According to some inside sources, the Montreal Canadiens have inquired about the acquisition cost of New York Rangers center Vincent Trocheck.

Pierre LeBrun believes the Canadiens have spoken to the Rangers, although we should note that this is far from a report, as he mentioned that he “thinks” the Habs have been somewhat active in this dossier.

Pierre LeBrun: I think the Canadiens have checked in with the Rangers on Vincent Trocheck, although it could be a huge haul – Melnyk in the Afternoon (3/4)

– NHL Rumor Report (@NHLRumourReport) 5 March 2026

potential impact

Given that the Habs have shown interest in trading for Robert Thomas, a deal that would obviously improve the roster while ignoring some more pressing needs, it makes sense that they have done their due diligence regarding other available centers, including Trocheck and Nazem Kadri.

Darren Dreger: If Robert Thomas doesn’t move on most people think Vinny Trocheck is going to be the second rung on that ladder, and then you get to Nazem Kadri – Barn Burner (3/4).

– NHL Rumor Report (@NHLRumourReport) 5 March 2026

The 32-year-old Trocheck doesn’t fit the Canadiens’ ideal age bracket, but it should be noted that he has managed to maintain a very respectable level of play for a skater who is on the wrong side of 30.

He is in the fourth year of a seven-year contract with an annual average value of $5.625 million, and he will be 35 when it expires in 2029.

For your buck, this is a good value deal, especially when we consider Trocheck is on pace to score 18 goals and 40 assists in 68 games. To make matters even more interesting, he has produced fantastic underlying numbers on a depleted Rangers roster, a testament to his ability to stave off the usual statistical decline that tends to take over at his age.

Trocheck is also excellent at the faceoff dot, winning over 58% of his draws this season, an asset that will certainly interest a head coach like Martin St-Louis.

In that vein, Trocheck would project as a significant upgrade over current second-line center Oliver Kapanen.

Montreal Canadiens Brass Tacks

Like a potential Thomas trade, this deal would ignore the most significant issues in the organization, which are a lack of goaltending excellence and questionable defensive coverage.

And then there is the matter of acquisition costs, which are expected to be exorbitant.

Chris Johnston: Ray Vincent Trocheck: The question now is still being considered a little too rich for some contenders – Insider Trading (3/5)

– NHL Rumor Report (@NHLRumourReport) 5 March 2026

However, Vincent Trocheck checks almost every box for the Habs, except his age. There is also the issue of his lack of discipline, which will be further exacerbated by playing for a team that has already struggled with indiscipline for a few seasons now.

If the Canadiens were just one center away from being legitimate Stanley Cup contenders, this is the type of trade that would be considered a slam dunk, even if he is much older than most of the players Hughes acquired.

But the Habs aren’t at that point yet, making this a potential trade that would generate a certain amount of legitimate excitement while ignoring some major roster construction problems.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

It is no secret that the Montreal Canadiens have received less-than-stellar netminding this season, a situation that has led some to suggest the team should acquire a goaltender before the NHL trade deadline.

This is a logical approach, as the Habs could improve the team by trading for a goaltender who can perform better than Samuel Montembeault.

Frank Serravalli: Among teams potentially interested in adding a netminder, I would include Ottawa, Montreal, Vegas Golden Knights – NHL Now (3/4).

– NHL Rumor Report (@NHLRumourReport) 5 March 2026

However, the two names being mentioned as potential upgrades for the Canadiens, Jordan Binnington (32) and Sergei Bobrovsky (37), are far from their statistical prime.

In fact, the 29-year-old Montembeault is much younger than the troubled netminders. This doesn’t mean the Canadiens can’t acquire a goaltender over the age of 29, but if they do, they’ll have to make sure the player in question can potentially deliver better results than Montembeault.

According to Pierre LeBrun:

– If the Habs do trade for a goalie, it won’t be for a rental. He says Jordan Binnington, who is signed for next season, would make sense.

– The Habs are also monitoring the status of Nazem Kadri and perhaps Vincent Trocheck as well. https://t.co/NZDEPaqqIq

– /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) 4 March 2026

Montreal Canadiens goaltending trade targets

Before we look at the numbers, it should be noted that Binnington and Bobrowski have won Stanley Cups in the past, and there is something to be said for providing valuable experience to the youngest team in the league.

