With the regular season just around the corner, the Montreal Canadiens have announced the roster that will take part in the team’s Rookie Camp.

The camp runs from September 10th to the 16th, with games versus the Winnipeg Jets and Toronto Maple Leafs Jets prospects taking place on September 13 and 14, respectively.

In total, 26 prospects will take part in the festivities, with 11 players currently signed to an NHL contract.

Montreal Canadiens Forwards

Forwards: Owen Beck, Ivan Demidov, Will Dineen, Joseph Dunlap, Mark Estapa, Egor Guriunov, Oliver Kapanen, Filip Mesar, Israel Mianscum, Hayden Paupanekis, Vinzenz Rohrer, Tyler Thorpe, Luke Tuch, Matthew Wang, Florian Xhekaj.

Several forwards will be looking to get off to a hot start, as building momentum at the rookie camp can do wonders for their confidence, and consequently, their odds of earning a roster spot in the NHL.

Owen Beck is one of the most NHL ready players in the mix, and should be among the best players at the camp due to his well-rounded game. With the addition of Zachary Bolduc and Joe Veleno to the lineup, Beck’s chances of making the lineup out of camp took a hit, but if history is any indication, he’s the type of player who defies the odds at every level. Remember, it was Beck’s excellent showing at rookie camp and training camp that earned him an early entry-level contract shortly after he was drafted in 2022.

Ivan Demidov’s presence is interesting, and not just because he’ll clearly be the most talented player in the mix. Demidov is probably going to start the season in the NHL, however, his play at the rookie camp will allow the team to register a baseline for his short-term potential.

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Vinzenz Rohrer and Oliver Kapanen will be fighting for an NHL roster spot, but their situations are quite different, as Kapanen will report to the AHL and play for the Laval Rocket should he fail to make the team, while Rohrer would be loaned to the Zurich Lions (NL).

The forward prospect with the most to gain or lose is none other than 2022 first-round pick Filip Mesar, a player who is yet to find his rhythm in North America. If he can hit the ground running, it would go a long way in convincing Laval Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent that Mesar is ready for an uptick in responsibilities in the AHL.

Montreal Canadiens Defencemen And Goaltenders

Defencemen: Adam Engstrom, Carlos Handel, Simon Lavigne, Andrew MacNiel, Maleek McGowan, Bryce Pickford, Owen Protz, David Reinbacher.

Goaltenders: Jacob Fowler, Arseni Radkov, Mikus Vecvanags

David Reinbacher will surely garner the most attention of all the defencemen, at least at first. Such is life as a first-round pick.

However, I’d guard against dismissing Adam Engstrom as a legitimate contender to nab a roster spot, even if he doesn’t have the same pedigree as a prospect who was drafted in the first round. In my opinion, Reinbacher’s development would be best served with an abundance of ice time in key situations, and since that’s unlikely to take place in the NHL, the AHL is the ideal landing spot for the 20-year-old Austrian.

Engstrom, on the other hand, has a lot more professional experience, an advantage that shone through in the AHL playoffs last season, when some younger defencemen faded to the background. While others struggled in the high-pressure setting, Engstrom flourished.

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I’d also suggest Canadiens fans should keep an eye on Owen Protz, as he’s one of the most entertaining players invited to camp due to his penchant for heavy hits, not to mention his defensive prowess.

Click here to see the detailed roster of Montreal Canadiens prospects participating in the 2025 Rookie Camp.