Montreal Canadiens Prospects: The Shape of Things to Come (Euro Edition)

(Photo by Richard Wolowicz/Getty Images)

The Canadiens first overall pick of 2009 made the crowd jump up and roar : LOUIS LOUIS LOUIS as Louis Leblanc was being selected. Same thing hapenned when Gabriel Dumont's name popped up. Of course, European players don't get that kind of recognition in Montreal...but should they?

Montreal certainly picks up many North Americans skaters but doesn’t draft that many Europeans and to be honest, besides Andrei Markov, Montreal hasn't had much chance with their Euro "future stars". There is indeed a « hole » on the Canadiens European depth chart.

But no matter, still there are prospects that, even drafted in the late rounds, are making Montreal’s management drool in anticipation. A couple of them also make the envy of a lot of NHL and junior teams.

So here are the nominees that are, according to me, the most interesting to watch for in the coming years.

Maxim Trunev – fifth round pick, 138th overall in 2008

Don’t know him? Can’t blame you. I really took notice of him last year when I kept seeing videos on youtube of his dazzling puck handling and scoring abilities. Trunev has one of the best sets of hands and abilities for a young Russian and should be interesting to watch.

The Habs expect him to be a real steal by picking him in the fifth round. Why? Because having played enough internationally, he was eligible and drafted at 16 years old. Scouts believe he could’ve been a first round pick in 2009. Before his stint in the KHL in 2007-08, he had 60 points in 36 games with the Severstal junior club.

Trunev is extremely skilled offensively and has awesome puck handling skills. He’s obviously a finesse player and not very physical. He’s projected as a possible top 6 forward.

Still doubt me? Watch this. Wow. Yes, he’s the one who flies around the ice carrying the puck. That kind of skill makes me drool every time.

Sure, this is Midget AAA hockey and anything can happen until then to hamper his development. Trevor Timmins was hoping Trunev would come over and play for the Portland Winter Hawks who owns his rights in the juniors but, a bit like what happened with Alexei Yemelin, Trunev and his agent agreed to a contract with a Russian. Trunev has said that he is interested in playing in North America so we should see what he’s made of in the next two or three years.

It’s said he’s a cross between both Kostitsyn brothers, minus the disgruntled attitude. He has also been compared to Kovalchuk, but I’m not about to go that far yet but I will go as far and say « doesn’t he remind you of Phil Kessel the way he skates and handles the puck? » Interesting isn’t it? That’s some tantalizing talent!

He currently plays with the big boys of the KHL with the Cheropovets Severstal and had 2 goals in 15 games.

Nichlas Torp – sixth round pick, 163rd overall

A small but feisty swedish defender. At 5’10, it’s pretty small for a defensemen. But then again, that doesn’t stop him. Nichlas Torp is hungry for physical play and loves to bump through traffic. He will play in the Swedish Elite League this season (with an ex Canadiens we all hated…Janne Niinimaa).

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