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Rarely have the Montreal Canadiens drafted a prospect with such an unlikely path.
Timofei Runtso grew eight inches in just a few years.
At 14 years old, the defenseman stood just 5-foot-6.
But after a few growth spurts, he now measures 6-foot-2.
That obviously allowed him to become a completely different player, quite literally. And he may not even be done growing!
“I’m hoping to get a few more inches,” he said.
That kind of physical transformation changes everything for a defenseman.
Reach, physical presence-everything can change with a growth spurt of a few inches.
Timofei Runtso’s late breakout turned him into one of the Canadiens’ most intriguing prospects
His body developed, and so did his talent.
Runtso is a classic example of a late-blooming player.
Just one year ago, the California native was “nobody,” in his own words.
He was playing in the NAHL, a junior league below the USHL, far from the attention of NHL scouts and far from being selected in the second round of the NHL Draft.
“There weren’t any eyes on me.
It was difficult to get noticed there.”
– Runtso
Then the 2025-26 WHL season changed everything.
With 44 points, including 11 goals, in 68 games for Victoria, he enjoyed a breakout campaign.
Even he didn’t expect it at first.
“I exceeded my own expectations.
If you had asked me at the beginning of the year whether I’d end up here, I wouldn’t have predicted it.”
That’s exactly the type of profile that appealed to the Canadiens.
A defenseman whose game is rapidly ascending and whose ceiling remains unknown.
“I think they see that I can only keep growing. The sky’s the limit.”
It will be fascinating to see just how far Runtso’s physical and on-ice development can take him.
Because when a player is improving this quickly, no one truly knows where his ceiling is.
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics
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Canadiens prospect reveals he grew eight inches and became a completely different player
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