{"id":458280,"date":"2026-02-14T22:45:27","date_gmt":"2026-02-14T22:45:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/458280\/"},"modified":"2026-02-14T22:45:27","modified_gmt":"2026-02-14T22:45:27","slug":"montreal-canadiens-young-talent-set-to-complete-montreals-nhl-rebuild-the-hockey-writers-montreal-canadiens","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/458280\/","title":{"rendered":"Montreal Canadiens’ Young Talent Set to Complete Montreal\u2019s NHL Rebuild – The Hockey Writers – Montreal Canadiens"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Montreal\u00a0Canadiens\u00a0are only one to two more years away from\u00a0transitioning from a rebuild to legitimate contenders. By that point, players like\u00a0Nick Suzuki<\/a>\u00a0and Cole Caufield should still be firmly in their primes, while the organization\u2019s defensive core continues to mature.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Related:\u00a0Montreal Canadiens Fans Taking Over NHL Arenas Shows Rebuild Is Ahead of Schedule<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

One of the biggest challenges for any young team is secondary offensive production. As opponents focus on shutting down top lines, success often hinges on whether the third or even fourth line can shift the momentum in their\u00a0favour. While the Canadiens\u2019 prospect pipeline\u00a0doesn\u2019t\u00a0hold franchise-defining prospects anymore, it does boast several\u00a0high-end\u00a0prospects that can provide\u00a0that depth a contender\u00a0requires\u00a0to compete for a Stanley Cup.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Canadiens Adding a Draft Gem\u00a0<\/p>\n

The development curve of young prospects often\u00a0determines\u00a0whether a rebuild merely stabilizes or truly accelerates. While the spotlight understandably shines on their established young stars and recent high draft picks, it is the secondary wave of prospects that often transforms promise into sustained success. For Montreal, the continued progress of\u00a0some of their prospects outside of professional North American hockey could have the biggest impact. The first such player is emerging draft gem Alexander\u00a0Zharovsky.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

If\u00a0Zharovsky\u00a0continues refining his offensive instincts, particularly his ability to drive play through the neutral zone and create controlled entries, he could provide exactly that kind of support. A cost-controlled forward who can chip in 15 to 20 goals while playing responsible minutes is invaluable in today\u2019s cap environment.\u00a0Currently, he is trending into a player who can provide an impact for\u00a0an NHL\u00a0club.\u00a0<\/p>\n

His development also matters from a stylistic standpoint. The Canadiens have been building toward a faster, more aggressive identity, emphasizing puck retrieval, quick transition, and sustained pressure. Zharovsky\u2019s growth in skating explosiveness and decision-making could allow him to thrive in such a system.<\/p>\n

His\u00a0play in his rookie\u00a0Kontinental\u00a0Hockey League (KHL)\u00a0season is something that provides the Canadiens\u2019 management and the fanbase hope for his future as an NHLer. He recently\u00a0passed Eeli Tolvanen for most points in an\u00a018-year-old\u2019s season\u00a0in KHL history. His 37 points\u00a0are\u00a0now the new record, and his season is still not finished.\u00a0<\/p>\n

If he evolves into a reliable two-way presence, the coaching staff\u00a0would\u00a0gain flexibility in matchups, enabling them to roll lines more confidently rather than overloading top players in high-leverage situations.\u00a0<\/p>\n

He is currently\u00a0playing\u00a0in the\u00a0KHL\u00a0for Ufa under head coach Viktor Kozlov,\u00a0who\u00a0played\u00a0897 games in the\u00a0NHL, giving him a particular insight into what this young forward will need to succeed.\u00a0In\u00a0an\u00a0interview with RG.org,\u00a0Kozlov\u00a0stated<\/a> that\u00a0Zharovsky\u00a0still lacks the physical size to consistently battle grown professionals but\u00a0sees this\u00a0being rectified in\u00a0time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cPhysically, he knows\u00a0he\u2019s\u00a0still young. He works in the gym, lifts weights, and trains\u00a0with experienced players. He needs time to build strength and muscle. Sometimes he makes risky decisions and plays creatively. That\u2019s\u00a0mostly about experience, and those moments go away with age. He has the right to make mistakes\u00a0because he has real potential. He can create something with the puck, for himself or for a teammate. Depending on the game situation, we sometimes\u00a0make adjustments\u00a0if needed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0\u2013 Viktor Kozlov\u00a0<\/p>\n

His growth could also influence special teams. A young forward who can contribute on the second power-play unit or handle penalty-killing duties reduces strain on core players. That kind of versatility compounds value over an 82-game season. If\u00a0Zharovsky\u00a0develops stronger board play and defensive reads, he could earn those minutes, further rounding out Montreal\u2019s lineup.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Canadiens Searching for a Power Game\u00a0<\/p>\n

