2026 Canadiens Top 25 Under 25: #21 Timofei Runtso
Introduction
The 2026 NHL Draft was a shift in mentality for the Montreal Canadiens. It wasn’t as hyped or celebrated as some of their previous draft classes. There was no steal or standout gems taken early, as most of the draft was built around filling needs and targeting specific attributes.
Late in the second round, they made an aggressive move to trade up four positions to select a player whose development curve caught the attention of their scouting department. After going undrafted in 2025, Timofei Runtso made the jump from the NAHL to the WHL and immediately established himself as one of the Victoria Royals’ most important defencemen. He produced 44 points in 68 games in his first (and only) season, leading the team’s defence in goals, assists, and points.
He has been taking a step up in level for the past few years, and this season will be no different as he’s preparing to begin his NCAA career, playing for Miami University. The team features a few other NHL-drafted prospects, including 2026 first-rounder Ilia Morozov, so he will get to develop alongside good players in his time there.
Voting
A few voters placed him in the late teens and some had him in the early 30s, which is fairly typical for a newly drafted second-rounder. I personally had him around 20th on my ballot.
History of #21
| Year | #21 |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Timofei Runtso |
| 2025 | L.J. Mooney |
| 2024 | Bogdan Konyushkov |
| 2023 | Emil Heineman |
| 2022 | Arber Xhekaj |
| 2021 | Gianni Fairbrother |
| 2020 | Sean Farrell |
| 2019 | Joni Ikonen / Jayden Struble |
| 2018 | Jacob Olofsson |
| 2017 | Martin Réway |
| 2016 | Simon Bourque |
| 2015 | Lukas Vejdemo |
| 2014 | Michael McCarron |
| 2013 | Greg Pateryn |
| 2012 | Darren Dietz |
| 2011 | Gabriel Dumont |
| 2010 | Mac Bennett |
Strengths
Runtso’s 44 points were particularly impressive given Victoria’s overall offensive environment. He nearly doubled the production of the Royals’ next-highest-scoring defenceman and became one of the team’s primary drivers from the blue line. His production also represented a significant step from the previous season when he recorded 27 points in 53 games in the NAHL. That progression is central to his overall evaluation, and likely a major reason Montreal became interested.
His most obvious strength is his ability to move the puck. He is comfortable making the first pass or carrying the puck himself. Rather than simply looking for the safest available option, he frequently looks to advance the puck through the neutral zone and create an offensive advantage.
A 6’3″ defenceman who can comfortably carry the puck through the neutral zone is difficult to defend because opponents have to respect both his ability to pass and his ability to attack. That gives him a potential NHL-level foundation even if the rest of his game takes several years to mature.
Defensively, he uses his reach to disrupt passing lanes and separate attackers from the puck. He can identify opportunities to get his stick involved to break up developing plays.
Weaknesses
His stick work is strong, but his defensive-zone game is still a work in progress. There are moments when his reads are good and others when his positioning breaks down. He can occasionally lose his defensive assignment or overcommit to a play and sometimes get caught chasing the puck. That will need to become more reliable for him to have a more positive impact while playing in his own end.
Runtso’s physical profile is one of his more intriguing aspects. He has the frame of a player who should eventually be capable of handling NHL physicality, but he doesn’t consistently play with that level of authority yet. His defensive game is more reliant on positioning and his stick skills than it needs to be given his size. He has some struggles when pressured below the goal line when he tries to force a pass rather than just fending off the opponent.
That could be because his skating is merely adequate and he doesn’t trust his feet to get him out of trouble. His agility and edgework are useful, particularly when he has the puck, but his acceleration and overall skating mechanics are not at the level of the best mobile NHL defencemen. He doesn’t need to become an elite skater, but a more efficient one to complement what he already does well.
Projection
While at first this new prospect looks like a long shot, I think Runtso’s floor is quite high. He is difficult to project because his floor and ceiling are separated by several developmental steps. He could become an offensive-minded AHL defenceman who can contribute on the power play but never becomes reliable enough defensively for regular NHL minutes. If he reaches his ceiling, he could be a number-four to -six NHL defenceman who can move the puck and provide second-unit power-play minutes.
His most important development isn’t going to be scoring 44 points in the NHL like he did last season in Victoria. It is becoming the kind of defenceman a coach trusts to have the puck in his own zone with two minutes left in a close game. If he can add strength and become more comfortable using his body, his defensive ceiling rises considerably.
A mature version of Runtso would combine a big frame with a long reach and active stick, which would make him into a very effective defensive package. If he gets there, the Canadiens may have found considerable value in a 57th-overall pick.
