The Montreal Canadiens were, of course, part of this, and here are the results:
Up to this point, such rankings are always subjective, but I dare say without much error that the top-3 would essentially be the same for everyone, in one order or another. Slafkovsky, Reinbacher, and Hutson are undoubtedly the organization's top prospects.
The inclusion of Beck and Roy is also debatable, as some might have placed Sean Farrell or Logan Mailloux in the mix, but I have no problem with these two names in the journalist's top-5.
However, what has generated a lot of talk and disappointed Canadiens fans is Farrell's estimation that Hutson and Reinbacher won't make the jump to the NHL for another two years, which means the 2025-2026 season. This timeline seems quite long, especially for Hutson, who is already lighting up the NCAA at the age of 19.
Pretty much everyone in the hockey world anticipates that the 2022 second-round pick will turn pro at the end of his next college season. I imagine Farrell believes he'll play in the AHL with the Laval Rocket in 2024-2025, rather than a third season in the NCAA.
That said, while the Habs' prospects are promising, and we're looking forward to seeing their progress this year in their respective leagues. Whether it's in Laval, junior hockey, or the NCAA, it will be a significant season for many of them.
Credit: HabsetLNH.com
POLL | ||
Are Hutson and Reinbacher a future top D pair in the NHL? | ||
Yes | 200 | 87.3 % |
No | 29 | 12.7 % |
List of polls |