Prospect Info: Filip Mesar

[BoneHutson]

Farrell needs to play alot next season. And the only place it could happen would be at AHL level in Laval. Then, we will see what he is made of. The kid is supposed to be a born leader with superior IQ.

Slaf-Suzuki-Caufield
Newhook-Dach-Roy (or maybe Heineman)
Farrell-Monahan-Anderson (tho Id do everything to move his ass)
RHP-Evans-Gallagher
Armia-Pezzetta-Dvorak (IR or hopefully traded)

With 4F on each PP, hed get enough PP time as well.

 

[Habs]

The way I see it, Roy, Mesar, Farrel, Heineken, Ylonen, RHP, Kidney, Beck, etc are effectively competing for 1 or 2 spots between them, so the Habs should be fine in that area without us knowing who will round our the top six.

As in the top six the team will have Suzuki, Cauldield, Dach, Newhook, Slafkovsky, any player that might be acquired from trade or UFA, etc.

I agree , with RHP pulling ahead big time last year, he surprised me. We could use some sandpaper up front so the kids can play a little less on the outside and control the puck more in the offensive zone, we always give up the puck with this stupid dump and chase the last 25 years. Its all due to small wingers and C. When Dack is out there, or Anderson, they play a much more agressive game down low. I'm not saying Anderson is a catalyst, but for sure people are treated differently out there if we have size on the ice. I'm curious if they are going to be ok with more injuries or adjust at some point and bring in a couple guys to help out.

 

[Gustave]

The way I see it, Roy, Mesar, Farrel, Heineken, Ylonen, RHP, Kidney, Beck, etc are effectively competing for 1 or 2 spots between them, so the Habs should be fine in that area without us knowing who will round our the top six.

As in the top six the team will have Suzuki, Cauldield, Dach, Newhook, Slafkovsky, any player that might be acquired from trade or UFA, etc.

I have a question for you, I find interesting your lineup projections;

Why does RHP need to compete for his spot with a bunch of kids, but Slafkovsky’s spot is fixed in the top 6?

From what I saw last season, RHP has to be on the team following his what 15/19 goals in half a season and endless motor. And Slaf is competing for a spot on the club, as do the players listed above minus RHP.

 

[DAChampion]

I have a question for you, I find interesting your lineup projections;

Why does RHP need to compete for his spot with a bunch of kids, but Slafkovsky’s spot is fixed in the top 6?

From what I saw last season, RHP has to be on the team following his what 15/19 goals in half a season and endless motor. And Slaf is competing for a spot on the club, as do the players listed above minus RHP.

I don't mean for the 2024 campaign but more medium term, 2025-2028 or so.

It's true that RHP achieved a lot last year but we see players like that almost every year, who achieve a lot in one season. For example Deslauriers once scored 10 goals in 55 games for the Habs and posters thought it was a real thing. Charles Hudon got 30 points, even Victor Meter and Michael Bournival had good seasons. It happens every year, but long term it is extremely unlikely that RHP has a better career than Slafkovsky.

For performance in the previous season to really count, it needs to be backed by either a general assessment of meaningful talent and tools or several seasons of performance.

It's not even that Slaf will be given a spot over RHP. It's that it will obvious that he's the better player.

 

[SlafySZN]

I've seen enough small wingers loaded with talent, that never amounted to anything in Montreal, so you can understand my lack of intrigue towards Farrell. He isn't going to play C in Montreal, so yeah.. probably have a good tour of duty in Laval and see what occurs.

Farrell is not a center.

 

[Habs]

Farrell is not a center.

He is not, but he has played C if I'm not mistaken

 

[SlafySZN]

He is not, but he has played C if I'm not mistaken

I’ve followed and watched his college career and i can’t recall him playing center

 

[montreal]

He is not, but he has played C if I'm not mistaken

he's played center in the USHL but has been a winger since, he just needs to add mass, strength, speed and improve skating. Very smart player, skilled, hard working, will battle but the physical tools are lacking so it is liking going to be tough to do that in the NHL.

He might be the prospect I'm most excited to see how it goes for them next season.

