With the 12th, 22nd, and 43rd picks in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft, Trevor Timmins selected Ryan McDonagh, Max Pacioretty and P.K. Subban. It was a virtuoso performance that helped shape the current roster and bought the Montreal Canadiens’ director of amateur scouting and vice president of player personnel years of security with the organization.
In the 12 drafts Timmins has presided over for Montreal, he’s only had the luxury of selecting in the top five twice. One of the players he chose (Carey Price) is this year’s favourite for the Hart Trophy and a virtual lock to win the Vezina. The other (Alex Galchenyuk) jumped from the junior ranks straight to the NHL in 2013, and has scored 104 points in 193 games since.
Picking in the 20s–Montreal has the 26th pick in this year’s draft–is familiar territory for Timmins. Jarred Tinordi (22nd in 2010) is projected to have a lengthy NHL career. Michael McCarron (25th in 2013) took a giant leap in 2015 and was named a tournament all-star after his Oshawa Generals won the Memorial Cup. And Nikita Scherbak (26th in 2014) led the WHL’s Everett Silvertips in scoring with 82 points this season.
Considering his track record, there’s no reason to believe Timmins can’t find another foundation player in Round 1.
Here are five players who best represent what Timmins and the Canadiens might be looking for:
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Daniel Sprong, RW (Charlottetown Islanders, QMJHL)
Daniel Sprong is a point producer and a gifted scorer. His father, Hannie Sprong, was a professional hockey player in the Netherlands and Daniel moved from Amsterdam to Montreal when he was seven to get a leg up on his development.
In 2013-14, Sprong was named to the QMJHL’s All-Rookie team and followed that with 39 goals and 49 assists in 2014-15. He had a strong post-season, too, adding another 11 points in 10 games.
The game is all about speed now and Sprong’s was referred to as “blazing” by Dan Marr, the NHL’s director of central scouting.
Charlottetown Islanders coach Gordie Dwyer had this to say about Sprong: “He’s what you call a triple threat offensive player. He’s got skill, a great shot and sees the ice and distributes the puck really well. So he’s got tremendous upside.”
It appears that Sprong possesses exactly what Montreal is looking for.
Paul Bittner, LW (Portland Winterhawks, WHL)
Sportsnet’s Gare Joyce has Bittner going to Minnesota with the 20th pick, and Jeff Marek has him falling to Anaheim at 27. But if he’s still around at pick 26, you have the think the 6-foot-4 power forward who put up 34 goals and 37 assists in 2014-15 would be a very appealing option for a Montreal team that lacks size up front.
Size and scoring touch are a rare blend, and Bittner possesses both. He’s also got a cannon of a shot. This Minnesota native checks a lot of boxes on the Canadiens’ wish list.
Jake DeBrusk, LW (Swift Current Broncos, WHL)
Marc Bergevin and the Canadiens covet character, and DeBrusk has been labelled one of the hardest working players in this year’s draft.
“He’s a 40-goal scorer who does the dirty work around the net. His greatest strength is his compete level,” said Peter Sullivan of NHL Central Scouting.
An Edmonton native standing 6-feet tall, DeBrusk won’t overpower players at the NHL level, but he’s a two-way forward who can play all three positions up front. His versatility could prove to be a great asset to the Canadiens.
Brock Boeser, RW (Waterloo Black Hawks, USHL)
After drafting McCarron out of the USHL, it wouldn’t be all that surprising to see Montreal dip back into this well to pluck out Brock Boeser, who led the league with 35 goals in 2014-15.
Boeser’s got top-line skill, a great shot and notable hockey smarts. These assets have had several scouts compare him to Chicago’s Patrick Sharp.
The Burnsville, Minnesota native is destined for the NCAA next season, as he’s committed to play for North Dakota.
Brandon Carlo, D (Tri-City Americans, WHL)
At 6-foot-5, this shutdown defender could be a very appealing option for Montreal, since they might very well part ways with Tinordi.
Carlo isn’t offensively prolific, but NHL Central Scouting’s John Williams touts him as an excellent puck mover who “has great mobility for a player his size.”
Those are qualities that would secure an NHL future for the Colorado Springs native who idolizes Rob Blake. If Carlo can pattern his physical game after Blake’s, he’d certainly be an appealing option to Timmins and the Canadiens.
Marc Bergevin may have one of the deepest bluelines in the NHL, but he’s a big believer in depth at the position. Regardless of Montreal’s needs up front, adding Carlo wouldn’t be a surprise.