Another factor is organizational depth. Successful teams\u00a0don\u2019t\u00a0just rely on stars; they rely on waves. In\u00a0the coming\u00a0years, injuries, slumps, and roster adjustments will inevitably test Montreal\u2019s internal pipeline. Joshua Roy was seen as the next depth piece, but\u00a0as of yet, he has failed to graft himself a full-time NHL role.<\/p>\n

Now, eyes are on Michael Hage, Hayden\u00a0Paupanekis,\u00a0and\u00a0Owen Beck<\/a>, among others. But looking ahead, if\u00a0they and\/or\u00a0Zharovsky\u00a0are\u00a0NHL-ready and producing, management\u00a0won\u2019t\u00a0need to overpay in free agency or sacrifice draft capital at the trade deadline to fill middle-six gaps. That internal solution could preserve assets for bigger, strategic moves.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Beyond the names mentioned is the development of players like Logan Sawyer, who was selected\u00a078th overall\u00a0by the\u00a0Montreal Canadiens<\/a>\u00a0in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft. At the time, he was a 6-foot-1, 173-pound forward\u00a0known as a high-energy, two-way forward with strong hockey intelligence, physicality, and a mean attitude in his game.<\/p>\n

\"LoganLogan Sawyer, Montreal Canadiens (Amy Irvin<\/a> \/ The Hockey Writers)<\/p>\n

Canadiens\u00a0general manager Kent Hughes\u00a0spoke about adding players with that kind of mentality<\/a>\u00a0on the ice. Sawyer\u00a0does add another prospect that\u00a0fills\u00a0that requirement, but his development has also brought some middle-six potential along with it.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Habs prospect Logan Sawyer with the OT winner last night for Providence. <\/p>\n

He now has 11 goals & 10 assists for 21 points in 25 games this season \ud83d\udd25 <\/p>\n

pic.twitter.com\/KmldDELDmo<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 \/r\/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) February 1, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Montreal is allowing its youth the time needed to find their games. Using\u00a0the NCAA as a development ground is helping this young forward, who\u00a0has 12 goals and 23 points\u00a0in 27 games this season, surpassing last season\u2019s 16-point total in 37 games.<\/p>\n

The time to work on\u00a0physical\u00a0development was something he was questioned about in an interview with Marco D\u2019Amico of RG.org<\/a>. It may be the biggest impact in\u00a0his case,\u00a0as\u00a0he has already doubled\u00a0his\u00a0goal from\u00a0last season, but that\u00a0improvement\u00a0has a lot to do\u00a0with\u00a0his\u00a0physical growth.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI gained 20, 25 pounds over the summer,\u00a0I\u2019m almost 6-foot-3 now, and I think I just\u00a0kind of grew\u00a0into my body.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0-Logan Sawyer<\/a>\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sawyer\u00a0now stands 6-foot-3 and tips the scales at\u00a0nearly 200\u00a0pounds, which is NHL size. He plays a power\u00a0forward\u2019s\u00a0game with grit and physicality. His\u00a0production\u00a0is almost double,\u00a0rising\u00a0from 16 points in 37 games to 23\u00a0points in 27 games. That offence, and his\u00a0gritty,\u00a0competitive edge, will be the key to his\u00a0earning\u00a0any\u00a0future role.<\/p>\n

Sawyer has\u00a0done the work so far,\u00a0adding\u00a0noticeable power without sacrificing\u00a0any speed,\u00a0cardio,\u00a0or mobility.\u00a0The added strength has allowed him to protect pucks more effectively along the boards, drive inside more confidently, and generate higher-quality attempts in the slot, increasing his odds of making it to the Canadiens\u2019 roster.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Perhaps most\u00a0importantly,\u00a0his progress would signal that the Canadiens\u2019 development system is functioning as intended. Rebuilds succeed not just\u00a0because of high picks, but\u00a0because mid-tier prospects exceed expectations. If\u00a0either\u00a0Zharovsky\u00a0or Sawyer\u00a0becomes a reliable contributor by 2027-28, it reinforces confidence in scouting, player development, and organizational patience.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Two years may seem distant, but in NHL terms,\u00a0it\u2019s\u00a0the critical bridge between promise and payoff. Should\u00a0continue trending upward, they\u00a0could be part of the foundation that pushes the Canadiens from\u00a0a fun,\u00a0rebuilding story\u00a0to a Cup contender. Depth, versatility, and internal growth often decide who rises and who plateaus.\u00a0Zharovsky\u00a0and Sawyer\u2019s\u00a0progress could help ensure Montreal rises at exactly the right time.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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