Slats432
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7th overall: Alexander Holtz (LW/RW, Sweden, Djurgardens SHL)
Canadiens selected BPA based on their draft board. "It was going to be Perfetti, Rossi or Holtz. Whichever one dropped to us we were going to be ecstatic here. Not really wanting an undersized player, we are glad that Alex was the one to drop."
Tony Ferrari - Dobber Prospects - Jan. 29th: "Holtz may have the best pure goal-scoring ability in this draft class. His shot is unreal and makes him dangerous from the blueline in."
29th overall: Jeremie Poirier (LD, Canada, Saint John QMJHL)
By moving out Victor Mete and Phillipe Myers the Canadiens knew that they would be adding a defenseman in the top 2 rounds of the draft. After missing out on their targets at 25 (Rumour was they were wanting to move up to select Dylan Holloway in the early 20s) the Habs traded down to 29 and added picks 91 and 184. Selecting Poirier added a very offensive dimension to the back end.
Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com - Mar. 6th: "An offensive defenseman with good puck skills, hockey sense and game-breaking ability who ranks first among QMJHL"
36th overall: Tyson Foerster (RW, Canada, Barrie OHL)
Foerster’s season earned him an invite to the CHL Top Prospect’s Game. While everyone looked forward to watching the Alexis Lafreniere’s, Quinton Byfield’s and Jamie Drysdale’s of the world, it was Foerster who not only won the night, he won the MVP of the game. It was a huge statement at the right time to put his name into serious consideration for the first round.
Mark Seidel - NA Scouting Bureau: “Everyone says that he can’t skate well enough but he gets there. Everyone said he’d drop off after Suzuki left but he keeps scoring. Everyone said he was a borderline selection for the Top Prospects game so he went and got the MVP. Kid is a player.”
59th overall: Ty Smilanic (LW/LC, USA, NTDP U18)
“Smilanic is a goal-scorer. Simple as that. He has a deadly shot. Whether it’s a one-time bomb or a lightning-quick snap shot. He locates his shot well and changes his shot angle with curls and drags thrown into his shooting motion. His playmaking goes unheralded because he generally doesn’t refrain from shooting the puck but when he sees a teammate in a prime scoring area, he is able to showcase his crisp passing and excellent puck skills. He isn’t going to develop into a Selke Trophy candidate but he does a decent job defensively. He is a fairly average defensive center overall. He is in passing lanes and he skates well which helps him stay in front of defenders at the blue line, often forcing passes. He doesn’t excel in any area in his own end but also doesn’t seem to struggle in any great capacity. Smilanic is a dependable sniper who can hold his own in the possession department. Bob McKenzie, has Ty as a first rounder, ranked #25 overall.
-ISS has him ranked #19 overall, the highest ranking you will probably see.“
Sam Cosentino - Sportsnet - Dec. 4th: "Combines an excellent work ethic with great skill and that combination is rare and highly coveted."
HIGHLIGHTS: Smilanic tallies two in U17s' to Canada White
76th overall: Jaromir Pytlik (RC, Czech Republic, Sault Ste. Marie OHL)
Pytlik has good size and skates extremely well – he’s shown an improvement from last season, and I’m not so sure it needed improving as much as he needed to use the smaller ice surface differently then the European ice. He knows how to use his body and strength. He is a force down low, along the walls and in front of the goal and with his quick smooth hands, is dangerous in the goal area. He understands how to use his frame to protect the puck which makes him effective on the cycle and coming off the wall.
Dylan Galloway - Future Considerations - Jan. 16th: "Pytlik is an interesting player to me because I think he plays with a great pace and I have been impressed with his skating and transition game ... He’s a great offensive talent that combines smarts, skill, speed and compete to get pucks to the centre lane in the offensive zone."
