Five players to watch when Canadiens’ rookie camp opens on Friday
The Canadiens’ rookie camp this year will be short and sweet.
And perhaps that’s for the better, because it will be devoid of many of the organization’s top prospects who are either committed to the NCAA or are playing overseas.
That list includes Michael Hage, Alexander Zharovsky, Gleb Pugachyov (who was selected No. 26 overall this summer), Timofei Runtso (No. 57 overall this year), Cooper Cleaves (No. 93 overall this year), Logan Sawyer and Aatos Koivu (Saku’s son).
Only 10 of the 23 players attending were drafted by the Canadiens. And only one was selected in the top 100. Seven players — most of whom played in the QMJHL — have been invited on a tryout basis.
Bryce Pickford, the Canadian Hockey League’s top defenceman last season, underwent shoulder surgery this summer and has yet to recover, while forward Hayden Paupenakis is recovering from mononucleosis.
Nonetheless, there will be a handful of players worth monitoring, including:
Owen Protz: The physical defenceman had an impressive rookie camp last year before returning to the OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs, where he had five goals and 18 assists in 64 games. Perhaps more importantly, Protz had 84 penalty minutes along with a plus-45 differential, which was fifth best in the league.
While it will take a season or two to determine whether Protz has NHL potential, there’s no overlooking his size — 6-foot-1 and 217 pounds. Protz likes to play a physical game, suggesting he models his style after Scott Stevens and Chris Pronger. The 20-year-old also blocks shots and can kill penalties.
After signing a three-year entry-level contract this summer, Protz had two memorable quotes. “It’s about instilling fear,” he said, along with “I just hate being scored on, even in practice.”
Selected in the fourth round (No. 102 overall) in 2024, Protz is expected to play a significant role this season with the AHL’s Laval Rocket.
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Tyler Thorpe: On a team that lacks some size, it will be hard to miss Thorpe. At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, he’ll be the biggest player on the ice in Brossard.
The towering right-winger is considered to have a decent shot. But given his size, he needs to become faster and more agile, according to scouting reports.
In his first full season with Laval, Thorpe produced four goals and 16 points in 68 games. He was held without a point in the Rocket’s five-game playoff series against Toronto. Thorpe was selected in the fifth round (No. 130 overall) by Montreal in 2024.
Luke Mittelstadt: The 5-foot-11, 185-pound defenceman hopes to escape from the shadow of his brother Casey, a centre with the Boston Bruins who was drafted eighth overall by Buffalo in 2017.
The Canadiens’ prospect, 23, joined Laval late last season after completing his career at the University of Minnesota. He had two goals and 19 assists in 36 games, possesses leadership qualities and was the team’s captain last season.
Mittelstadt, selected in the seventh round (No. 197 overall) in 2023, will be another fixture on the Rocket’s blue line this season.
Arseni Radkov: While the Canadiens are well established in net between Jakub Dobes, Jacob Fowler and Samuel Montembeault, Radkov could enter the equation down the road.
At 6-foot-3 and 209 pounds, he’ll certainly present an intimidating target who takes up room. Selected in the third round (No. 82 overall) in 2025, Radkov is the highest-drafted player at rookie camp. But his statistics last season weren’t flattering.
Radkov had a 12-7-3 record in 23 games with the QMJHL’s Blainville-Boisbriand Armada, along with a 3.01 goals-against average and an .894 save percentage. In 17 games with the Saint John Sea Dogs, he had a 4.04 GAA and an .856 save percentage. Radkov will be attending the University of Massachusetts.
Alexey Vlasov: The 5-foot-9, 176-pound Russian winger has been invited on a tryout basis.
Vlasov, 18, possesses impressive offensive skills. In 64 games with the QMJHL’s Victoriaville Tigres, he had 44 goals and 36 assists. The Canadiens can only hope Vlasov has half the talent of the vertically challenged Cole Caufield.
Rookie camp begins with a practice Friday at 10 a.m., followed by games in Gatineau on Saturday and Sunday against Winnipeg and Ottawa, respectively. The rookies will be off next Monday while the organization holds its annual golf tournament at Laval-sur-le-Lac. A final rookie camp practice will be held Tuesday morning.
New Laval Rocket head coach Daniel Jacob will lead the practices, evaluations and games. He’ll be joined by assistants Martin Laperrière, David Urquhart and Ilia Ejov.
