Prospect Info: **New Top 10 Prospect List**

[Goldenhands]

Here is my updated Habs top 20 prospect list.

1-Demidov
2-Reinbacher
3-Volokhin
4-Fowler
5-Hage
6-Mailloux
7-Engstrom
8-Dobes
9-Kapanen
10-Konyushkov
11-Beck
12-Xhekaj
13-Tuch
14-Davidson
15-Rohrer
16-Farrell
17-Trudeau
18-Roy
19- Mesar
20-Koivu

HM: Bergqvist, Protz, Sawyer, Thorpe.

 

[Habs13]

How is Beck, who is currently playing for the Habs, eleventh???

 

[Goldenhands]

How is Beck, who is currently playing for the Habs, eleventh???

Because I project him as a 3rd/4th line center, prospects above him have a higher celling IMO and thats a strong prospect pool as well.

 

[DAChampion]

Because I project him as a 3rd/4th line center, prospects above him have a higher celling IMO.

Given you pay close attention to the prospects, I think your list would be even more awesome if you added a sentence or two for several prospects in your list. You're one of the posters that can pull that off.

 

[Goldenhands]

Given you pay close attention to the prospects, I think your list would be even more awesome if you added a sentence or two for several prospects in your list. You're one of the posters that can pull that off.

Good idea, I'll try to do this in the upcoming days.

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Here is my updated Habs top 20 prospect list.

1-Demidov
2-Reinbacher
3-Volokhin
4-Fowler
5-Hage
6-Mailloux
7-Engstrom
8-Dobes
9-Kapanen
10-Konyushkov
11-Beck
12-Xhekaj
13-Tuch
14-Davidson
15-Rohrer
16-Farrell
17-Trudeau
18-Roy
19- Mesar
20-Koivu

HM: Bergqvist, Protz, Sawyer, Thorpe.

These lists are typically bad but this worse than most. Putting Volokhin as high as you have him is indefensible as are other selections but you are entitled to your opinion.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

These lists are typically bad but this worse than most. Putting Volokhin as high as you have him is indefensible as are other selections but you are entitled to your opinion.

Have you seen Volokhin?

 

[Estimated_Prophet]

Have you seen Volokhin?

Yes and there is not nearly enough evidence to put him that high. It is just hyperbolic nonsense to place him ahead of Fowler, Hage etc.

Goalies are nearly impossible to accurately read at his age and Fowler is universally considered the better prospect so to pretend that he has some innate ability to flip the narrative based on video viewings is embarrassingly silly.

I guarantee you that nobody in the Habs inner circle have him even close to that range and the same could be said for any other teams top scouts. It is a hyperbolic message board take from a person with zero accountability if he is wrong. That is fine and everybody is entitled to their opinion but they should also accept the ridicule that comes with it.

 

[EveryDay]

I'll do mine just for fun:

1-Demidov
2-Reinbacher
3-Hage
4-Fowler
5-Beck
6-Kapanen
7-Engstrom
8-Volokhin
9-Mailloux
10-Xhekaj
11-Roy
12-Dobes
13-Konyushkov
14-Tuch
15-Trudeau
16-Davidson
17-Protz
18-Farrell
19-Rohrer
20-Thorpe

HM: Mesar & Koivu

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

Here is my updated Habs top 20 prospect list.

1-Demidov
2-Reinbacher
3-Volokhin
4-Fowler
5-Hage
6-Mailloux
7-Engstrom
8-Dobes
9-Kapanen
10-Konyushkov
11-Beck
12-Xhekaj
13-Tuch
14-Davidson
15-Rohrer
16-Farrell
17-Trudeau
18-Roy
19- Mesar
20-Koivu

HM: Bergqvist, Protz, Sawyer, Thorpe.

These lists are impossible as there’s always so much week to week dynamism. And that’s not a criticism btw. Love to hear what you have to say as you’ve gotten a lot right.

Wondering why you have Mailloux still quite high. I haven’t got to see much but there seems to be a growing consensus that his D game might be so bad as to be prohibitive in him making the show.

Not disagreeing—well a little bit—just genuinely curious

 

[26Mats]

I'll do mine just for fun:

1-Demidov
2-Reinbacher
3-Hage
4-Fowler
5-Beck
6-Kapanen
7-Engstrom
8-Volokhin
9-Mailloux
10-Xhekaj
11-Roy
12-Dobes
13-Konyushkov
14-Tuch
15-Trudeau
16-Davidson
17-Protz
18-Farrell
19-Rohrer
20-Thorpe

HM: Mesar & Koivu

Why Trudeau ahead of Davidson?

 

[WeThreeKings]

I'll do mine just for fun

1. Yevgeni Volokhin
2. Quentin Miller
3. Mikus Vecvanags
4. Lane hutsons back skating
5. Sam Harris
6. Lane Hutsons small butt

 

[Goldenhands]

These lists are impossible as there’s always so much week to week dynamism. And that’s not a criticism btw. Love to hear what you have to say as you’ve gotten a lot right.

