Top 30 Prospects: #20-16

Welcome back to my rankings of the Montreal Canadiens’ top 30 prospects. This is part four of seven, which will cover prospects ranked 20-16. It’s important to keep in mind that this is entirely my opinion and I am not a scout. In many cases, the difference between two prospects is minimal. The season breakdown and talent analysis for each prospect is meant to be as concise as possible, while still maintaining a high level of detail and information. Each profile will also be accompanied by a explanation ranking, in efforts to provide a fair and objective rationale behind my ranking.

Series Navigation:

Introduction and Honourable Mentions

#30-26

#25-21

#20-16

#15-11

#10-6

#5-1

20) Christian Thomas

Acquired via trade with New York Rangers (July 2, 2013)

LW/RW | 5’09” 179 | Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL)

Regular Season: 55GP 11G 16A 27P

Thomas failed to live up to expectations following a good rookie season in the New York Rangers organization. Thomas largely still has the same flaws as last year, but made improvements to his two-way game. Despite that, Thomas didn’t improve offensively and many games struggled to be even slightly noticeable. His game was wildly inconsistent. The former 50 goal-scorer in the OHL still has lots of time to put it all together, but there’s lots of work to be done.

First and foremost, Thomas is a goal-scorer. Thomas owns an absolute cannon of a shot. In terms of sheer power, it’s arguably the best among forwards in the prospects pool. Both his slap shot and wrist shot are long-range threats, plus his quick release allows him to be a threat down low. His accuracy is erratic, so there’s room for improvement there. He ventures to the front of the net and in the slot and shows no fear to make his presence felt in there. However, Thomas doesn’t use that NHL-calibre shot enough. He doesn’t show the confidence or awareness that high-end snipers have.

Thomas also is a fast skater and an above-average stickhandler. He needs to become more explosive and improve his first few steps, but there’s no doubt that his top-end speed is excellent. He’s owns a quick set of hands that he doesn’t use nearly enough. When he decides to dangle around a defender instead of simply pushing the puck forward, it typically works. Thomas is a fairly good playmaker. He makes good passes–sometimes passes of high difficulty–but once again, doesn’t attempt those enough. He usually makes short passes in order to play it safe.

Defensively, Thomas has improved since his OHL career. He’s an intelligent defensive player, but doesn’t always show dedication. Thomas makes good reads in the zone, blocking passing and shooting lanes. He’s also good at breaking up plays by coming back to help out his defencemen, but he doesn’t do it with enough consistency. Despite his stature, Thomas is a fairly strong player. He doesn’t get tossed around by any means, especially in games where he comes prepared to play. He shows flashes of owning a gritty side, but those have been few and far between.

Thomas just doesn’t use the tools that he has his disposal. Cap that off with an inconsistent compete level and defensive game, and Thomas’ future isn’t looking too bright. With that said, those tools are there and if he puts it all together he could be a quality goal-scorer at the NHL level.

Ranking Explanation: As mentioned, Thomas doesn’t seem aware of all the tools he has at his disposal. Thomas is undoubtedly more talented than Connor Crisp and Patrick Holland, as well as others like Jake Evans and Mark MacMillan. Thomas’ NHL-calibre shot is the best tool out of any of those four players. However, the fact that he’s not a dynamic player and hasn’t seen much progression or success since turning pro is alarming.

19) Daniel Audette

Drafted: 147th, 5th, 2014

C | 5’08” 175 | Sherbrooke Phoenix (QMJHL)

Regular Season: 68GP 21G 55A 76P

After a mediocre rookie season, Audette exploded for a tremendous sophomore year on a terrible team. Audette made noticeable improvements in all areas of his game, but still has a long way to go. He improved his defensive game, consistency, and willingness to engage physically.

The QMJHL’s former first overall pick can flat out fly. He gets up to top speed in a hurry and owns an explosive first few steps. His top-end speed is excellent and he always keeps his feet moving–making his skating ability dynamic. At full speed, Audette appears to have the puck on a string. His hands are lightning quick, allowing him to make beating even the best defenders look easy. He’s a flashy, electrifying talent. On the powerplay, Audette is fantasitc. Nearly 50% of his points came from the man-advantage.

Audette is a terrific playmaker. His saucer pass is quite special. The situation doesn’t matter, Audette can seemingly always make a beautiful tape-to-tape pass. Down low, he’s an exceptional puck distributor. His head is always up, evaluating all of his options. Additionally, Audette knows how to score. Owns an accurate shot with a quick release, which he doesn’t use enough. He’s also good at scoring down low, as he sneaks away from defenders with ease and can make them pay. He owns extremely good hands, which he uses to fool goaltenders and dangle around defenders.