 

[Habs]

I’ve followed and watched his college career and i can’t recall him playing center

ah ok, I was going by the prospect sites so I'll take your word on that. Anyhoo , I know he's a winger 99% of the time, so good to know he isn't used at C anymore

 

[Belial]

The way I see it, Roy, Mesar, Farrel, Heineken, Ylonen, RHP, Kidney, Beck, etc are effectively competing for 1 or 2 spots between them, so the Habs should be fine in that area without us knowing who will round our the top six.

As in the top six the team will have Suzuki, Cauldield, Dach, Newhook, Slafkovsky, any player that might be acquired from trade or UFA, etc.

Heineken is gonna keep the locker room positive at all times.

 

[Gustave]

that you Marc?

Lol no, it’s a genuine question man. @DAChampion is a big boy and he answered the question legitimately.

Sometimes (a lot of times actually) two person can watch the same game and come away with different feelings and conclusion to the same action. I, and without question Dachampion, watch the Habs play a lot. We did’nt come away with the same opinion of what the top 6 in 23/24 might look like. So on this discussion forum, I engaged him and asked him what he felt was the factor of having Slaf over RHP coming up this season. I get his point now that he went further and he pretty much understand what I was getting at with my comment.

What makes you think I have a BargainBin fetish, especially out of such a relaxed convo that has nothing to do with MB?

 

[BJCOLLINS]

I’d really like to see Slaf-Monahan-Anderson for an extended period.

Mesar appears to need talent on his line to shine….WJC. When he’s playing 3rd-4th line minutes he tends to disappear. I have to admit I didn’t watch many of his games in the OHL

 

[dcyhabs]

To be honest for Slaf yeah. There has never been a small skilled forward in history who didn't even go a point per game in the OHL in their D+1 and became an NHLer though. Bitten was the last guy we drafted that had some "hype" only to barely go a point per game and fizzle out. Gallagher put up 90 points in his D+1 and has limited puck skills. Even Marcel hossa put up 90 points in the WHL. I am literally going through the entire teams draft history and I can't even find a comparable because we have never had a player drafted that high do that poorly in the CHL (his stats are comparable to dmen we drafted in the 3rd or lower).

Do you know the comparable? Jason Ward. And his game wasn't scoring. Turner Stevenson too.

Do we expect Mesar to become an enforcer?

Jason Ward scored in the AHL. Too slow for the NHL.

 

[1909]

Slaf-Suzuki-Caufield
Newhook-Dach-Roy (or maybe Heineman)
Farrell-Monahan-Anderson (tho Id do everything to move his ass)
RHP-Evans-Gallagher
Armia-Pezzetta-Dvorak (IR or hopefully traded)

With 4F on each PP, hed get enough PP time as well.

Is it your 2023-34 line up ? It does look more like 2024-25. And Gallagher will never play on a 4th line.

Armia and Dvorak won't disappear sudenly. And who knows if Monahan can still play a full NHL season again.

I’d really like to see Slaf-Monahan-Anderson for an extended period.

Mesar appears to need talent on his line to shine….WJC. When he’s playing 3rd-4th line minutes he tends to disappear. I have to admit I didn’t watch many of his games in the OHL

Huge warning sign.

he's played center in the USHL but has been a winger since, he just needs to add mass, strength, speed and improve skating. Very smart player, skilled, hard working, will battle but the physical tools are lacking so it is liking going to be tough to do that in the NHL.

He might be the prospect I'm most excited to see how it goes for them next season.

That's a lot of work.

It won't be sustainable for the Habs to keep too many smaller, thiner forwards. Caufield, RHP, Farrell, Mesar, Gally.... Geez, can they draft bigger ones with speed and skills ?

 

[montreal]

It won't be sustainable for the Habs to keep too many smaller, thiner forwards. Caufield, RHP, Farrell, Mesar, Gally.... Geez, can they draft bigger ones with speed and skills ?

They have massive issues, so for now we don't really need to worry about how the team will unfold, we just need to hit on several of these prospects or we will likely struggle to be a contender again.

To me the most important thing I'm looking for this season will be how do they develop, cause they spoke so much about it yet so far I haven't been overly impressed with some decisions but Hughes did make a point to say or imply since I believe this was from a few months ago, but that they were forced by injuries to rush some prospects so I'm more then willing to give them the benefit of the doubt but going forward it must be better. This organization has to make the right decisions period. If they don't it just makes things that much tougher.