However, the goaltender in question is no longer in Stanley Cup shape, as evidenced by his numbers, which are downright terrible.

To get a better idea, we’ll take a look at four different metrics at 5v5: save percentage (SV%), goals saved above average per 60 (GSAA/60), high-danger save percentage (HDSV%), and high-danger goals saved above average per 60 (HDGSAA/60).

We filtered results for players with at least 1000 minutes played at 5v5 this season, giving us a total of 49 goaltenders.

As you can see in the table above, Montbault is near the bottom of the league in all four metrics.

And yet, he’s still managed to produce better numbers than both Binnington and Bobrowski. They are ranked last or close to last in most categories, a good reminder that the grass is not always greener.

You could argue that this isn’t a fair comparison, as the Montreal Canadiens are a better team than the Florida Panthers and St. Louis Blues, but that would be to ignore the fact that the Canadiens are below both teams in high-danger shot share (46.3%).

In other words, the Canadiens squandered high-danger chances, making life much harder on their netminders. There are a dozen or more awkward rushes every night, not to mention a few instances of confused defensive coverages.

Simply put, the idea of ​​acquiring Jordan Binnington or Sergei Bobrovsky makes little to no sense for the Montreal Canadiens, as they would be unlikely to surpass Montembeault, not to mention Jacob Dobbs.

And then there’s the matter of freeing up cap space for netminders with worse numbers than the second-best Habs goalie.

All things considered, making this type of deal would be a mistake in the face of the smart, thorough work Kent Hughes and Co. have done since taking the reins in Montreal.

All Montreal Canadiens stats are 5v5, via Natural Stat Trick, unless otherwise noted.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

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.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

With only two players left to discuss, we head to our annual Montreal Canadiens Top 20 Prospect Rankings, as chosen by Habs fans.

Successor Jacob Fowler took the No. 2 spot, a testament to his incredibly encouraging growth.

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

jacob fowler

2. Goaltender, Catch Left, 21, Laval Rocket (AHL), 6’2″, 214 lbs. Selected 69th overall in 2023.

From the moment Jacob Fowler took over as Boston College’s starting netminder, it was crystal clear that he had the potential to one day become a starting goaltender in the NHL.

Of course, there were some signs pointing to his excellence before the Canadiens selected him in the third round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. Fowler was a key figure in the USHL, leading the Youngstown Phantoms to a Clark Cup championship, serving as the team’s Most Valuable Player due to his impressive .952 save percentage.

And yet, there was no guarantee that his play would translate to the NCAAs, as it represented a significant increase in the quality of competition.

Fowler didn’t just embrace college hockey, he quickly established himself as one of the best goaltenders in the country, posting a 25-7-2 record in his second year with the Eagles, including an impressive .940 save percentage.

She was the driving force behind the decision to convince him to sign an entry-level contract, ending his NCAA career after just two years in the league. It should be noted that Fowler was not the first Canadiens netminder to spend just two years in the NCAA. Cayden Primeau and Jacob Dobbs both made their jump to the professional ranks after playing two seasons in college hockey, a reminder that rushing goaltenders carries a certain amount of risk.

That being said, now that we have had the chance to see Fowler play in a professional league, it is safe to say that he has excelled despite his lack of experience, which means he has excelled in every league from the USHL to the NHL.

His 10-game audition with the Canadiens was not perfect, and yet, he provided the team’s best chance to win games with a .902 save percentage. This may not seem like an outstanding result, but when we consider that both Samuel Montembeault (.874) and Jacob Dobbs (.892) have struggled at times due to the increased number of high-danger chances allowed by the Habs each night, not to mention the fact that teams around the league have been scoring more goals in recent years than in previous eras, it turns out that Fowler has found himself in a tough situation. Performed commendably.

To put a fine point on his impressive results, we can also turn to the AHL, where Fowler has emerged as one of the best goaltenders in the league. He has a .915 save percentage, good for sixth overall in the league. This earned the rookie netminder a well-deserved All-Star nod, and added yet another accomplishment to his crowded cap.

Strength

Fowler is extremely boring, which is the biggest compliment one can give a young netminder. He wastes very little energy, using elite anticipation, vision and tracking to ensure he is ready before most shots.

That doesn’t mean he’s immune to being out of position sometimes, but for the most part, Fowler has shown that he can make life very difficult for opposing teams by always being ready to make a save rather than reacting to the situation at the last moment.