Defensively, Audette has improved. He’s a solid penalty killer, mainly due to his speed. At five-on-five, he doesn’t particularly shine. He plays solid positional hockey, but he looks disengaged far too often. Don’t be fooled by his penalty minutes–he’s not a particularly tough player. He clearly doesn’t like being hit and can often shy away from the hard areas depending on the game. He gets pushed off the puck easily and can be extremely undisciplined. However, there were flashes of him becoming a gritty player, especially later in this past season. He can play with a purpose and certainly has the ability to be a pest. Along the boards, he loses more battles than he wins. Clearly, that will never be his strong suit, but he has to improve his body positioning and willingness to engage.

Audette’s skill level is top-notch, but lacking in other areas caused him to fall to the Habs. By the end of his QMJHL career, he very well could be among the league’s best players. Next season, Sherbrooke should be a strong team and Audette will be once again be the focal point offensively.

Ranking Explanation: Although Audette has yet to accomplish a season in junior that matches Christian Thomas’ (he very well could next year or the year after), he’s a better prospects, in my opinion. Audette is the better skater, stickhandler, and playmaker. He’s not the sniper that Thomas is, but he brings a much more complete offensive skill set and is far more dynamic. He has similar upside as Thomas (second/third line tweener), but his dynamic game and better array of skills make him the better prospect.

18) Daniel Carr

Signed as a Free Agent (April 24, 2014)

LW | 6’00” 189 | Union College (NCAA)

Stats: 39GP 22G 28A 50P

The Montreal Canadiens inked free agent Daniel Carr to an entry-level contract following a prolific four-year NCAA career. The two-way winger led Union College, the NCAA champions, in scoring with 50 points in just 39 games. Carr was named the East’s Second All-American Team for his tremendous season.

Carr does everything well, but his shot is his best offensive tool. From the top of the right circle on the powerplay, Carr was absolutely deadly over his four-year NCAA career. His howitzer of a shot, combined with pinpoint accuracy and a lightning fast release make him a constant threat to score. But Carr doesn’t always just shoot for a goal. He’s intelligent with his shot selection and racks up assists from shooting for deflections or rebounds. He’s also a threat around the goal, as he doesn’t shy away from the high traffic areas and owns a scorer’s touch.

However, Carr is more than just a booming shot. He was the best puck possession forward on arguably the best puck possession team in the NCAA. Carr high-end hockey sense allows him to create chances all over the ice and retain the puck. He’s not an incredible playmaker by any means, but he makes simple passes and rarely turns the puck over. Additionally, Carr uses his body exceptionally well to protect the puck and create space for himself. He’s doesn’t own breakaway speed, nor does he have highlight reel hands, but he still gets the job done. He’s shifty and quite deceptive, often masking his lack of high-end speed. However, sometimes he doesn’t use his tools the way he should. He falls back into playing defence-first hockey and doesn’t always trust his instincts. There are times when he’s hardly noticeable on the ice.

Additionally, Carr is also an excellent defensive player. He’s typically the first man back and has a knack for breaking up plays just in the nick of time. In sustained pressure scenarios, Carr thrives. His understanding of passing and shooting lanes is quite impressive and forces attackers into making lousy decisions. Carr doesn’t shy away from blocking shots and wins quite a few battles along the boards. Carr isn’t a physical player at all, he rarely initiates contact.

There aren’t many flaws in Carr’s game. He’s a responsible two-way player, a quality puck possession winger, and the owner of a booming shot. He’s certainly not a dynamic player, but he appears to be a solid bet to become an above-average third line winger. Carr will play in Hamilton next year, where he’s expected to have a solid season.

Ranking Explanation: Carr being this high might come as a surprise to some, but I couldn’t justify having him any lower. He’s further along in his development than the majority of prospects below him, while bringing just as much, if not more upside. Carr projects an above-average third line winger, which, when combined with his development, makes him a better prospect than Christian Thomas or Daniel Audette to me.

17) Darren Dietz

Drafted: 138th, 5th, 2011

D | 6’01” 209 | Hamilton Bulldogs (AHL)

Regular Season: 34GP 0G 5A 5P

Just two seasons ago, Dietz was one of the CHL’s top defencemen. Even though Dietz’s professional career hasn’t gotten off to a great start, it’s far too early to write him off. Dietz battled injury, but when he was in the line up he performed well enough to be a regular. A total of just five assists is probably a bit misleading, as he was quite snake-bitten offensively.

