2026 Canadiens Top 25 Under 25: #24 Tyler Thorpe
Tyler Thorpe is coming off his first complete professional season of hockey with the Laval Rocket, and it was a year that highlighted plenty for the 20-year-old forward. In 68 games, he potted four goals and tallied 12 assists to go along with 77 penalty minutes in mostly a bottom-six checking role for Pascal Vincent. While the counting stats don’t look super appealing, Thorpe’s penchant for nastiness made him a fan favourite and a staple for the Rocket’s style of play.
Standing 6’5″ and weighing in at 220 pounds, Thorpe is a massive obstacle on the ice, able to use his reach and frame to win board battles while closing space quickly with his skating. With that size he was able to generate a heavy shot during his WHL tenure, making him a strong scoring option. The offence didn’t make the professional leap with Thorpe this year, as he started the year on a 25-game goalless streak, during which he tallied just five assists.
When he was at his most effective, he was taking away space in front of the net, creating deflections or generating secondary chances for his linemates. However, part of where he struggled was creating things as part of a cycle, or frequently off the rush. He is able to generate incredible power behind his shots on the fly, the problem for him was handling the pass or identifying clean space to attack.
It is also easy to look at his penalty minutes and think that he might be falling into the Xhekaj Vortex of ill-timed infractions, but a good chunk of his minutes can be chalked up to fighting majors, and also an ejection during a line brawl with Toronto. He isn’t going to win any Lady Byng Trophies, but given his style of play and role on the team, he does fairly well in toeing the line.
The hope is, with a year of experience under his belt, that the 2026-27 AHL season sees Thorpe take the next step forward offensively, while continuing his menacing physical style of play.
Voting
Tyler Thorpe was a bit divisive on our panel, with Justin being the low vote at 43, and myself clocking him at 38th. Beyond that almost everyone else had him locked in the mid to high 20s.
Top 25 Under 25 History
Debuting at 42nd in 2024 after getting drafted as an over-ager, Thorpe finished just outside the Top 25 last year, but makes his way into the official countdown this summer. He has three more years of eligibility in the project.
History of #24
| Year | #24 |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Tyler Thorpe |
| 2025 | Sean Farrell |
| 2024 | Jakub Dobeš |
| 2023 | Jakub Dobeš |
| 2022 | Emil Heineman |
| 2021 | Cam Hillis |
| 2020 | Luke Tuch |
| 2019 | Joël Teasdale |
| 2018 | Rinat Valiev |
| 2017 | Josh Brook |
| 2016 | Ryan Johnston |
| 2015 | Darren Dietz |
| 2014 | Morgan Ellis |
| 2013 | Mac Bennett |
| 2012 | Steve Quailer |
| 2011 | Daniel Pribyl |
| 2010 | Brendan Gallagher |
Strengths
Thorpe was a large lad playing on a line with other large lads in his rookie year, but he was the largest of the lads, which says a lot when Florian Xhekaj and Luke Tuch were his linemates. It’s hard to contain him when he’s moving or establishing himself inside the offensive zone. He throws his frame fully into clean, devastating hits that leave opponents scrambling and often draw the ire of other players on the ice.
He’s a bully when he’s on his game, able to throw those hits, goad an opponent into dropping their gloves with an extra shove, and then using his reach to pummel them into the ground.
I was in the crowd for the game in which the above fight took place, and it was everything I’d want to see from Thorpe: a massive hit in open ice to change possession, then handling the guy who challenged him to a fight. Given his slot in the lineup, it’s Thorpe playing his role to perfection.
It doesn’t mean that’s all he needs to bring to the ice. In fact it’s easy for me to point out there should be much more offence in his game than what is currently shown. When he collects the puck in stride, he is able to load up and use a heavy wristshot to beat goalies. It is the key to unlocking that next level for him, if he can routinely operate on the rush as a heavy shooter, he should see his point production increase.
Weaknesses
He has all the physical tools available to be a player in the mould of Josh Anderson, tough, a decent enough skater, and with a shot capable of producing regular goals. The problem for him is that the mental side of the game is lagging, leaving him a step behind the play in many situations.
Often during viewings of games you would find him unaware of a potential scoring opportunity or incoming pass because he was focused on trying to finish a hit away from the play or chasing an opponent in an attempt to agitate him. There are also the moments in which it becomes more apparent that his puck skills are a step behind some of the prospects and players on the Rocket. In many moments he struggles to corral a pass or a puck, instead being forced to just swat it along or turning it over inside the offensive zone.
Honing in on the hockey IQ side is going to be crucial to taking the next step in his development and it will be much needed as the Rocket roster goes through a changeover under a new coach.
Projection
The Laval Rocket have undergone a big change in the off-season this year with several players moving out via trade or free agency including top stars Sean Farrell and Joshua Roy, along with Sammy Blais. While there are new faces in the fold, Thorpe has the shooting talent to become a useful power-play option, and the physicality to open up space for his linemates when he’s on his game.
However, the first development would be for Thorpe to move up off the fourth line, likely still alongside Xhekaj, into a role that offers more offensive opportunities. That role is not guaranteed though, and while Thorpe has the tools to make that step he has to improve in a few different areas. Laval has rarely had a problem producing goals, but with several high-end producers having left the club they’ll need to fill that void and for Thorpe it’s a golden chance to keep himself on the NHL radar.
Long-term, it’s not easy to see where he might fit in the grand scheme of things at the NHL level. Thorpe isn’t alone in trying to carve out a bottom-six role. Even in the current AHL lineup players like Owen Beck and Xhekaj vie for spots, as will Rohrer at the conclusion of his season on loan to EZ Zug. Even a little further down the pipeline are players like L.J. Mooney, Hayden Paupanekis, and the newly drafted Gleb Pugachyov. It’s a crowded group, and it is going to be incredibly easy to get lost if you don’t stand out.
I wouldn’t say that Thorpe is on the NHL radar for this season, and that is okay given the state of the organization. However, this is a big year for the player who turns 21 today as he tries to establish himself as a much more consistent professional player.
The realistic goal for him this season is graduating from being a pure energy forward on the fourth line to a stable middle-six forward who is tapping into his offensive upside. With the Rocket shuffling their lineup in a big way, the door is wide open for Thorpe to seize his opportunity.
