{"id":690310,"date":"2026-10-19T03:39:13","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T03:39:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/690310\/"},"modified":"2026-10-19T03:39:13","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T03:39:13","slug":"canadiens-may-have-found-a-hidden-gem-in-luke-mittelstadt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nhl\/690310\/","title":{"rendered":"Canadiens may have found a hidden gem in Luke Mittelstadt"},"content":{"rendered":"

Throughout his entire NCAA career, Luke Mittelstadt <\/a>never scored more than 21 points in a season. He is more than halfway to that number just six games into the Laval Rocket season. The Montreal Canadiens’ seventh-round pick in 2023 has developed into a solid defender with the ability to stretch the ice with his passing, but that has not always translated into high point totals. That has changed to start this season. Mittelstadt is not only leading the Rocket in scoring, but the entire AHL, with four goals and nine assists in six games. His hot start to the season is showing that there might be more to his game than many would have predicted when he was drafted.<\/p>\n

Unprecedented numbers from Mittelstadt<\/p>\n

To say Mittelstadt was never a big point producer would not be right. During the 2021-22 season with the Madison Capitols in the USHL, Mittelstadt showed glimpses of his offensive potential. In 60 games with the Capitols, he scored 19 goals and added 36 assists, as he led the team in points with 55. Mittelstadt\u2019s role changed when he committed to the University of Minnesota. He joined a Minnesota team with a loaded blueline, which included Jackson LaCombe and Brock Faber, who have both become stars at the NHL level. <\/p>\n

Playing behind LaCombe and Faber may have limited Mittelstadt’s offensive opportunities during his freshman season, but after the two left, he still could not rediscover the offensive touch he had in the USHL. Mittelstadt was consistent, though, recording 21, 20, 18, and 21 points in his four seasons with the Golden Gophers. He joined the Rocket at the end of last season, and despite the step up in competition, Mittelstadt was finding his groove again in the offensive zone. He played in nine games at the end of last season, recording a goal and four assists, but that is nothing compared to what he is doing this season.<\/p>\n

Mittelstadt’s offensive explosion<\/p>\n

Mittelstadt came to the Rocket at the perfect time. Adam Engstrom’s promotion to the Canadiens out of training camp opened the door for Mittelstadt to take over the left side on the Rocket\u2019s top defensive pairing. Together with David Reinbacher, they formed an incredible first pairing, with Mittelstadt handling the offensive responsibilities and the Austrian defender being the defensive stopper. Reinbacher\u2019s call-up to the Canadiens<\/a> has not slowed Mittelstadt down, as he has recorded six points in the two games since the roster change.<\/p>\n

Mittelstadt is doing most of his damage on the power play, with three goals and six assists on the man advantage. He has gained the trust of the Rocket’s head coach, Daniel Jacob, who has given him the freedom to play his game on offence, and it is working. The Rocket have the best record in the North Division, sitting at 5-1, winning five straight after losing their season opener. Mittelstadt is a massive reason for the team\u2019s early success, but the conversation is now growing to what his future could hold in the Canadiens organization.<\/p>\n

It is hard to say what the Canadiens organization thought they were getting when they selected Mittelstadt in the seventh round, but anything above being a potential depth defenceman would be setting the bar too high. It is a limited number of games to go by, but so far this season he has been fantastic and if it continues, the Canadiens may have found a diamond in the rough.<\/p>\n

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