Farrell spending the year in Laval working on the many things he needs to would be great news for me unless of course he's lighting it up so much that you can't keep him down but I'm not worried about that since it would be a good problem to have and I need to see how his off-season went before I can say much about next season.

I think Farrell and Roy might be the biggest need for us to hit on since our forward group of prospects is not very impressive currently. These 2 are MAJOR wildcards as their skill level is as good as ANY prospect not in the NHL imo but their lack of mass, strength, speed, skating are a lOT to overcome and likely will take time. But if they can get there in 3 or so years, it would be massive for our future success.

 

[BaseballCoach]

They have massive issues, so for now we don't really need to worry about how the team will unfold, we just need to hit on several of these prospects or we will likely struggle to be a contender again.

To me the most important thing I'm looking for this season will be how do they develop, cause they spoke so much about it yet so far I haven't been overly impressed with some decisions but Hughes did make a point to say or imply since I believe this was from a few months ago, but that they were forced by injuries to rush some prospects so I'm more then willing to give them the benefit of the doubt but going forward it must be better. This organization has to make the right decisions period. If they don't it just makes things that much tougher.

Farrell spending the year in Laval working on the many things he needs to would be great news for me unless of course he's lighting it up so much that you can't keep him down but I'm not worried about that since it would be a good problem to have and I need to see how his off-season went before I can say much about next season.

I think Farrell and Roy might be the biggest need for us to hit on since our forward group of prospects is not very impressive currently. These 2 are MAJOR wildcards as their skill level is as good as ANY prospect not in the NHL imo but their lack of mass, strength, speed, skating are a lOT to overcome and likely will take time. But if they can get there in 3 or so years, it would be massive for our future success.

It is entirely plausible for me that Joshua Roy has a great start to his AHL career and is in the NHL soon enough scoring 18-24 goals per year and continuing to put in the effort defensively that got him PK duty and shutdown roles for TCJ in addition to scoring well.

I think there is a strong chance Roy makes it as a middle sixer within 1-2 years.

I'm less sure of Farrell, though his upside might be higher at max.

 

[Habsrule]

Kitchener Rangers have a new couch this year Jussi Ahokas. He came over from Finland to coach in the NHL. He is 42 and has coached in the SHL and has coached Finland a few times at the World Junior Championship. He comes with a really good coaching resume.

Kitchener went all in last year and had to fire their coach after the trade deadline. Their GM stepped in and was better but was still not great. Rangers are 2-3 in exhibition games so far but are playing much, much better as a team. Their three loses have all either been a shootout loss or a two goal loss. They have been competitive in the games. Rangers only have four forwards returning from last year, a few depth players and the rest of the forwards are rookies.

If Mesar got sent back he would have a significantly better coach in Kitchener. He would have a lot of minutes to play and be given every opportunity to put up big points.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Kitchener Rangers have a new couch this year

And I hear it's really comfortable.

 

[Bombshell11]

I want to see him againts AHLers. He did not improve from last year.

 

[DinosaurBones]

Grosses me out this guy lemme tell ya

 

[Playmaker09]

I want to see him againts AHLers. He did not improve from last year.

The guy can’t even hit a PPG in the OHL. What business does he have in the A?

 

[Nevins]

Should’ve picked Kulich.

Agréée 100%.

 

[Bombshell11]

The guy can’t even hit a PPG in the OHL. What business does he have in the A?

1st round draft pick, dominated last year at camp, you gotta give him the benefit of the doubt.

 

[RationalExpectations]

At the time of the draft I remember saying I liked both Kulich and Mesar, the risk with the first one being that he becomes a one dimensional sniper and the risk for the second that he plays too much of a soft / periphery game which won t do well in the NHL. Seems the 1st one has started to work on his issues (but some people were too low on him and are way too high on him at this stage in my opinion), while the second one is not working on them.
That being said, it is way too early to give up on him

 

[NotProkofievian]

At the time of the draft I remember saying I liked both Kulich and Mesar, the risk with the first one being that he becomes a one dimensional sniper and the risk for the second that he plays too much of a soft / periphery game which won t do well in the NHL. Seems the 1st one has started to work on his issues (but some people were too low on him and are way too high on him at this stage in my opinion), while the second one is not working on them.
That being said, it is way too early to give up on him

IMO at the time of the draft Kulich was way, way ahead of Mesar. Kulich was a top 20 guy, Mesar was an early 2nd rounder.