This eliminates the most vulnerable position for a goaltender: having to adjust his position while reacting to a shot.

Fowler is making a fluke save on Crosby in crunch time. #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/oME2vlsrHY

– Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) 12 December 2025

His rebound control is well above average, which became very evident during his short stint in the NHL. Montembeault and Dobbs can both struggle when it comes to maintaining possession of the puck, while Fowler has shown a tendency to squander second-chance opportunities that will plague the Canadiens in 2025-26.

When rebounds were inevitable, Fowler did a great job of redirecting the puck into low-threat scoring areas, once again reducing scoring opportunities for opposing players.

He played every game with the same confidence and mental preparation you’d expect from a 10-year veteran, a good reminder that he has the right type of mentality to thrive in a hockey-mad market like Montreal.

weaknesses

I have closely followed Fowler’s progress since his NCAA debut, and although I believe he is one of the best goaltending prospects I have had the chance to monitor, he does have one Achilles heel.

When the puck goes down, and then quickly gets back into the slot, Fowler’s tracking, which is usually elite, suddenly becomes mediocre. The result is that he sits a little too far back in his net, giving shooters a wide open net to work with.

His lateral change can be awkward at times, but it is an aspect of his game that has improved by leaps and bounds over the past few seasons.

He’s likely to have stretches in which he looks a little overwhelmed, at least when compared to his normal NCAA standard. I would argue that this is a result of playing behind an elite Boston College team for two years, a situation that led to many wins, but a distinct lack in shot volume.

It’s also important to note that I’m looking for nits to bite at the moment.

All of his game’s issues essentially require a simple solution: more experience.

In that sense, Fowler’s biggest weakness is that he is still a rookie netminder, which is not necessarily a weakness, but a realistic assessment of his encouraging development.

What to expect from Fowler moving forward?

All things considered, Fowler clearly has what it takes to become Montreal’s starter after accumulating enough experience, but we should be wary of rushing him into the NHL, especially as the Canadiens head into the final stages of the season.

Yes, Fowler played well during his short stint with the Habs, but there’s something to be said about allowing him to develop in a slightly less pressured situation.

In other words, the AHL is the perfect league for Fowler in 2025-26.

That may not be the case next season, especially with the Habs struggling with goaltending issues, but despite his excellent numbers, the Canadiens can’t risk their long-term potential to solve a short-term issue.

He’s a great goaltending prospect, arguably the best the team has had in decades, and his time will come soon.

However, for now, he is still learning on the job.

Montreal Canadiens player statistics via Elite Prospects.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

As we continue our in-depth profile series of the top Montreal Canadiens prospects, as voted by Habs fans, we’ve reached one of the organization’s most interesting young players: Laval Rocket forward Florian Zekaj.

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, they have already established themselves as NHL players and are no longer considered prospects.

Previously published Montreal Canadiens prospect rankings

Canadian prospects who just missed the cut

Canadiens prospects ranked 20-16

Canadiens prospects ranked 15-11

No. 10 – Towering Hayden Poupanekis

florian zekaj

9. LW/Center, Shoots Left, 21, Laval Rocket (NCAA), 6’4″, 205 lbs. Selected 101st overall in 2023.

When the Montreal Canadiens selected Florian Czekaj early in the fourth round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft, many eyebrows were raised.

Statistically speaking, a player who has scored only 25 points in 68 OHL games is not eligible for a draft pick, nor is he expected to ever make his way to the NHL.

But as we found out in Montreal, Zekaj doesn’t live up to expectations.

For example, Florian’s brother Arbor was the only defenseman in modern NHL history to make the jump directly from the OHL to the NHL after being passed over in the draft.

It was a sign of things to come, as Florian not only defied expectations, he defied expectations after his first season of professional hockey.

Szekaj managed to score 24 goals and 11 assists in 69 games as a rookie, while spending most of his time on the Laval Rocket’s fourth line. It wasn’t just an impressive feat, it set a franchise record for goals by a rookie skater.

Of course, we have to be realistic about his increased shooting percentage, which stood at 25% all year, but the fact is that Czekaj not only proved the doubters wrong, but he quickly moved himself up the Montreal Canadiens’ prospect list due to his unique combination of skill and toughness.