JAROMIR PYTLIK NHL DRAFT 2020 - OHL MOMENTS 2018/19
90th overall: Brandon Coe (RW, Canada, North Bay OHL)
Brandon is a big power forward with very high-end skill. When he is playing a physical style, there is no one in the age group that compares. He has a nice long powerful stride that allows him to reach top speed quickly. Brandon is more of a pass-first type of player and has the ability to make passes that you don’t expect him to make. He possesses a good, heavy shot that he gets off extremely fast. Brandon has a high hockey I.Q. and always seems to be in the right spot at the right time.
Brandon Holmes - Dobber Hockey. "Something worth noting on RW Brandon Coe, this kid moves really well for a player his size. He’s not one of the fastest players in this draft, but it’s hard to find 6’3” fwds that can really move. Had a great campaign for NB during a really tough season for the team #2020NHLDraft"
YouTube
91st overall: William Dufour (RW, Canada, Drummondville QMJHL)
Dufour has many of the skills that teams are looking for in a power forward prospect. Consistency has been a major issue. While he put up big numbers in his half a season with the Voltigeurs, his production prior to that was disappointing. The question remains if this is Dufour finding a new level of his game, or if it is just a half-season hot streak. If he develops, he could be a top-six forward. However, even if his offensive game falls off, his size, skating, and defensive play could still land him an NHL job. Dufour’s game is reminiscent of Jake DeBrusk.
Mark Scheig - The Hockey Writers. You get noticed if you can score. You get noticed if your two-way game is strong. You especially get noticed if you can score and play a strong, two-way game. That’s what Dufour brings to the table. One moment, he’s in your face playing a physical game. The next he’s posting a 14-game point streak against you. He has the size at 6-foot-2 and approaching 200 pounds. After a trade to Drummondville, he finished the season at nearly a point per game. He will make someone very happy in the middle rounds.
YouTube
All said the Canadiens are well on their way to restocking their prospect pool. With several picks in the 2nd half of the draft more exciting players should be added to the team. "We felt like we got great value for almost all of our picks. Was a very good draft for us and the start of a great new chapter for our club." - GM Bachul
Canadiens selected BPA based on their draft board. "It was going to be Perfetti, Rossi or Holtz. Whichever one dropped to us we were going to be ecstatic here. Not really wanting an undersized player, we are glad that Alex was the one to drop."
Tony Ferrari - Dobber Prospects - Jan. 29th: "Holtz may have the best pure goal-scoring ability in this draft class. His shot is unreal and makes him dangerous from the blueline in."
29th overall: Jeremie Poirier (LD, Canada, Saint John QMJHL)
By moving out Victor Mete and Phillipe Myers the Canadiens knew that they would be adding a defenseman in the top 2 rounds of the draft. After missing out on their targets at 25 (Rumour was they were wanting to move up to select Dylan Holloway in the early 20s) the Habs traded down to 29 and added picks 91 and 184. Selecting Poirier added a very offensive dimension to the back end.
Mike G. Morreale - NHL.com - Mar. 6th: "An offensive defenseman with good puck skills, hockey sense and game-breaking ability who ranks first among QMJHL"
36th overall: Tyson Foerster (RW, Canada, Barrie OHL)
Foerster’s season earned him an invite to the CHL Top Prospect’s Game. While everyone looked forward to watching the Alexis Lafreniere’s, Quinton Byfield’s and Jamie Drysdale’s of the world, it was Foerster who not only won the night, he won the MVP of the game. It was a huge statement at the right time to put his name into serious consideration for the first round.
Mark Seidel - NA Scouting Bureau: “Everyone says that he can’t skate well enough but he gets there. Everyone said he’d drop off after Suzuki left but he keeps scoring. Everyone said he was a borderline selection for the Top Prospects game so he went and got the MVP. Kid is a player.”