Wondering why you have Mailloux still quite high. I haven’t got to see much but there seems to be a growing consensus that his D game might be so bad as to be prohibitive in him making the show.

Not disagreeing—well a little bit—just genuinely curious

I liked Mailloux lately, he is fighting hard for body positioning, something that was lacking in his game, so I see an improvement personally, he plays with more pace as well so I think he is trending well despite some mistakes here and there. Im not watching the farm alot, but I catched some games lately and really liked how some kids are trending.

I agree that those lists arent easy to dress, but thats a fun thing to do regardless.

 

[Walksss]

I liked Mailloux lately, he is fighting hard for body positioning, something that was lacking in his game, so I see an improvement personally, he plays with more pace as well so I think he is trending well despite some mistakes here and there. Im not watching the farm alot, but I catched some games lately and really liked how some kids are trending.

I agree that those lists arent easy to dress, but thats a fun thing to do regardless.

I totally agree. I've seen most Laval games and definitely think that Mailloux is trending positively with his defence and physical play. He's far from perfect defensively and will likely always be prone to some occasional defensive lapses but overall he'll be an NHLer imo.

I find this board like most on the internet to be a product of group think. Repeat the same narrative enough times from enough sources and it becomes true regardless of its veracity. Mailloux's improvement will need to improve very substantially to sway people's entrenched opinions that are based on very little.

 

[DAChampion]

6. Lane Hutsons small butt

This is supposed to be a family site.

 

[Rapala]

I totally agree. I've seen most Laval games and definitely think that Mailloux is trending positively with his defence and physical play. He's far from perfect defensively and will likely always be prone to some occasional defensive lapses but overall he'll be an NHLer imo.

I find this board like most on the internet to be a product of group think. Repeat the same narrative enough times from enough sources and it becomes true regardless of its veracity. Mailloux's improvement will need to improve very substantially to sway people's entrenched opinions that are based on very little.

Mailloux's biggest problem right now is that he is probably one of our best trade chips in a deal to acquire a 2C.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Mailloux's biggest problem right now is that he is probably one of our best trade chips in a deal to acquire a 2C.

A team that has just two RD that could be part of their future is definitely not going to trade 1 of them to acquire a 2C - especially when they have a bunch of other assets like three 1st round picks and four 2nd round picks in the next 2 drafts that they could use instead.

 

[Rapala]

A team that has just two RD that could be part of their future is definitely not going to trade 1 of them to acquire a 2C - especially when they have a bunch of other assets like three 1st round picks and four 2nd round picks in the next 2 drafts that they could use instead.

Yeah they would if the right deal comes along. They still have MM who can play that right side.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Yeah they would if the right deal comes along. They still have MM who can play that right side.

Matheson won't be here long-term

 

[jaffy27]

How is Beck, who is currently playing for the Habs, eleventh???

There isn’t an eligible forward ahead of him playing in the NHL, they either in Europe or playing NCAA, everyone else is a goalie or defenseman, so our best eligible forward (Beck) to be called up, actually got called up

 

[DAChampion]

There isn’t an eligible forward ahead of him playing in the NHL, they either in Europe or playing NCAA, everyone else is a goalie or defenseman, so our best eligible forward (Beck) to be called up, actually got called up

It's perfectly legitimate to have Demidov, Hage, and Kappanen ahead of Beck.

Myself personally I have no ranking of Beck vs Kappanen, but based on high level readings it seems like it could go both ways.

I asked Grok AI for fun:

"Which Montreal Canadiens center prospect is more likely to have a high-impact career in the NHL, Owen Beck or Oliver Kappanen? What are their estimated ceilings if they reach their full potential?"

Response summary:

Comparison and Verdict

Likelihood: Beck is more likely to have a high-impact career because his game is already NHL-ready, with a proven ability to contribute in multiple facets. His floor as a bottom-six stalwart is locked in, and his ceiling, while not flashy, fits the mold of a championship-caliber role player. Kapanen’s higher variance—due to slower development and less defensive polish—makes his NHL impact less certain, though his trajectory is trending upward.

Ceiling: Kapanen’s ceiling is higher in terms of offensive production and top-six potential, potentially making him a more dynamic “high-impact” player if he hits it. Beck’s ceiling, while lower in points, offers a different kind of impact—elite two-way reliability that’s invaluable but less headline-grabbing.

Who’s More Likely?: Owen Beck. His consistency, adaptability, and current AHL success suggest he’s closer to a meaningful NHL role—likely by 2025-26—where he’ll make an impact through dependability and clutch play. Kapanen could surpass him in raw output, but his path requires more refinement and a clearer runway in Montreal’s lineup. Beck’s the safer bet for impact; Kapanen’s the wild card with star potential.