A shortage of star prospects creates a rare opening at Canadiens rookie camp
The Montreal Canadiens have announced the roster for their Rookie Camp, which begins on September 11th, followed by two games on Saturday and Sunday against the Winnipeg Jets and Ottawa Senators. This year though looks very different than past years in terms of the players on the roster.
With most of the top prospects either in the NCAA, overseas, or expected to compete for a spot on the Canadiens’ roster, the roster is lacking. In fact, there is only one player drafted by the Montreal Canadiens who was selected in the first 100 picks of the NHL Draft.
While some of the Canadiens’ top picks won’t be at Rookie Camp, there are a few notable players who are worth watching for fans.
Luke Mittelstadt
Luke Mittelstadt is the brother of current Boston Bruins’ center Casey Mittelstadt and was drafted in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL Draft by the Canadiens. The defenseman spent the past four seasons at the University of Minnesota and was captain for the Golden Gophers last season.
After his NCAA season was over, he did join the Laval Rocket and finished the season there, appearing in nine regular season games with five points as well as playing in five playoff games with two additional points.
Mittelstadt might not be close to the NHL, he should have a major role in Laval this coming season and can help make his case at the Rookie Camp.
Owen Protz
Another defenseman worth watching is Owen Protz, who was a fourth-round pick by the Canadiens in the 2024 NHL Draft. He has spent the past four seasons in the OHL with 198 games and 74 total points.
The Canadiens signed Protz to his three-year entry-level contract this summer, and he should be playing with Mittelstadt in Laval this coming season. As noted in this article on CHL.ca, Protz is a physical defenseman who does a lot of the gritty things that can help make a team successful.
“Known for his physical edge, shot blocking, and penalty-killing ability, Protz has built a reputation as a dependable, team-first defenceman. His style of play and consistency have made him an important part of a Bulldogs team entering the postseason as a championship contender.”
Alexei Vlasov
Among the 23 players on the roster for Rookie Camp are seven players who are participating on a tryout basis. The goal is to play well enough to impress the coaching staff and earn a contract.
One of the players hoping to do that is Alexei Vlasov, who spent last season in the QMJHL and had an incredible 80 points in 64 games, including 44 goals. The biggest concern with Vlasov is his size at only 5’9″, but the Canadiens have not shied away from smaller, skilled players like Cole Caufield.
This is not to say that Vlasov is going to be the next Caufield, but at only 18 years old, the Canadiens could be patient with him if they believe the potential is there with the shot he has.
Arseni Radkov
Arseni Radkov is the highest-drafted player at this year’s Rookie Camp after being selected in the third round of the 2025 NHL Draft. Last season, he split time between the Saint John Sea Dogs and the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada in the QMJHL, appearing in 40 games between the two teams with a goals against average of 3.45 and a save percentage of .889.
The goalie position is one worth watching and one that could go through significant changes over the next calendar year. Samuel Montembault is in the final year of his contract, and Jacob Fowler is going to be in the NHL sooner rather than later.
For Laval, the only other goalie is Kaapo Kahkonen, who signed a one-year deal with Montreal this summer. A strong performance by Arseni Radkov at Rookie Camp could give him momentum going into his first season in the NCAA at the University of Massachusetts.
While there may not be top-end talent at Rookie Camp as there has been in years past, this is still a group with potential, and these players are worth watching closely.
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