59th overall: Ty Smilanic (LW/LC, USA, NTDP U18)
“Smilanic is a goal-scorer. Simple as that. He has a deadly shot. Whether it’s a one-time bomb or a lightning-quick snap shot. He locates his shot well and changes his shot angle with curls and drags thrown into his shooting motion. His playmaking goes unheralded because he generally doesn’t refrain from shooting the puck but when he sees a teammate in a prime scoring area, he is able to showcase his crisp passing and excellent puck skills. He isn’t going to develop into a Selke Trophy candidate but he does a decent job defensively. He is a fairly average defensive center overall. He is in passing lanes and he skates well which helps him stay in front of defenders at the blue line, often forcing passes. He doesn’t excel in any area in his own end but also doesn’t seem to struggle in any great capacity. Smilanic is a dependable sniper who can hold his own in the possession department. Bob McKenzie, has Ty as a first rounder, ranked #25 overall.
-ISS has him ranked #19 overall, the highest ranking you will probably see.“
Sam Cosentino - Sportsnet - Dec. 4th: "Combines an excellent work ethic with great skill and that combination is rare and highly coveted."
HIGHLIGHTS: Smilanic tallies two in U17s' to Canada White
76th overall: Jaromir Pytlik (RC, Czech Republic, Sault Ste. Marie OHL)
Pytlik has good size and skates extremely well – he’s shown an improvement from last season, and I’m not so sure it needed improving as much as he needed to use the smaller ice surface differently then the European ice. He knows how to use his body and strength. He is a force down low, along the walls and in front of the goal and with his quick smooth hands, is dangerous in the goal area. He understands how to use his frame to protect the puck which makes him effective on the cycle and coming off the wall.
Dylan Galloway - Future Considerations - Jan. 16th: "Pytlik is an interesting player to me because I think he plays with a great pace and I have been impressed with his skating and transition game ... He’s a great offensive talent that combines smarts, skill, speed and compete to get pucks to the centre lane in the offensive zone."
JAROMIR PYTLIK NHL DRAFT 2020 - OHL MOMENTS 2018/19
90th overall: Brandon Coe (RW, Canada, North Bay OHL)
Brandon is a big power forward with very high-end skill. When he is playing a physical style, there is no one in the age group that compares. He has a nice long powerful stride that allows him to reach top speed quickly. Brandon is more of a pass-first type of player and has the ability to make passes that you don’t expect him to make. He possesses a good, heavy shot that he gets off extremely fast. Brandon has a high hockey I.Q. and always seems to be in the right spot at the right time.
Brandon Holmes - Dobber Hockey. "Something worth noting on RW Brandon Coe, this kid moves really well for a player his size. He’s not one of the fastest players in this draft, but it’s hard to find 6’3” fwds that can really move. Had a great campaign for NB during a really tough season for the team #2020NHLDraft"
YouTube
91st overall: William Dufour (RW, Canada, Drummondville QMJHL)
Dufour has many of the skills that teams are looking for in a power forward prospect. Consistency has been a major issue. While he put up big numbers in his half a season with the Voltigeurs, his production prior to that was disappointing. The question remains if this is Dufour finding a new level of his game, or if it is just a half-season hot streak. If he develops, he could be a top-six forward. However, even if his offensive game falls off, his size, skating, and defensive play could still land him an NHL job. Dufour’s game is reminiscent of Jake DeBrusk.
Mark Scheig - The Hockey Writers. You get noticed if you can score. You get noticed if your two-way game is strong. You especially get noticed if you can score and play a strong, two-way game. That’s what Dufour brings to the table. One moment, he’s in your face playing a physical game. The next he’s posting a 14-game point streak against you. He has the size at 6-foot-2 and approaching 200 pounds. After a trade to Drummondville, he finished the season at nearly a point per game. He will make someone very happy in the middle rounds.
YouTube
All said the Canadiens are well on their way to restocking their prospect pool. With several picks in the 2nd half of the draft more exciting players should be added to the team. "We felt like we got great value for almost all of our picks. Was a very good draft for us and the start of a great new chapter for our club." - GM Bachul
