Canadiens’ Prospect Displays Strong Physical Game During Friday’s Scrimmage
Owen Protz may have been one of the youngest participants at the Montreal Canadiens Development Camp this past week, but the 18-year-old left-shot defenseman showed that physical play can make up for lack of experience.
Protz was the 104th pick in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft. He racked up 12 points and 24 penalty minutes in 30 games with the Brantford Bulldogs of the OHL last year.
Protz dished out an old-school style of hitting, the hip check, in a few instances throughout the 50 minutes of scrimmage play on Friday. When asked about the move during the media presser afterward, Protz detailed the origins of where he first tried implementing the move into his game.
“I used to watch old VCR tapes at my cottage. It was all the more experienced players. It was 1950s, 1960s old-style play,” Protz told the Montreal media. “I watched it about 80 times. My parents had to get rid of it because I wouldn’t go outside sometimes, I would just watch hockey highlights.”
Protz also spoke on his physical style of play and how he plans to utilize it at the professional level.
“Growing up, I was always the bigger, stronger guy, but the NHL is such a faster game. It’s more about puck-moving than physicality. So, I like to bring a nice puck-moving, two-way defensive build to Montreal,” Protz said.
Protz still has a few years before he makes the pro roster. With the logjam of defensive players currently stacked in the Canadiens’ depth chart, Protz has plenty of time to develop into an even harder-hitting blueliner.