Speculation: Who Will Be Signed?

[Adam Michaels]

Regarding Smilanic, 3R placed him on their protected list. He's not signed by them and doesn't guarantee he will be signed or play for 3R next season. It's just a list of players you want to retain the right to negotiate with on a new contract without fearing them going to another team as a free agent.

The players do still have the right to sign an AHL deal or with a team in Europe. This is exclusive to the ECHL.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Today at 5PM ET, Biondi and Smilanic will no longer be Habs prospects. At least no longer on the reserve list.

They could still be signed to minor league deals (if Biondi opts to turn pro). They did the same with with Stapley after his rights expired and then signed him to an AHL deal.

Smilanic was signed to an ECHL deal last year and 3R did add him to their protected list a month or so ago, holding his ECHL rights. But with all the players 3R signed this off-season, don't expect him back.

 

[montreal]

Today at 5PM ET, Biondi and Smilanic will no longer be Habs prospects. At least no longer on the reserve list.

They could still be signed to minor league deals (if Biondi opts to turn pro). They did the same with with Stapley after his rights expired and then signed him to an AHL deal.

Smilanic was signed to an ECHL deal last year and 3R did add him to their protected list a month or so ago, holding his ECHL rights. But with all the players 3R signed this off-season, don't expect him back.

they don't lose the rights to Biondi as far as I know it's extended 1 year.

 

[Nevins]

they don't lose the rights to Biondi as far as I know it's extended 1 year.

 

[Adam Michaels]

they don't lose the rights to Biondi as far as I know it's extended 1 year.

Ah. I didn't know that. I know CapFriendly had him as August 2024 before they shut down. And now I use CapWages and they also list him as August 15 2024.

Is it the COVID year thing that allowed students to play an extra year and thus teams were able to extend the rights to their prospects? Similar to how they extended the rights to Gorniak because he stayed an extra year?

 

[montreal]

Is it the COVID year thing that allowed students to play an extra year and thus teams were able to extend the rights to their prospects? Similar to how they extended the rights to Gorniak because he stayed an extra year?

yes, the NCAA has been making a lot of changes, the 5th year for covid, they changed the transfer portal so you no longer had to sit out a year for non red shirts that changed schools. And there are rumors of more big changes coming due to the NCAA being sued.

 

[Adam Michaels]

D'Amico says that Habs confirmed to him that they did not retain Biondi's rights. The only player whose rights they kept is Smilanic's.

 

[WeThreeKings]

D'Amico says that Habs confirmed to him that they did not retain Biondi's rights. The only player whose rights they kept is Smilanic's.

Pitlick and Biondi deserved it more than Smilanic, so weird they seem committed to giving Smilanic more time regardless of how bad he's been.

 

[Le Barron de HF]

Pitlick and Biondi deserved it more than Smilanic, so weird they seem committed to giving Smilanic more time regardless of how bad he's been.

Only explanation I can think of is that the other two were drafted under old regime...

 

[Adam Michaels]

Pitlick and Biondi deserved it more than Smilanic, so weird they seem committed to giving Smilanic more time regardless of how bad he's been.

I would have let all their rights expire. Biondi seemed like the most promising one until he got injured and wasn't able to get back to scoring the way he did in his sophomore season. But if I had kept the rights to one, it would be him. Him going to Notre Dame this year could help him more than if he stayed at Minnesota-Duluth.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Only explanation I can think of is that the other two were drafted under old regime...

That could be a reason. But that didn't stop them from signing Harris, Struble, Farrell, Kapanen, Tuch, Mailloux, and Dobes, who were all selected from the previous regime. Most of those listed were playing in the NCAA.

My guess, and it's only a guess, maybe the players advised the Canadiens that they preferred not signing with the Habs. But it could also simply be the Canadiens evaluated that these guys haven't progressed enough and instead of holding onto their rights, they opted to relinquish them.

Why Smilanic? I wish I knew. Maybe because he did play pro for 3R and attended Habs and Laval's camps, they had a more direct communication with him.

3R retained his ECHL rights. But they haven't signed him. And I'm not sure they will sign him because they've signed a lot of forwards. They have 11 forwards signed to ECHL deals + a few signed to AHL deals who will be sent down. So not much room for him there.

Maybe they are arranging for him to play over in Europe instead.

But those are just guesses and a whole lotta maybes.

 

[Whitesnake]

Keeping the rights to Smilanic is special.....

 

[Treb]

Smilanic has the most potential of the 3 IF he can get healthy mentally.

Might just be a favor to him to get the help for his mental health.

I don't expect any of the to have NHL careers.

