According to TSN’s Bob McKenzie’s final draft ranking, when the Montreal Canadiens [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens] finally get to speak at 16th and 17th overall, supersized center Jack Nesbitt could still be available [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/canadiens-bob-mckenzie-final-draft-ranking-is-in]. Chances are that if he is, Kent Hughes and co. will be thanking their lucky star. The six-foot-five and 186-pound Sarnia, Ontario, native center could certainly help fill one of the Habs’ needs. Not only does he have a large frame that he’s not afraid to enter the dirty areas with, but he also possesses a high hockey IQ and a knack for making opponents forget about him in the offensive zone, creating opportunities for himself. The Canadiens Had Moved On From Zegras [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/the-canadiens-had-moved-on-from-zegras] Canadiens: Hage Is Committed To Getting Bigger [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/canadiens-hage-is-committed-to-getting-bigger] Should The Canadiens Take A Run At Tavares? [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/montreal-canadiens/latest-news/should-the-canadiens-take-a-run-at-tavares] He is a real power forward who doesn’t fear puck battles in the corner to retrieve the puck and feeds his teammates at both ends of the ice. He’s a responsible forward who’s well aware of a center’s defensive responsibilities. On a struggling Windsor Spitfires team in 2023-24, he picked up 18 points in 58 games and was a significant part of the team’s much-improved result this past year, putting up 64 points in 65 games. Nesbitt possesses a great package of skills, size, and hockey IQ. Still, he’s far from being a finished product and will need time to develop, focusing on both his speed and skating once he has fully developed and added some muscles to his already big frame. There’s no consensus on where he’s likely to fall, however. While TSN’s Bob McKenzie has him at 17, Craig Button ranks him at 38, THN’s Tony Ferrari at 51, and Ryan Kennedy at 20. McKeen’s Hockey has him at 27, Recruit puts him at 44, and Dobber Prospects places him at 33. The Canadiens did meet Nesbitt at the Scouting Combine in Buffalo, and the youngster was reported as saying, “It would be cool to go to Montreal, that’s where my father grew up.” The youngster added he felt the Canadiens were interested. According to TVA Sports, Nesbitt had filled out a questionnaire for the Habs and had a meeting as well. The 18-year-old compares his play to that of Winnipeg Jets captain Adam Lowry, saying he plays a physical game on the 200-foot and can also score essential goals. That’s a profile that’s currently missing in Montreal, and adding Nesbitt would be an excellent investment for the future on the Canadiens’ part. Photo credit: Michael Augello -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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.
