Montreal Canadiens prospect Filip Mesar rejoins the Kitchener Rangers for a second season after beginning the season with the Laval Rocket. The Rangers are regaining the pure-skill, flashy winger to add to their already-strong forward core.
Filip Mesar performed well enough in Laval Rocket’s training camp to earn himself a depth forward spot to begin the season. Two games and one assist later, Mesar is sent back to Kitchener, Ontario where he will rejoin the Rangers in the OHL.
Mesar, the 2004-born Slovak winger, was selected by the Montreal Canadiens 26th overall in the 2022 NHL Draft. In his draft season, Mesar had a monster performance at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He put up 8 points in 5 games and helped Slovakia win a silver medal.
Previously playing in Slovakia, Mesar decided to come over to North America and join the Kitchener Rangers, who hold his CHL rights. This season is shaping up similarly to last season for Mesar. He also began last season in the AHL with Laval, before being sent to Kitchener for 52 games.
With Filip Mesar, the Rangers are getting a highly offensive-minded forward who creates with his hands and deceptiveness. The OHL is a perfect league for a player like Mesar to develop in, as he has enough space to create and continue to elevate his offensive game and confidence. Playing fourth line in the AHL with Laval may have developed him physically, but he would get very few opportunities offensively. In Kitchener, he will join — an already strong — first powerplay unit with Carson Rehkopf, Hunter Brzustewicz, and Matthew Sop. He will play top minutes, and when Kitchener needs a goal, you can bet he will be on the ice.
In his first full season playing in North America, Mesar put up 51 points in 52 games with Kitchener last season. Expect him to crush these point totals with another off-season of development under his belt. The offensive firepower in Kitchener is only growing with the addition of Mesar, as they are quickly becoming the most offensively-talented team in the OHL.
