Top 20 Canadiens Prospects: Paupanekis Projects Pure Power
The Montreal Canadiens have made it rather clear: their goal is to draft players who will be able to bring a certain amount of truculence to the mix, including centre Hayden Paupanekis.
The 6’5″ forward hails from the Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba and was drafted in the third round of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft, though it required a trade with the Boston Bruins.
It’s important to note that the Canadiens have made very few trades with the Bruins in recent decades, stemming from the highway robbery that occurred when they acquired future Hall of Fame netminder Ken Dryden in 1964.
Moving Up
On top of dealing with their historic rivals, the Canadiens moved up in the draft to acquire Paupanekis’ rights, sending the 79th and 108th overall picks to the Bruins in exchange for the 69th overall pick. It was yet another instance of the Canadiens making moves on draft day—their favourite tactic when there’s a risk their ideal target may come off the board before they’re ready to make their selection.
The Canadiens have also moved up in the draft to pick a slew of other interesting prospects in recent years, including Michael Hage, Alexander Zharovsky, Gleb Pugachyov, and Timofei Runtso, some of the most highly rated young players in the system.
In this case, size was clearly the driving force behind the trade to move up in the draft; however, it’s also fair to suggest Paupanekis possesses a very intriguing amount of potential.
Previously published Montreal Canadiens prospect rankings
No. 10 – Hayden Paupanekis – 19 – Centre – Shoots Right – 6’5″ – 203b – Kelowna Rockets (WHL) – Drafted 69th Overall 2025
Canadiens scouts always keep an eye out for talent, but the 2025 NHL Entry Draft was truly an instance of a team putting size at the forefront of their wish list.
Of the nine players picked by the Canadiens, only L.J. Mooney stood below 6’1″, while four of the players were 6’4″ or taller.
But none were as appealing as Paupanekis, a junior player who already owned an NHL frame.
On the flip side of the coin, being able to reach the top shelf in the kitchen at such an early age can lead to some awkward moments on the ice, as skating, playmaking, and even shooting are made more complicated by a body that grows at the same rate as bamboo.
In that vein, it was quite clear from the very moment they made the pick that Paupanekis would be a long-term project for the Canadiens.
More Than Just Size
Beyond his ability to tower over the vast majority of his opponents, Paupanekis has several tools in his bag that are usually reserved for much smaller players.
He’s a smooth puck carrier, driving the offence with aplomb on most nights. His fluidity allows him to quickly make his way to high-scoring areas and take advantage of second-chance scoring opportunities. He played a supporting role for the dominant Spokane Chiefs when he first reached the WHL, which limited his ice time and thus mitigated his production.
A trade to the Kelowna Rockets improved his usage, allowing him to play a more diverse role on a weaker team. He was used by the Rockets when they needed production, energy, or a defensive stalwart to shut down opposing players.
He owns an above-average wrist shot and slap shot, though he could do a better job masking his release. Furthermore, he has excellent work ethic, strength, and cardio. This helps him be a menace on the ice while creating chaos near the crease.
That being said, he’s yet to really find his rhythm in the offensive zone, as evidenced by the fact that he finished the 2025-26 season with 15 goals and 22 assists in 57 games, fairly underwhelming results considering the Rockets had improved their roster considerably by that point.
It’s not overly surprising, as we knew he would take some time to adapt to his new surroundings, and he was always considered a prospect who would need a lot of coaching to reach his potential. Consequently, we must give Paupanekis a rather long developmental runway if he’s to ascend to the professional ranks.
Hayden Paupanekis Projection
While his time in the WHL answered several questions, the true test will come when Paupanekis joins St. Cloud State University (NCAA) in the upcoming season.
The NCAA is a completely different animal, in that you can’t simply dominate because you’re bigger or faster than your opponents. Strategy comes to the forefront, as do nutrition, education, and various other factors that will help prepare young men for the rigours of playing professional hockey.
It’s also a step up in competition, which is exactly what the doctor ordered for Paupanekis. While he owns the type of skill set that is sought after by most NHL teams, his production, or lack thereof, remains a red flag.
Patience is the name of the game when evaluating Paupanekis’ long-term potential, and for the time being, there’s still a chance he will one day become a very useful third-line centre for the Canadiens, with another strong possibility that he slots into the fourth-line centre role.
But make no mistake, he will be given as many opportunities as possible to make his mark with the organization. His route to the pros runs through the Laval Rocket (AHL), where he will once again face a significant uptick in quality of competition once he’s ready to move on from the NCAA.
All Montreal Canadiens prospect and Hayden Paupanekis statistics via Elite Prospects.
