{"id":616120,"date":"2026-07-06T12:45:44","date_gmt":"2026-07-06T12:45:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/616120\/"},"modified":"2026-07-06T12:45:44","modified_gmt":"2026-07-06T12:45:44","slug":"canadiens-prospect-reveals-he-grew-eight-inches-and-became-a-completely-different-player","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/616120\/","title":{"rendered":"Canadiens prospect reveals he grew eight inches and became a completely different player"},"content":{"rendered":"


\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t \"Timofei <\/p>\n

Photo credit: Screenshot<\/p>\n

Rarely have the Montreal Canadiens drafted a prospect with such an unlikely path.<\/p>\n

Timofei Runtso grew eight inches in just a few years.<\/p>\n

At 14 years old, the defenseman stood just 5-foot-6.<\/p>\n

But after a few growth spurts, he now measures 6-foot-2.<\/p>\n

That obviously allowed him to become a completely different player, quite literally. And he may not even be done growing!<\/p>\n

“I’m hoping to get a few more inches,” he said.<\/p>\n

That kind of physical transformation changes everything for a defenseman.<\/p>\n

Reach, physical presence-everything can change with a growth spurt of a few inches.<\/p>\n

Timofei Runtso’s late breakout turned him into one of the Canadiens’ most intriguing prospects<\/p>\n

His body developed, and so did his talent.<\/p>\n

Runtso is a classic example of a late-blooming player.<\/p>\n

Just one year ago, the California native was “nobody,” in his own words.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

“There weren’t any eyes on me.<\/p>\n

It was difficult to get noticed there.”<\/p>\n

– Runtso<\/p>\n

Then the 2025-26 WHL season changed everything.<\/p>\n

With 44 points, including 11 goals, in 68 games for Victoria, he enjoyed a breakout campaign.<\/p>\n

Even he didn’t expect it at first.<\/p>\n

“I exceeded my own expectations.<\/p>\n

If you had asked me at the beginning of the year whether I’d end up here, I wouldn’t have predicted it.”<\/p>\n

That’s exactly the type of profile that appealed to the Canadiens.<\/p>\n

A defenseman whose game is rapidly ascending and whose ceiling remains unknown.<\/p>\n

“I think they see that I can only keep growing. The sky’s the limit.”<\/p>\n

It will be fascinating to see just how far Runtso’s physical and on-ice development can take him.<\/p>\n

Because when a player is improving this quickly, no one truly knows where his ceiling is.<\/p>\n

Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics<\/p>\n

POLL<\/p>\n

22 HOURS AGO|663 ANSWERS<\/p>\n

Canadiens prospect reveals he grew eight inches and became a completely different player<\/p>\n

Which player will play the most career games with the Montreal Canadiens?<\/p>\n

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