2026 Canadiens Top 25 Under 25: #13 Bryce Pickford
Introduction
Bryce Pickford had one of the most remarkable seasons any Montreal Canadiens prospect has produced in recent memory. The 20-year-old right-shot defenceman scored 45 goals and 83 points in just 55 games for the Medicine Hat Tigers in 2025-26. He was the only defenceman among the CHL’s top 10 goal-scorers and tied for second among all WHL players in goals despite playing significantly fewer games than the league leader.
After his season, the awards followed. Pickford was named WHL Defenceman of the Year, WHL Player of the Year, and CHL Defenceman of the Year. For a player selected 81st overall as an over-ager at the end of the previous season, the transformation was extraordinary.
Now with four years played in the the WHL, he’s moving on to the next chapter. He exits the Junior system as a prolific scorer, to play with the Laval Rocket this season on what should be a strong blue line for the AHL team. We will find out if he can create the same shooting opportunities against professional defenders that he got used to in the past two years.
Voting
Seven of the nine panellists had him between 12 and 15, with top voters having him within their top 10. I personally had him at 13, and I believe there is an actual pro player in this prospect.
It was a typical distribution around 14th place for Pickford in the community vote. Just four people slotted him lower than 20th.
Top 25 Under 25 History
Pickford debuted at 31st last summer after his 20-goal season at age 19. His 18-place jump is the largest of 2026, beating new Rocket teammate Luke Mittelstadt by two.
History of #13
| Year | #13 |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Bryce Pickford |
| 2025 | Oliver Kapanen |
| 2024 | Michael Hage |
| 2023 | Rafaël Harvey-Pinard |
| 2022 | Lane Hutson |
| 2021 | Josh Brook |
| 2020 | Jesse Ylönen |
| 2019 | Cale Fleury |
| 2018 | Jesse Ylönen |
| 2017 | Michael McNiven |
| 2016 | Noah Juulsen |
| 2015 | Martin Réway |
| 2014 | Dustin Tokarski |
| 2013 | Artturi Lehkonen |
| 2012 | Yannick Weber |
| 2011 | Ryan White |
| 2010 | Ryan White |
Strengths
The easiest way to understand Pickford’s 2025-26 season is to put the numbers into context. His 45 goals were the most by a CHL defenceman since Greg Hawgood scored 48 in 1987-88. His 19 power-play goals and 11 game-winning goals were also tied for the CHL lead. This wasn’t a player quietly accumulating points through secondary assists. Pickford was directly responsible for a large percentage of Medicine Hat’s offence. His elite shot is a skill that separates him from Montreal’s other defensive prospects. It’s not just a “good shot for a defenceman,” it is a legitimate offensive weapon.
He understands where offence comes from. He doesn’t simply stay at the blue line and wait for the puck. He looks for opportunities to activate and join the rush, to find soft ice and attack rebounds and position himself for scoring chances. There is an element of offensive anticipation behind the incredible production.
Many of his assists are generated from his shots creating rebounds, loose pucks, or secondary opportunities rather than from elaborate playmaking sequences. That doesn’t make him a poor passer, that makes him effective at making the simple play. His offensive identity is much more straightforward: get the puck, create the lane, shoot. And honestly, there’s nothing wrong with that. If the shot is good enough, simplicity becomes a strength.
Weaknesses
His defensive game isn’t disastrous but it isn’t yet reliable. In one of our own podcasts, Patrik Bexell had specifically identified his defensive-zone play as an area requiring improvement, noting that he can become overly aggressive, chase the puck, and lose his positioning during extended shifts.
Now, that’s a very different issue from simply lacking defensive skill. The problem is often more a lack of discipline. Pickford wants to make something happen and will try to rush things to make a play. That mentality is excellent offensively, but is dangerous defensively. He sees an opportunity and goes after it. The problem comes when the chance isn’t actually there and he has created a turnover or given the other team an opportunity to attack. A defenceman who leaves his structure to chase the puck can create coverage breakdowns, odd-man situations and problems below the goal line. Luckily for him and the Canadiens, these are exactly the mistakes that professional coaches will work to eliminate.
At approximately 6’1″ and 186 pounds, Pickford has adequate NHL size but isn’t physically imposing. His physical game isn’t what defines him. He doesn’t project as a shutdown defender who will win games through physical dominance. The NHL doesn’t require every defenceman to be a bruiser but if his skating remains average, adding strength becomes more important.
Projection
Pickford’s 83 points don’t automatically mean he’s a future NHL top-four defenceman. Players such as Carter Yakemchuk and Olen Zellweger produced enormous offensive numbers in the WHL, but their professional transitions depended on other aspects of their game as well. My main concern is that Pickford needs to become more than simply an exceptional shooter to have a shot at the NHL.
He has a much wider range of outcomes than Owen Beck or Florian Xhekaj. His offensive ceiling is significantly higher, but his defensive floor is less certain. If his skating and defensive game don’t progress, he could become a highly productive minor-league defenceman whose NHL opportunities are limited. If he’s able to improve in those areas, we could see an NHL third-pairing blue-liner with second power play responsibilities. If all goes well in his development in the AHL, a 6’1″ right-shot defenceman with an elite shot and 40-point potential is a very valuable NHL player.
