The Montreal Canadiens have dropped in our prospect rankings from the past two seasons. 

They were No. 6 in 2021, No. 7 in 2022. Now they check in at No. 12. 

This slide could be as a worrying sign that the rebuild is headed in the wrong direction, but it’s actually a reflection of the recent choices of the organization. 

The Habs kept their top young player, Juraj Slafkovský, for a full year in the NHL as an 18-year-old, making him ineligible for this list. We consider prospects those players who are still eligible to win the Calder Memorial Trophy. 

Over the last two years, the team also targeted young NHLers in trade instead of keeping all of their high draft picks. The Kirby Dach and Alex Newhook trades added significant value to their organization. They fit inside the team’s youth-movemen