Top 5 Standouts from Montreal Canadiens Development Camp

Canadiens fans have been treated to a deluge of activity from their beloved team over the past few weeks, with the drama of the Draft, a couple of trades, and player signings as the calendar flipped to July. And then earlier this week, supporters were welcomed to view the team's future stars on ice. Who stood out among the crop of Habs prospects?

Montreal's development camp wrapped up on Tuesday with a pair of scrimmages at the Bell Sports Complex. Habs fans packed the Canadiens' practice facility on a weekday in July, excited to see the next generation of Montreal hopefuls. The most enthusiastic support was reserved for defenseman David Reinbacher, selected fifth overall at the NHL Entry Draft in June.

The last month has been a whirlwind in North America for the 18-year-old Austrian, being put through his paces at the NHL Combine in Buffalo, two weeks of training in San Diego, hearing his name called at Bridgestone Arena in Nashville and wearing the Canadiens colors before adoring fans in Brossard.

"It’s incredible," said Reinbacher. "(The fans) were cheering for all the guys. They made us feel really comfortable here."

But Reinbacher wasn't the only player grabbing the attention of the fans on Tuesday. His defense partner, Lane Hutson, drew 'oooos' from the fans as he used his skill and mobility to set up Reinbacher for multiple scoring chances.

"I had three chances (to score)," Reinbacher said. "Lane did everything to score for me but (the puck) didn't want to go in. I will probably change some sticks!"

Reinbacher had the best seat in the rink to admire the skillset of Hutson. "Probably you get the puck, skate it out and then give it to him and just start watching," joked Reinbacher.

"He's a good offensive player. I hope (that the comparison) is not too high for him, or for the media, (but) he's probably the next Cale Makar. He's so good on his skates, he can do such crazy stuff on the ice."

When Hutson was asked to name a comparable for Reinbacher, he chose to not put any extra expectations on his defense partner. "He's the next David Reinbacher. He's going to be really good."

It was not only fans who were watching Hutson, but also Rob Ramage, the Canadiens director of player development.

"He's a very smart guy. When he has the puck in offensive zone, something always happens," said Ramage. "His speed and intelligence in the game will help him to stand out. He doesn't throw too many pucks away. He's just dangerous."

"He continues to impress us," continued Ramage on Huston. "What he did in his freshman year (reassured us.) He just put up big numbers. Every game I went to, he impacted. (He was) typically the best player on the ice."

The questions about his size may continue, but it's not something that haunts Huston. "I just don't really think about it," he said. "When I'm on the ice, I feel like everyone's the same size, It's an equal playing field."

The product of Boston University approaches his task in very simple terms. "It's just a game, so I just go out and play," said Hutson.

With the apparent chemistry of Reinbacher and Hutson still fresh in our minds, it is an opportune time to take a look at the five prospects who stood out the most on the ice at the Montreal Canadiens development camp.

Lane Hutson

Canadiens fans, and his teammates at development camp, were given a glimpse into the skillset of this dynamic defenseman. Lane Hutson was a master of the transition game in the NCAA, earning 48 points in 39 games for a record-breaking freshman season. His great asset is his ability to identify weak point in the opposition's coverage and with stealth, set up his teammates on the attack.

Hutson also uses his keen sense to read the ice to anticipate and disrupt plays efficiently. Working hand-in-hand with his smarts, his shifty mobility allows him to execute the complex instructions his brain sends.

Given the realities of his size, Hutson must make the right decision every time to mange the pressure of playing in the defensive zone. Adding strength and improving his skating speed, which is good but not elite, are keys to ensuring that he can play at the NHL level.

But at this camp, Hutson was clearly the best player on the ice, everyday.

Logan Mailloux

If you were expecting the drills and scrimmages to be a rather passive affair among teammates, you received a rude awakening. Jayden Struble offered a reality check to remind folks just how competitive development camp can be. But Logan Mailloux injected contact at every opportunity.

Mailloux was physically intimidating on the ice, a man playing among boys. He was intense in every drill and every shift. At the same time, Mailloux exuded leadership, providing direction and offering words of praise to teammates.

"He had a great year. Every time you watched him (with the London Knights), he just looked like an NHL player out there. He took ownership of being a leader on that team. His development is really coming. He is going to push for sure (at Canadiens training camp)," reflected Ramage.

Adam Engstrom

Ramage smiled when asked about Adam Engstrom. "Wow, he's a player. He's taken it to another level and continues to impress," said Ramage.

Engstrom spent the majority of last season with Rogle BK in the SHL. Ramage said that some nights Engstrom looked like the best defenseman on the team and other nights, he played like a rookie in the Swedish elite league. That signifies that there is very good potential but more work to do for the 6-foot-2 rearguard who will return to Rogle in the Fall.

At camp, Engstrom looked smart, patient and poised on the ice.

Owen Beck

The incredible story of Owen Beck's 2022-23 season is well-told: a late arrival as an injury replacement at the World Juniors which earned him a gold medal; his NHL debut for the Montreal Canadiens; a trade to the Peterborough Petes which led to an OHL championship and making it to the semifinal game of the Memorial Cup.

All these experiences have accelerated the development of an extremely smart player who exudes leadership qualities.

"He's a complete player, is very smart, reliable and consistent," said Ramage. "His coaches love him, he's a coach's dream. He is a leader, a very, very serious and conscientious guy. This guy is going to play."

Filip Mesar

Compared to his good friend and countryman, Filip Mesar had a soft landing in Canada following the first round of the 2022 NHL Draft. While Juraj Slafkovsky was under the scrutiny of the harsh lights of Montreal, Mesar spent his season in the OHL with the Kitchener Rangers.

Mesar may have been reluctant at first to play junior hockey after playing against men during his draft year, he now looks back at his season as positive. "Hockey in Canada is a little bit different," said Mesar. "But I got used to it and now I know how it’s going to be next season. I took it positively and it was a great experience for me."

His production with the Rangers may be seen as somewhat underwhelming but that doesn't concern the Canadiens director of player development.

"First and foremost, I wasn't too concerned about his numbers," quipped Ramage. "The whole intention was to get him over here, get him acclimated to North America, the small ice surface, and the culture."

"He lived in Kitchener with a billet (family.) It was a challenging year, a little adversity for him, which isn't a bad thing. Just the cultural experience and playing on the North American ice was a real positive for him."