Goals have become a little harder to come by in his sophomore season, as his shooting percentage has returned somewhat to normal, up to 12.5%. Czekaj also spent some time in Montreal after a call-up by the Canadiens, adding another hurdle when it comes to maintaining a certain level of consistency.

Czekaj only played five games with the Habs during that call up, limiting his opportunities to make an impact, but it’s fair to say he didn’t look out of place in the NHL, especially when we consider he still has two full years of professional hockey left to complete.

Florian Czekaj gets a hit on his first shift, records an assist in his first NHL game, and ends it with a one-sided battle with a side dish of excellent underlying numbers.

Good start, I’d say. https://t.co/mFQt2CJ8Dv

– Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) 23 November 2025

Strength

While players who don’t hesitate to get into a scuffle are usually labeled as hooligans or one-trick ponies, that’s certainly not the case with Zekaj.

Just ask reigning AHL Coach of the Year, Pascal Vincent.

He uses Zekaj when the Rockets need a goal, when they want to protect a late-game lead, on the power play, on the penalty kill, and every other possible situation that occurs in a hockey game.

He’s actually the Canadian-Albanian-Kosovan-Czech army knife of the team. And whenever an opposing player takes advantage of one of Zekaj’s teammates, the knife turns into a hammer.

He will score most of his goals by gaining precious ice in the offensive zone, taking advantage of rebounds or putting himself in good position to deflect point shots, although he has scored a few times by beating goaltenders with clean shots.

Once again, versatility is clearly one of his greatest strengths.

weaknesses

Zekaj is an old-school player in a new-school sports landscape, with a variety of penalties to contend with. In fact, he led the AHL in penalty minutes during his rookie season, with 175 PIM to his name. This is par for the course when discussing a rough-and-tumble player, and Czekaj would not be as effective if he played a more restrained brand of hockey, but there is always a learning process when it comes to adapting to umpiring in different leagues.

There may be a certain lack of discipline in the AHL, but it is one of the least desirable traits in the NHL. Zekaj will have to choose his positions a little more carefully going forward.

There is some work to do when it comes to his skating mechanics, although I would argue he is not a bad skater. Rather, his first few steps are awkward, giving the impression that he is not moving very fast.

To avoid relying on increased shooting percentage, Zekaj could also stand to improve his overall shot rate. On that note, he is taking 1.7 shots per game this year, which is a significant increase compared to the 1.3 shots per game during his rookie season.

What to expect from Zekaj moving forward

After reading his profile, you may be wondering why Szekaj is not currently playing in the NHL.

It’s true that he has performed much better than anyone expected, however, so we should avoid including Czekaj in the Canadiens’ lineup. He has done everything the team has asked of him, and more, but there is something to be said about allowing players to develop with some consistency in their usage.

The AHL is an ideal developmental league for a player like Czekaj, at least for the time being, even if he is already well ahead of the normal curve in terms of his NHL aspirations.

His playing style, impressive work ethic and all-around skill set should eventually earn him a long-term role in the NHL, possibly on the fourth line, though we’re not at that level yet.

All Montreal Canadiens prospect stats via Elite Prospects.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont

With the NHL on hiatus due to the Olympic break, it’s the perfect time to discuss the top Montreal Canadiens prospects, as voted by you, Habs fans.

Today’s article will take an in-depth look at the first player in the top 10, Kelowna Rockets forward Hayden Poupanakis.

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, they have already established themselves as NHL players and are no longer considered prospects.

Previously published Montreal Canadiens prospect rankings

Canadian prospects who just missed the cut

Canadiens prospects ranked 20-16

Canadiens prospects ranked 15-11

Hayden Poupanekis

10. Center, Shoots Wright, 19, Kelowna Rockets (WHL), 6’5″, 203 lbs. Selected 69th overall in 2025.

They say time heals all wounds, but there are some rivalries that take longer than others to get over, and that was certainly the case when discussing the Canadiens and Boston Bruins.

In 1964, the Canadiens traded with the Bruins to acquire the rights to a 16-year-old goaltender named Ken Dryden. In return, they sent two players to the Bruins: Paul Reed and Guy Allen.

Dryden became one of the best players in league history, while neither Reed nor Allen ever suited up for an NHL game. From that point until the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, the Canadiens and Bruins completed a total of three trades.

