Upside’s Chief Rankings Officer Eldon MacDonald has produced Top 10 Prospects lists for all 32 NHL teams as well as organizational rankings.

The criteria: Simple. The definition of a prospect is anybody that we thought was not on the team permanently at the time we produced the list (November 17, 2025).

The Montreal Canadiens prospect pool ranks 5th of 32 NHL teams (even young gun Ivan Demidov deemed graduated as an NHL regular per the criteria above). Stay tuned as we roll out all 32 teams Top 10 prospect rankings with a few honorable mentions.

November 2025

Montreal’s system remains elite, with franchise-impactful talent at the top.

Jacob Fowler (G) – 2023 2nd round | Laval (AHL)
Technically sound, competitive goalie.
Upside: Franchise goalie

Alexander Zharovsky (RW) – 2025 2nd round | Salavat Yulaev Ufa (KHL)
Skilled, creative, dangerous scoring forward.
Upside: First-line forward.

David Reinbacher (D) – 2023 1st round | Laval (AHL)
Complete two-way RHD.
Upside: Top-4 defender

Michael Hage (C) – 2024 1st round | Univ. of Michigan (NCAA)
Dynamic offensive center.
Upside: Top-6 center

Hayden Paupanekis (C) – 2025 3rd round | Kelowna (WHL)
Two-way center with size. WHL development ongoing.
Upside: Middle-6 C

Florian Xhekaj (C/LW) – 2023 3rd round | Laval (AHL)
Big, physical forward with some skill.
Upside: Bottom-6 power forward

Adam Engstrom (D) – 2022 3rd round | Laval (AHL)
Mobile, two-way defender.
Upside: Second-pair D

Owen Beck (C) – 2022 2nd round | Laval (AHL)
Two-way, competitive center. Safe NHL projection.
Upside: Third-line C

Yevgeni Volokhin (G) – 2023 5th round | Khimik Voskresensk (VHL)
Athletic Russian goalie. Long-term project.
Upside: Project goalie

LJ Mooney (RW) – 2025 4th round | Univ. of Minnesota (NCAA)
Small, speedy playmaker.
Upside: Middle-6 playmaker

HMs: Bryce Pickford, Jared Davidson, Bogdan Konyushkov

Montreal Canadiens Organizational Score: 36

How organizational ranking scores determined:

10 pts: 1st line, 1st pairing, starting goalie

7 pts: 2nd line, 2nd pairing

3 pts: 3rd line, 3rd pairing, backup goalie

1 pt: possible significant other given out haphazardly.

For all of our NHL Team Prospect Rankings, visit our dedicated page on Upside Hockey.

Upside Hockey.

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