There have been some crucial changes lately at the junior level. Players who skate in the CHL are no longer ineligible to play in the NCAA, and we’ve started seeing a bit of an exodus towards the American Collegiate League. Projected first-overall pick at the 2026 draft, Gavin McKenna, is leaving the Medicine Hat Tigers for Penn State this upcoming season, and he’s not the only one defecting. Keaton Verhoeff, another top 2026 draft prospect, is moving on from the WHL’s Victoria Royals to join the University of North Dakota. Cayden Lindstrom, McKenna’s Medicine Hat teammate and fourth overall pick at the 2024 draft, is heading to Michigan State. Canadiens: Zach Bolduc Speaks To The Media [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/canadiens-zach-bolduc-speaks-to-the-media] New Canadiens Forward Is Sneaky Good Addition [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/new-canadiens-forward-is-sneaky-good-addition] Canadiens’ Top 10 Moments Of The 2024-25 Season [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/canadiens-top-10-moments-of-the-2024-25-season] Calgary Flames [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/calgary-flames] prospect Luke Misa, who skated with the OHL’s Brampton Steelheads last season, and defenceman Jackson Smith, the 14th overall pick who spent the past three seasons with the WHL’s Tri-City Americans, have also committed to Penn State. As for Justin Carbonneau, the St. Louis Blues [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/st-louis-blues] first pick at the last draft, he has confirmed that he will be returning to the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada if he doesn't make the Blues' lineup. Thankfully for the CHL, Frank Seravalli reports that the new CBA includes a clause that could make the CHL at least a bit more attractive for top-end talent. Starting in 2026-27, NHL teams will be able to place one 19-year-old CHL player in the AHL per season. Previously, CHL players could only be sent to the AHL if they were 20. This means that top prospects who chose the CHL path could turn pro faster. With only one player per team eligible, though, that means a maximum of 32 prospects per year will be affected, and that a player will have to be pretty impressive to be given that opportunity by his team. When this kicks in for the 2026-27 season, the Montreal Canadiens [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens] could consider sending a player like Hayden Paupanekis, a third-round pick and 69th selection at the last draft, to the Laval Rocket next season if he completely dominates in the CHL this upcoming season. They felt he had no more to learn from that league, but he is not yet ready for the NHL. Of course, they’d have to sign him first, but it still gives NHL teams an interesting option. As for top CHL talent, it means they could turn pro a year earlier, even though they are not yet ready for the NHL. For the Habs, it would also mean having more control over a player’s development and progress. The step between the CHL and the AHL is quite steep, however, and only a select few players could be ready to make that move. Given how physical the AHL can be, smaller players may not be good candidates to go down that route. Photo credit: James Guillory-Imagn Images -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Canadiens stories, analysis, breaking news, and more! Tap the star to add us to your favorites on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw/sections/CAQqEAgAKgcICjCvqtILMO7F6QMwo-DfCA?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen], never to miss a story. Follow Karine on X @KarineHains [https://x.com/KarineHains] Bluesky @karinehains.bsky.social [https://bsky.app/profile/karinehains.bsky.social] and Threads @karinehains [https://www.threads.net/@karinehains]. Bookmark The Hockey News Canadiens' page [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/] for all the news and happenings around the Canadiens. Join the discussion by signing up to the Canadiens' roundtable [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens] on The Hockey News.
