We've reached the top spot in our annual Montreal Canadiens Top 20 Prospect Rankings, as chosen by Habs fans.
Highly skilled center Michael Hayes, who was a top-three pick last year, is taking over as the top prospect in the organization.
Note: To qualify for the project, potential candidates must be 23 years of age or younger and currently playing outside the NHL. In other words, even though Canadian players like Len Hutson, Juraj Slafkowski and Ivan Demidov are young enough to qualify by age, they have already established themselves as NHL players and are no longer considered prospects.
Previously published Montreal Canadiens prospect profile
Canadian prospects who just missed the cut
Canadiens prospects ranked 20-16
Canadiens prospects ranked 15-11
No. 10 - Towering Hayden Poupanekis
No. 9 – Truculent Florian Zekaj
No. 8 – Highly skilled LJ Mooney
No. 7 – Extraordinaire Bryce Pickford
No. 6 - Cerebral Owen Beck
No. 5 – Highly Mobile Adam Engstrom
Number 4 – Enigmatic David Rickenbacker
No. 3 – Brilliant Alexander Zarovsky
Number 2 – Stoic Jacob Fowler
Michael Hayes
1. Center, Shoots Wright, 19, University of Michigan (NCAA), 6’1″, 198 lbs. Selected 21st overall in 2024.
Although there was some uncertainty about the rankings of the other players included in the project, there was some doubt that Michael Hayes would finish as the top prospect, as voted by Habs fans.
Hayes' rookie season with the University of Michigan was encouraging. With 13 goals and 24 assists in 33 games, he managed to produce over a point-per-game in a lineup that lacked firepower, a testament to his impressive ability.
It's important to remember that the jump from the USHL to the NCAA is one of the biggest challenges most players will face during their careers. While the USHL is a good league, the NCAA is where young players really learn how to work in defensive systems, how to improve important factors like nutrition and fitness, not to mention the various details that prepare them for life in the professional ranks.
In that vein, there was a definite risk that Hayes' excellent production would not immediately translate to the USHL.
But Hayes didn't need a grace period.
In fact, his first taste of NCAA action came in the form of a pair of assists. He scored his first NCAA goal the very next day, when the Wolverines defeated Minnesota State 4–1.
With a solid rookie season in the books, Hayes ensured that his sophomore season would be successful as well, featuring incredibly consistent production with 13 goals and 33 assists in 45 games. It should be noted that with Michigan considered one of the top teams in the country this year, Hayes' offensive impact has played a large role in their improved ranking.
Strength
Some prospects manage to feature high-level skating.
Others may have superb hand-eye coordination.
But only a few can combine both skill sets, providing dynamic changes in the offensive zone on a nightly basis.
This is where Hayes separated himself from the herd. He is a great skater who has the ability to carve up our precious ice in the offensive zone. He has elite playmaking that allows him to find his teammates through the passing lanes he creates as he throws opposing players into chaos due to his speed of execution.
He drives the net with consistent confidence, a man who is on a mission to generate high-danger scoring chances. Transition speed is the name of the game whenever Hayes is on the ice.
While he prefers to pass rather than shoot, he has a good shot, including a sneaky release to fool the opposing goaltender, or a well-timed toe pull.
In addition to his excellent skill set, he also has the confidence needed to complete highlight plays with regularity, which is another encouraging sign when evaluating his long-term potential.
His play at the 2026 World Junior Championships was a perfect example of his excellence, especially since it came against players his own age rather than older opponents in the NCAA.
He was stripped of his spot on the World Junior Championship All-Star team, but no one can deny that he was one of the most impressive players in the tournament, as shown by the fact that he finished with 15 points in 7 games. No other player managed to score more points than Hayes, and if we're being completely honest, he could have had a few more points if he had a little more luck shooting, and his teammates did a little better job of finishing games.
Despite this, it was clear that Hayes stood out as one of the best players on the international stage, yet another position in which he rose to the occasion.
weaknesses
Hayes is not a perfect player, but there are very few aspects of his game that would be considered weaknesses.
At times, he can hold the puck for too long, causing him to suffer big hits.
The good news is that he continued to drive the net even after being subjected to big body checks by his opponent, which shows that he doesn't shy away from high-scoring areas just because he has to deal with a higher level of physicality.
I would argue that he needs to improve his defensive game before he is ready for professional hockey, but again, this is not necessarily a weakness. For a 19-year-old, aggressive guy who needs a little work on the defensive end, that's par for the course.
There are some who may criticize his gifts in the offensive zone, however, Hayes is far from a turnover machine. He catches the puck more often than others, and that always results in a higher turnover rate. You could go so far as to suggest that players who turn the puck over with high frequency are generally the best players in any number of different leagues. As things stand, Nathan MacKinnon leads the NHL in turnovers, and by a wide margin, too. You'll notice that MacKinnon and Hayes have very similar skill sets.
What to expect from Fowler moving forward?
Given that Hayes is one of the most productive players in the NCAA, there's a good chance the Montreal Canadiens will want to graduate him at the end of the 2025-26 season, perhaps even giving him a few games in Montreal so he can dip his toes in the cool waters of professional hockey.
I'd avoid proposing that he's NHL ready at this exact moment, meaning we could see him in the AHL, or even back in the NCAAs for a third season, but the fact remains that Hayes represents Montreal's best chance to make a significant impact early next season.
He is also the best interior option to find a long-term solution for the second line, which is one of the most pressing issues when evaluating the Canadiens' roster construction.
Simply put, Michael Hayes has what it takes to one day become a star player in the NHL and a key member of the Montreal Canadiens.
Montreal Canadiens player statistics via Elite Prospects.
