2026 Canadiens Top 25 Under 25: #12 Adam Engström

Introduction

Adam Engström has reached the point in his development where he seems to have learned everything he can from the levels below the NHL, steadily increasing his stock year after year. Four years after the Montreal Canadiens selected him 92nd overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, he has played professional hockey in Sweden, completed two full AHL seasons, and made his NHL debut.

His development has continued moving in the right direction. After recording five goals and 27 points in 66 games during his first AHL season, Engström exploded for 10 goals and 34 points in only 45 games last year. He then appeared in 15 games with Montreal, recording his first NHL point and finishing with a plus-two rating, a minus player in just two of his games wearing a Habs jersey.

That progression has made him one of the more NHL-ready prospects in the Canadiens organization. He is one of three Rocket players with a legitimate opportunity to make Montreal full-time in 2026-27. But there is an interesting question surrounding his future with a team that is deep at the defence positions. Is he merely a safe, mobile third-pairing option, or is there more offensive upside that can see him play a more impactful role?

Voting

There was a small range to the votes, yet still a couple of different views of Engström’s value. A couple of panellists placed him at eighth, the tail end of the very top players in the organization, while the rest have him in the middle of this current tier where confidence in an NHL future is high, but it’s not a guarantee.

The general community is taking the latter approach with a more conservative outlook, but still has him slotted as one of the top players outside the NHL in the prospect pool.

Top 25 Under 25 History

He had risen to 12th after a productive regular and post-season in the SHL at 19 years old before falling to 16th the past two years. Now that he’s played a number of NHL games, he returns just outside the top 10.

History of #12

Strengths

He provided an answer to questions about his offensive involvement by increasing his AHL point-per-game rate from 0.41 to 0.76 last year. That’s not simply a modest improvement, but a substantial offensive step. His creativity and intelligence are solid. He recognizes when to join the rush and often arrives as the trailer. That can make him dangerous because defenders naturally focus on the forwards ahead of him.

His skating remains the foundation of his game. This is what allows everything else to work. He has a smooth stride and good agility, particularly when moving the puck. His mobility is one of the reasons why he could fit into Martin St.-Louis’s system this season. Montreal wants its defencemen involved in transition, and Engström naturally plays that way.

Puck-moving is arguably his most NHL-translatable skill. He doesn’t panic when pressured, but scans and identifies where the pressure is coming from. He then decides whether to pass, carry, or escape with the puck. That makes him particularly effective at starting the breakout. You could easily describe him as a mobile defenceman who shines with the puck on his stick to spark quick counter-attacks. A player doesn’t need to score 40 points if he can consistently help his team exit the defensive zone cleanly.

Weaknesses

His skating should allow him to recover when a play breaks down, but he can get caught flat-footed on the backcheck and in transition. His recognition of how the play is shifting needs improvement if he wants to drive offence consistently at the NHL level without abandoning his defensive positioning to do it. Consistency in his performances remains an issue, though his progression in the last few years indicates it will become less and less of a factor.

Despite being 6’2″, he doesn’t play a physical style. That’s not necessarily a major problem since his game is based on skating and puck movement. It does mean he won’t be able to fill the role of a third-pairing bruising defender who supports an offensive partner. Adding muscle beyond his current 185 pounds should help him significantly in the defensive zone as he goes up against stronger NHL opposition.

Projection

The Canadiens’ projected blue line already contains several established left-shot options, while the right side is considerably more open. Engström’s ability to play either side could give him an advantage over his competition when it comes time for the final roster decisions. That’s not an argument that he is a better prospect than David Reinbacher, just that Engström may be the more logical fit in the 2026-27 lineup.

Engström’s floor is relatively safe compared to many prospects in Montreal’s system. He’s already demonstrated that his skating and puck movement can survive professional hockey. Those tools could lead to a top-four role if his defensive game continues developing and the 2025-26 offensive breakout proves sustainable.

He is one of several examples of Montreal’s scouting department finding value outside the first round. Whether he stays with Montreal or becomes part of a trade package (he seems to be popping up more and more in trade rumours), a third-rounder developing into a NHL player or the piece traded to acquire one is a success for the franchise.

Set to turn 23 in November, there is still room for growth. His 2025-26 season showed that his offensive game is still improving, and therefore his ceiling may be higher than previously thought. The Canadiens therefore have to decide whether the immediate need for a top-six forward is worth giving up a potential long-term member of the defence corps.