Three players who’ll want to shift the narrative at Habs rookie camp

September 7, 2024

On Friday, the Montreal Canadiens announced the roster of players that are due to participate in this year’s rookie camp, which is set to get underway on September 11th. Some familiar faces are returning under the weight of expectation while others are getting their first real glimpse at life in the NHL.

The Montreal Canadiens rookie camp roster ⬇️⬇️ pic.twitter.com/JK3X2MvcQm

— Marco D'Amico (@mndamico) September 6, 2024

Hockey-thirsty fans are eager to see pucks drop, and get a look at what the future holds for the Canadiens. It’s been a very long time since the pool of prospects has been as promising in Montreal. Yet for some of these young players, there is already a need for them to make a mark in this camp that will change the narrative surrounding them.

Filip Mesar

The fellow countryman of 2022 first overall pick Juraj Slafkovsky was the second selection made by the Habs in that first round. So far, Mesar has not blown anyone away. After two decent but not dominating years in the OHL, questions are surfacing about whether Mesar has what it takes to claim a spot in Montreal.

Mesar is a smallish centreman whose hopes at the NHL level depend on him maximizing speed, skill and hockey sense to make an impact. His performance to date has not allowed him to stay front of mind while Owen Beck, drafted after Mesar in 2022, outplayed him in the OHL, and picks from two subsequent drafts have overtaken him in the prospects charts.

Mesar needs to arrive at this rookie camp strong and ready to make a statement that he is not a first round bust.

Quentin Miller

Following the 2022-23 season, General Manager Kent Hughes commented to the media that he did not believe the Canadiens had a number one goalie in their ranks. He followed that statement by drafting three goaltenders at the 2023 draft.

Jacob Fowler was the first, selected in the third round. Fowler had a strong first season at Boston College, and is believed to be the Habs best hope for a future starter. Yevgeni Volokhin was the third goalie picked, his name being called in the fifth round. Volokhin has been developing nicely in Russia. Neither of those netminders is at rookie camp.

The second goalie selected by the Habs in 2023, claimed in the fourth round, was Quentin Miller. Miller will be in attendance at rookie camp, and it’s his opportunity to make a statement that he intends to challenge Fowler to become the next starter in Montreal.

Sean Farrell

There was a time when the offensive hopes of the Montreal Canadiens rested, at least in part, on Sean Farrell. With multiple higher caliber players being drafted in recent years, there is less riding on Farrell’s transition to the NHL.

The other developing narrative in Montreal is that the management group is concerned about adding size. This was apparent at the 2024 draft, and Hughes has not been shy about his view that a team must be balanced. That means there is a limit to the number of small players they can handle on their roster.

Mesar isn’t the only small guy at camp, and if Farrell wants to continue to be a factor for the Canadiens he will need to score goals. For Farrell, the narrative at this rookie camp will need to reflect that he has not lost his goal scoring touch and that it can translate to the NHL despite his size.

Every single young player at camp will have thoughts in his head about the storyline he would like to write in a few short days. But for Mesar, Miller and Farrell, it feels like the need to shift the narrative is more immediate.

In a few days we’ll have a sense of whether they succeeded.