Dietz is a two-way defender. He’s aggressive and quite talented offensively, but he also takes care of business in his own zone. Dietz owns an excellent point shot. Both his wrist shot and slapshot are powerful and accurate. He’s also a fantastic puck distributor, especially inside the offensive zone. He makes all sorts of crafty passes and makes a terrific outlet pass as well. Dietz’s hands can be a little clunky at times, but they’re effective and allow him to create space for himself

Additionally, Dietz is an intelligent player. He processes the game quickly at both ends of the ice and makes good decisions. His decision-making is well above-average, which makes his naturally aggressive style even rarer. He aggressive moves the puck up the ice, whether that be by carrying it or sending a quick pass. He loves to initiate a quick counter-attack. He’s also a physical player–he aggressively clears the crease and can occasionally dish out a punishing open ice body check. Along the boards he’s hard to beat, as he owns an active stick and a willingness to get his nose dirty. Despite that, Dietz sometimes gets caught running around, especially in sustained pressure scenarios. On the penalty kill, his aggressive is a bit of a double-edged sword. He needs to get reeled in a bit in order to maximize his effectiveness.

Dietz’s skating must improve if he wants to become more effective. At the fast-paced professional level, Dietz’s clumsy first few steps were really exposed. Now, that’s not to say he’s a bad skater, it’s quite the opposite. His top-end speed, lateral movement, backwards skating, and pivots are all above-average. Furthermore, he’s quite deceptive with his speed, catching forecheckers off-guard once he gets going.

This year was definitely disappointing for Dietz, but there’s light at the end of the tunnel. The tools that he has to work with are quite impressive, but it’s about refining them and building confidence. He doesn’t always use his tools the way he should. Improving that in time for next season will go a long way for the soon-to-be sophomore defenceman.

Ranking Explanation: This year wasn’t impressive, but he’s only two years removed from one of the best seasons by a prospect in recent memory. Compared to other defenders, like former and future teammate, Dalton Thrower, and Brett Lernout, Dietz has more upside. He’s a smarter player while owning a similar amount of skill as Thrower. Dietz projects as a solid #4 defender, compared to say a fringe second line/good third line player like Daniel Audette and Christian Thomas do. In his role, I see Dietz as the better player, plus he brings a diversified skill set. Having Dietz over Daniel Carr was an extremely difficult decision, but Dietz’s rare skill set made him pushed him just that bit higher.

16) Mac Bennett

Drafted: 79th, 3rd, 2009

D | 6’00” 198 | University of Michigan (NCAA)

Stats: 31GP 2G 12A 14P

After a strong junior year, Bennett returned to the University of Michigan as the captain, the leader from the blue line. Bennett continued to improve in all facets of the game, especially in his own zone. Bennett’s composed style allowed him to become a tremendous two-way defender for the Wolverines over his four-year NCAA career.

To me, Bennett is one of the most fascinating prospects in the organization. Don’t be fooled by stat line–Bennett is a gifted offensive player. Bennett makes a tremendous outlet pass, the best on the list so far. He’s crafty, intelligent, and rarely seems to misses his mark. Bennett equally as good at distributing the puck in the offensive zone. Bennett’s calm style allows to him make passes many players can’t. His saucer pass is excellent and consistent, making him a constant threat to set up a quick counter-attack. Bennett doesn’t own a hard shot. Instead, he relies on pinpoint accuracy and deceptive release to create chances with his shot. However, he shies away from using his shot often, sometimes passing up quality chances to make a pass.

Bennett’s best asset is his skating ability. He’s an exceptionally smooth skater, possessing a seemingly flawless long, powerful stride. Bennett’s top-end speed and acceleration both are excellent, but it’s his agility that really makes his skating ability so rare. Bennett possesses rapid lateral movement and incredible four-way mobility. He pivots like few players do and stops and starts on a dime.

Bennett is also an intelligent player, which is demonstrated through his strong two-way game and continual improvement. Bennett rarely makes a poor decision and processes the game at a high level. Bennett combines his skating ability and smarts in order to become a solid defender. He closes the cap quickly on forwards and uses an active stick to disrupt the player. He’s not physical at all, but he’s balanced on his skates and positions his body quite well. He’s poise is off-the-charts and never seems pressured. However, Bennett is prone to poor reads at both ends of the ice. Sometimes he gets too aggressive in his pinching or gets beaten too easily off the wall.

Next year is going to a big year for Bennett. He will join the Hamilton Bulldogs, where he could be reunited with defensive partner, Greg Pateryn. The expectations for Bennett are high, considering his age and skill set. It wouldn’t be surprising at all to see him take a leap forward offensively, much like Pateryn.

Ranking Explanation: Bennett’s incredible skating ability and high-end hockey sense earn him a spot this high. Bennett’s tools push him over Daniel Audette, Christian Thomas, and Dalton Thrower. Bennett has a strikingly similar projection to Darren Dietz (solid #4 defender), but he’s much closer to achieving his upside.

Check back soon for prospects #15-11!