A few months after the Dryden trade, Montreal acquired Orval Tessier for cash, but once the Bruins learned of their franchise-altering impropriety in the Dryden trade, relations between the organizations broke down, as evidenced by the fact that the next trade occurred in 2001, when the Canadiens traded Eric Weinreich for Patrick Travers.

It would take another 24 years for the next trade to materialize. The trade involved sending picks No. 79 and 108 to the Bruins in exchange for pick No. 69 in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, which allowed the Habs to select Poupanekis in the third round.

In other words, Poupanakis had the kind of potential that made a deal with the Devils a logical path forward, a testament to the increased level of interest from the Montreal Canadiens.

At 6’5″, Poupanekis has the type of frame that would interest most NHL teams, and although he didn’t set the WHL on fire during his draft season, his raw talent was too attractive to ignore. Poupanekis scored 15 goals and 24 assists in 71 games, and split his time between the Spokane Chiefs and Kelowna Rockets after a blockbuster trade that included draft pick Andrew Cristal from the Washington Capitals.

It should be noted that he battled mononucleosis to begin the 2025–26 season, causing him to miss the Canadiens rookie camp. This led to a relatively slow start to the year, but he then improved his play, scoring 14 goals and 16 assists in 43 games for the Rockets. This represents a 25% increase in scoring compared to the previous season.

Strength

When it comes to his scoring ability, he tends to defer to his heavy one-timers if he has enough time and space in the offensive zone. If the shot does not beat the goaltender cleanly, he puts enough power behind it to create a second-chance scoring opportunity for his linemates.

As far as his wrist shot goes, the release is somewhat slow, causing a fair amount of shots to be blocked. Poupanakis has some work to do when it comes to increasing the fluidity of his shot mechanics, but that’s par for the course when evaluating a player who has grown four or five inches over the past two seasons.

His size and strength allow him to create valuable ice near high-danger scoring areas, with the responsibility of deflecting point shots near the slot or pouncing on rebounds.

It’s important to note that taller players are described as ‘good skaters for their size’, which is code for a larger potential player struggling in the skating department.

But Poupanekis is a good skater, full stop.

This allows him to quickly drive the net and stake a claim, something he was specifically asked to work on after the Canadiens drafted him in 2025. This is the same directive the team gave to 2022 prospect Owen Beck, pointing to the organization’s desire to add players who not only have an interesting skill level, but who can also survive the rigors of professional hockey once they’re ready to take the biggest jump in their careers.

“Being 6’5 inches, I’m a big guy, I want to play big,” Poupanekis explained. “That’s the biggest thing for me this year, playing big, being open around the puck.”

weaknesses

Even though he is usually the biggest player on the ice, Poupanekis can improve his overall physical play. He is not a particularly tough prospect, and although it may not seem fair, the 6’5″ hockey player will always be expected to continue to play physical.

That being said, he’s doing a much better job of getting into puck battles this season, and he’s also improved his defensive ability, thanks to his ability to anticipate the play, not to mention his impressive reach.

His playmaking leaves something to be desired, especially in transition, as he can sometimes force a pass into the offensive zone, leading to turnovers or scoring opportunities for his opponents. When it comes to creating time and space for his teammates, he takes the path most traveled and lacks a certain level of innovation.

What to expect from Poupanekis moving forward

Poupanekis is a classic project, in the sense that he needs to hone a lot of his skills before he is ready to make the jump to the NHL.

Spending a few seasons in the AHL is the most likely path forward, giving him a chance to work on execution speed, offensive awareness and release.

It also remains to be seen whether he can handle the physical play involved in professional hockey. Hitting very young players in the WHL is a far cry from facing seasoned veterans who have thrown and absorbed more than their fair share of hits in a professional league.

In terms of his potential to display, I would argue that he could one day become a fourth line center in the NHL, although he may end up in a third line role if he is able to add a little more stability when it comes to offering a reliable amount of secondary or tertiary offense.

The most encouraging aspect of his development is that Poupanakis seems to be taking a step forward each week, a sign that he is only scratching the surface when it comes to his full potential.

All Montreal Canadiens and Hayden Poupaneakis statistics via Elite Prospects.

Mark has been covering the Habs for over a decade. He previously worked for the Journal Metro, The Athletic, The… More about Mark Dumont