There’s no shortage of talent up for grabs at the NHL draft this year, and by the end of the month, the Montreal Canadiens [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens]could potentially add 12 new prospects to their already overflowing cupboard. Of course, they are likely to trade some of their 12 picks, maybe even their first-round pick or picks, but if they keep one of their first-round selection, Malcom Spence could be an enticing option. While he hasn’t been a massive points producer with the Eerie Otters, his production has grown every year since he was drafted second overall at the OHL draft in 2022, behind exceptional status player Michael Misa. Playing under a coach who valued defensive play in Stan Butler, Spence became a complete player, one who can have an impact at both ends of the ice and in all facets of the game. Canadiens: What Demidov Learned So Far [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/canadiens-what-demidov-learned-so-far] Canadiens Farm Team Without Two Big Players For Game Three [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/canadiens-farm-team-without-two-big-players-for-game-three] Canadiens: Could There Be A Big Trade In The Works With Minnesota? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/canadiens-could-there-be-a-big-trade-in-the-works-with-minnesota] Thanks to his late birthday, the 6-foot-1, 203-pound teenager has had the opportunity to complete three seasons before finally being eligible for the NHL draft. The big left winger is an adept of physical play and can create havoc on the forecheck, a quality Martin St-Louis has been known to like from his players. In his rookie season in Erie, he scored 42 points, followed by 62 as a sophomore and 73 in his draft year, becoming a point-per-game player. Ten of his 32 goals were scored on special units, with five coming on the power-play and five when down a man, leaving him a 22-goal output at five-on-five. Furthermore, the youngster possesses good leadership qualities; he has been an alternate captain with the Otters since his sophomore season and has proven himself up to the task. He also appears to enjoy the spotlight. At the 2023 Hlinka/Gretzky final, he scored the golden goal. Being able to perform under scrutiny is a must in a market like Montreal. He’s currently ranked 17th on the North American Skaters Final ranking of the NHL Central Scouting, but his projected rank varies tremendously depending on which mock draft you look at. TSN’s Bob MacKenzie has him at 16, while Craig Button put him at 15. THN’s Ryan Kennedy places him the highest at eight, while he’s only 24th on Tony Ferrari’s list. He could still be available when the Canadiens’ turn comes up, and he’s worth considering since he appears to be well on his way to becoming a very complete player. Photo credit: GREG WOHLFORD/ERIE TIMES-NEWS / USA TODAY NETWORK -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
