season. Guhle is a calm presence at the blue line. He always seems to make the right play. According to Scott Wheeler, Guhle is a potential No.2 or No.3 defenseman. The left-handed player appears ready to take the next step.
Lane Hutson is the Habs' final player on the list. He comes in at No 46.
"He's a unique player who uses a light (though not powerful) stride to create entries and exits, weave past coverage, escape pressure, and find or create seams," Wheeler said.
His size is a concern for many, but Scott Wheeler isn't afraid of it. He mentioned that Hutson can still defend effectively and get himself out of trouble with his quick hands and a good eye for the play.Scott Wheeler gave honorable mentions to four Montreal Canadiens young players, namely which are Sean Farrell, Jordan Harris, Filip Mesar, and Joshua Roy.
| POLL | ||
JUILLET 26 | 426 ANSWERS Three Habs players Rank in Insiders Ranking of Top 50 Drafted NHL Prospects Who is the best Habs prospect on Scott Wheeler's ranking? | ||
| Juraj Slafkovsky | 225 | 52.8 % |
| Kaiden Guhle | 87 | 20.4 % |
| Lane Hutson | 55 | 12.9 % |
| Other | 59 | 13.8 % |
| List of polls | ||