 

[Adam Michaels]

So for next year, prospects I believe will be signed:

- Demidov (obviously)
- Harris (most likely AHL deal at first a la RHP, Simoneau & Davidson) - have his rights until 2027
- Thorpe (he'll be eligible to go back to junior for an overage season, but also eligible to turn pro. Similar to Florian).
- Hage (if he continues at this pace, I believe they will sign him and he will prefer turning pro than going back to NCAA)

 

[Vachon23]

So for next year, prospects I believe will be signed:

- Demidov (obviously)
- Harris (most likely AHL deal at first a la RHP, Simoneau & Davidson) - have his rights until 2027
- Thorpe (he'll be eligible to go back to junior for an overage season, but also eligible to turn pro. Similar to Florian).
- Hage (if he continues at this pace, I believe they will sign him and he will prefer turning pro than going back to NCAA)

I would sign Fowler but would let Hage one more year. Go try to win the Hobey Baker and the gold at the U20

 

[Adam Michaels]

I would sign Fowler but would let Hage one more year. Go try to win the Hobey Baker and the gold at the U20

I'm embarassed to have forgotten Fowler. Of course, he will be signed.

 

[montreal]

So for next year, prospects I believe will be signed:

- Demidov (obviously)
- Harris (most likely AHL deal at first a la RHP, Simoneau & Davidson) - have his rights until 2027
- Thorpe (he'll be eligible to go back to junior for an overage season, but also eligible to turn pro. Similar to Florian).
- Hage (if he continues at this pace, I believe they will sign him and he will prefer turning pro than going back to NCAA)

Thorpe would count against the 50 so I would only sign him if the plan was for Laval next year, his skating/speed need a lot of work so we'll have to see if he's ready for that or not.

Harris I would assume if he signs it will be an NHL deal.

Fowler I expect to sign unless BC falls just short of a national championship

Hage I would learn towards another year at Michigan, plus he can go to the WJC's. Needs to work on getting stronger adding mass, improving his defense.

 

[Habs13]

Thorpe would count against the 50 so I would only sign him if the plan was for Laval next year, his skating/speed need a lot of work so we'll have to see if he's ready for that or not.

Harris I would assume if he signs it will be an NHL deal.

Fowler I expect to sign unless BC falls just short of a national championship

Hage I would learn towards another year at Michigan, plus he can go to the WJC's. Needs to work on getting stronger adding mass, improving his defense.

Yeah, I think we're at the take the slow route stage like Detroit used to do. We have a lot of puzzle pieces to work with now and if done right, can stagger the kids coming in for this to be a long term solution and stay competitive for many years to come. With contracts ending and kids Demidov and maybe Mailloux or Reinbacher all but certain for next year, we can play it slow and work everyone in as they fit.

Feels good.

 

[WeThreeKings]

I'm in favor of Hage going back for a second year.

Will Smith, I know he's done a bit better recently, really struggled out the gate making the transition. A lot of guys do better getting two years in the NCAA.

I don't think there's a need to integrate him right away especially since Demidov will be in next year, and probably not a whole lot of room for other movement, Kapanen probably takes a spot, Beck goes back to Laval.. Tuch and Davidson might push for a bottom line spot. Reinbacher likely advances into the NHL.

Can't be too green too quick.

 

[Treb]

The guys we need to make a decision on this year:
Quentin Miller
Joe Vrbetic

Vrbetic probably doesn't get signed. I think Miller will be to start in the ECHL (might be an AHL deal instead of ELC depending how he does after returning from injury).

Guys I'm pretty confident will get signed this year even if they aren't due:
Ivan Demidov
Jacob Fowler

I could see Harris and Rohrer getting signed too. Outside chance of Konyushkov buying out his last year and coming over.

I think they will let Hage cook another year in the NCAA and let Thorpe go back as an overager.

I think Hage, Thorpe, Koivu and Protz will be brought in 2026.

Volokhin, Khanin, Eriksson, Sawyer, Bergqvist in 2027.

If Merrill and Vecvanags are ever signed, it's going to be in 2029 most likely.

Smilanic (ind), Smith (2026), Gordin (ind), Kostenko (ind), Sobolev (ind), Mittelstadt (2026) and Croteau (2027) likely sit on the list until their rights expire or are relinquished.

 

[WeThreeKings]

The guys we need to make a decision on this year:
Quentin Miller
Joe Vrbetic

Vrbetic probably doesn't get signed. I think Miller will be to start in the ECHL (might be an AHL deal instead of ELC depending how he does after returning from injury).

Guys I'm pretty confident will get signed this year even if they aren't due:
Ivan Demidov
Jacob Fowler

I could see Harris and Rohrer getting signed too. Outside chance of Konyushkov buying out his last year and coming over.

I think they will let Hage cook another year in the NCAA and let Thorpe go back as an overager.

I think Hage, Thorpe and Koivu will be brought in 2026.

Smilanic (ind), Smith (2026), Gordin (ind), Kostenko (ind), Sobolev (ind) and Croteau (2027) likely sit on the list until their rights expire or are relinquished.

Rohrer probably does sign and go to the AHL. The Swiss path has been good for him.