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With the Canadiens preparing to select a new crop of prospects at the NHL entry draft, June 23-24 in Chicago, we look at five prospects ready to make an impact in the NHL. No. 1 is forward Michael McCarron.

Technically, McCarron is no longer a rookie, but the 6-foot-6, 230-pound forward heads into his third professional season hoping to find a permanent home in the NHL.

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McCarron has a lot of things going for him, but he has one glaring weakness — his skating. When he gets his body moving, he’s fine, but it’s the initial acceleration that is lacking.

“He knows what he as to work on, everyone knows what he has to work on — his foot speed, the first couple of strides,” said Martin Lapointe, the Canadiens director of player development.” He has that same stride all the time. You have to able to separate first, that’s what he needs to do.”

McCarron has changed his off-season routine in an effort to work on his skating. The Michigan native had been working out in London, Ont., where he launched his major junior career, but when the season ended, he stayed in Montreal.