2025 Midseason Draft Preview: Picks 9-16
With both the Habs and Flames not expected to make the playoffs, it was believed by many that the Habs could end up with one if not two draft selections in this section of the draft. Both teams aimed to be good enough to get out of a top-10 selection. Instead, Calgary appears poised to make the postseason while the Canadiens may well return to a top-10 pick. Maybe Calgary falls off a cliff, or maybe Montreal can trade multiple later-round selections to end up here. For now, this might be a bit of a dead zone for the two better Habs picks in the round.
#9 – Jackson Smith
Tri-City Americans (WHL) – LD – Start of season rank: 22
This year’s Carter Yakemchuk in that he does absolutely everything right on the ice while not having a crazy stand-out skill. He’s scored 40 points in 55 games so far while maintaining an excellent all-around game. An excellent player at a position of very little need for the Habs.
#10 – Malcolm Spence
Erie Otters (OHL) – LW – Start of season rank: 9
The big winger hasn’t really lit it up this season, scoring 54 points in 51 games. That hasn’t hurt his stock an awful lot because, unlike many others in this age group, his game is so incredibly mature that it’s the incredibly high floor that has Spence this high on the list. He uses his size and stick well, and plays a responsible game. Think of what Joel Armia can do when he’s playing well, but Spence offers it with more consistency and with a bit more bite or jam when needing to finish hits.
#11 – Lynden Lakovic
Moose Jaw Warriors (WHL) – LW – Start of season rank: 37
44 points in 34 games for the 6’4 Lakovic. His consistency has improved over last season which explains the drastic 26-spot improvement within this ranking. Scouts see a player who has had the ability to slow the game down to allow his ability to shine. This mental coming of age has also allowed him to integrate his teammates into what he does on the ice. Nice progression, though I’m not sure what that means at the next level.
#12 – Radim Mrtka
Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) – RD – Start of season rank: 20
In the early-season ranking, I predicted this massive defender (6’6) would jump up the ranking and was proven correct. He plays a very physical game while still handling his skating and the puck duties quite well. He’s scored 30 points in 30 games since his arrival in North America and playing against his peers is likely a good way for scouts to get a handle on what they are getting, so it was a good move on his part. He could very well be a player of interest for the Habs considering his position on the ice and what they need in that position.
#13 – Carter Bear
Everett Silvertips (WHL) – LW – Start of season rank: 58
That’s 77 points in 49 games for the six-foot Bear who is mostly known for his ability to push the pace of play. What has been discovered this season is his intelligent play and leadership characteristics. Bear is said to pay particular attention to the small details of the game which not only makes him stand out, but it also makes all his teammates look better just for playing with him. Many scouts had him just outside the first round to start the season, believing in his ceiling, but what has allowed him to vault up 45 spots is mostly that he has significantly raised his floor in the eyes of the scouts. This player seems like a potential Brendan Gallagher replacement down the line, so it would be shocking if the Canadiens weren’t interested.
#14 – Jake O’Brien
Brantford Bulldogs (OHL) – C – Start of season rank: 14
A tall pivot that needs to add some muscle. He’s a great playmaker who counted 51 assists in his D-1 season. O’Brien seems like a Michael Hage carbon copy, but if they really want that player type on the roster, they could easily select O’Brien with the understanding that the two selections would compete for what is likely to be one available spot on the roster.
#15 – Kashawn Aitcheson
Barrie Colts (OHL) – LD – Start of season rank: 18
One of the older players in the draft, it seems like his offensive upside is limited while he promises to be very physical. His calling card will be the ability to deliver huge minutes without much trouble. The Habs are rather full at LD, but this type of defender might be needed to balance the high-skill, high-risk style of too many defenders currently in their system.
#16 – Logan Hensler
Wisconsin (NCAA) – RD – Start of season rank: 8
Elite skating, excellent footwork, great defending, and offensive instinct. With all these qualities, one of the most talked about qualities is that he loves to get physical on top of all the puck attributes he displays. He hasn’t had the season in Wisconsin but was still on the American WJC Gold Medal-winning team. If he actually slides all the way down here, it seems like it would be a smart gamble for Montreal.
Previous Rankings
17-24
25-32
Second Round