Under-the-radar Canadiens prospect could eventually replace Phillip Danault
The Montreal Canadiens already have one of the youngest rosters in the NHL, and that likely will not change for the next couple of seasons. Montreal has a ton of prospects who could be making the jump in the near future. Whether it is David Reinbacher, Michael Hage, Alexander Zharovsky, or Gleb Pugachyov, Montreal has several prospects who could eventually become prominent players in its lineup. All the attention goes to prospects with high upsides, but fans should not undervalue players who could help round out their roster.
Despite not having a certified second-line centre, the Canadiens have a lot of depth at centre, whether it is Oliver Kapanen, Phillip Danault, Jake Evans, or even Kirby Dach, who was originally brought in to play centre. Danault has one year left on his contract and will be 34 years old by the time the 2027-28 season comes around. It is not out of the question that the Canadiens re-sign him to a short-term deal, but once Danault is gone, Montreal needs to find his replacement. They could look in free agency to add another veteran presence, but the Canadiens may already have the perfect future replacement in Hayden Paupanekis.
Hayden Paupanekis was drafted for his defensive capabilities
The Canadiens’ 69th pick in the 2025 draft may not have the offensive flair of Zharovsky or the playmaking ability of Hage, but what he brings to the table cannot be taught. Paupanekis is listed at 6’5” and 212 pounds, which would bring some much-needed size down the middle of the ice. His offensive numbers do not pop off the screen. He has 47 goals and 53 assists in 190 WHL games, but still has a lot of room to grow in that department. For his size, he is deceptively quick, possesses a powerful shot, and likes to get to the net, but needs to work on his decision-making with the puck and be more aggressive in the offensive zone.
Paupanekis’ defensive game is where he really shines. According to Neutral Zone, one of Paupanekis’ best abilities is generating turnovers, averaging 4 takeaways per game during his draft year. He understands where to be in the defensive zone and how to fill in gaps when coverage breaks down. He wins just over 50% of his face-offs, which is decent, but that is an area he will need to work on if he wants to be an effective centre in the NHL. Paupanekis’ work ethic is another one of his best qualities. His desire to improve likely went into his decision to leave the Kelowna Rockets to join St. Cloud State University in the NCAA.
How soon could we see Paupanekis in the NHL?
Paupanekis is set to play this upcoming season with the St. Cloud State Huskies, which he believes is the appropriate next step in his ultimate goal of making the NHL one day. “I think it’s going to be a jump for me, a step,” Paupanekis said. “But I’m ready for it, I think. I need to keep levelling up every season and that’s another step I need to take.” Paupanekis understands that he needs to improve, not only on the ice, but off the ice too. Montreal Gazette sports columnist Stu Cowan suggests a reason Paupanekis chose to make the jump to the NCAA could be the lower game total. Cowan believes the extra time between games gives athletes more time to focus on building strength and their nutrition, which Paupanekis could use to his advantage.
This season will be key for Paupanekis’ development. How well he performs will give the Canadiens’ front office a better understanding of just how far he is from making the NHL. If everything goes well, the Canadiens can sign Paupanekis to his entry-level contract after the season and from there, Habs fans could see him with the Laval Rocket before the end of the season. He will likely need a season or two in the AHL with the Rocket before we ever see him in the NHL. Only time will tell, but it would not be a shock to see Paupanekis playing a bottom-six role for the Canadiens in the next couple of years.
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