2026 Draft Preview: Midseason Round 2
The Habs have already started dealing from the surplus they held in the second round. In recent years, they’ve both traded these picks and have also traded up in this round to get players they coveted. If they remain near the top of the division, one could easily entertain a reality in which the Habs end up with no picks in this round.
However, it is worth exploring certain players within the reality of the Habs trying to put the finishing touches on their rebuild. Teams that have been able to continue to draft well through this turn in focus with the pro team have ensured the longevity of their success. Montreal’s success in this round (Hutson, Beck) is complemented by recent success in the third round as well. As per usual, the second-round outlook is more of a list format, though highlighted are four players of potential interest from a Habs perspective, two from each half of the round. Enjoy this early look at the upcoming draft and what it may hold for the Habs.
#33 –Pierce Mbuyi – Owen Sound Attack (OHL) – LW
Start of season rank: 33
#34 – Brooks Rogowski – Oshawa Generals (OHL) – C
Start of season rank: 55
#35 – Adam Valentini – University of Michigan (NCAA) – LW
Start of season rank: 30
#36 – Casey Mutryn – US NTDP (USHL) – RW
Start of season rank: 36
#37 – Wyatt Cullen – US NTDP (USHL) – LW
Start of season rank: N/A
#38 – Nikita Shcherbakov – Tolpar Ufa (MHL) – LD
Start of season rank: 41
#39 – Jaxon Cover – London Knights (OHL) – LW
Start of season rank: 46
#40 –Alessandro Di Iorio – Sarnia Sting (OHL) – C
Start of season rank: 29
#41 – Beckham Edwards – Sarnia Sting (OHL) – C
Start of the season rank: 27
#42 – Giorgios Pantelas – Brandon Wheat Kings (WHL) – RD
Start of season rank: 44
#43 – Victor Plante – US NTDP (USHL) – LW
Start of season rank: N/A
#44 – Liam Ruck – Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) – RW
Start of season rank: 49
#45 – Adam Nemec – HK Nitra (Slovakia) – LW
Start of season rank: 37
#46 – Adam Goljer – HK Dukla Trencin (Slovakia) – RD
Start of season rank: 52
#47 – Vertti Svensk – SaiPa (Liiga) – LD
Start of season rank: 50
#48 – Lars Steiner – Rouyn-Noranda Huskies (QMJHL) – RW
Start of season rank: 34
#34 – Brooks Rogowski
Oshawa Generals (OHL) – C
At 6’7, no one will question the size of the player. But with 30 points in 37 OHL games, there is little doubt that Rogowski’s success at the next level will come from his ability to use his size over his skill. This is an American who took the path of the CHL as opposed to the NCAA which flies into the face of the current trend. He projects as a player in the Brian Boyle type once developed, but that might be exactly what the Habs need once he’s ready for the show and they are lining up for their contention window. They have preferred later-round picks for this type of project player, so his ascension in the ranks might scare the Canadiens away.
# 44 – Liam Ruck
Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) – RW
The 6’0 winger is scoring at a nice 72 points in 51 games on a team that Habs management has clearly kept their eye on with the recent signing of Bryce Pickford. Liam is more of the scoring winger while his twin brother Markus (who is projected to go later in the round) is the playmaker. Liam excels in small-area play and around the net. This is definitely a project pick and would almost guarantee that the Habs would try to move around and select his brother a little later.
#49 – Simas Ignatavicius – Geneve-Servette (Swiss National) – C
Start of season rank: N/A
#50 – Mikey Berchild – US NTDP (USHL) – RW
Start of season rank: 45
#51 – Luke Schairer – US NTDP (USHL) – RD
Start of season rank: 54
#52 – Oscar Holmertz – Linkoping HC U20 (U20 Nationell) – C
Start of season rank: 48
#53 – Landon Hafele – Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) – LW
Start of season rank: 56
#54 – Thomas Vandenberg – Ottawa 67’s (OHL) – C
Start of season rank: N/A
#55 – Ben MacBeath – Calgary Hitmen (WHL) – LD
Start of season rank: N/A
#56 – Vilho Vanhatalo – Tappara (Liiga U20) – RW
Start of season rank: 61
#57 – Braidy Wassilyn – London Knights (OHL) – RW
Start of season rank: 44
#58 – Charlie Morrison – Quebec Ramparts (QMJHL) – LD
Start of season rank: N/A
#59 – Gleb Pugachyov – Chaika Nizhny Novgorod (MHL) – RW
Start of season rank – 63
#60 – Markus Ruck – Medicine Hat Tigers (WHL) – C
Start of season rank: N/A
#61 – Wiggo Sorensson – Boro/Vetlanda HC (Div 2 in Sweden) – C
Start of the season rank: N/A
#62 – Viktor Fyodorov – Torpedo-Gorky NN (VHL) – C
Start of season rank: 43
#63 – Ryder Cali – North Bay Battalion (OHL) – C
Start of season rank: 64
#64 – Olivers Murnieks – Saint John Sea Dogs (QMJHL) – C
Start of season rank: 53
#54 – Thomas Vandenberg
Ottawa 67’s (OHL) – C
This 6’0 pivot has scored 36 points in 41 games as a rookie in the OHL. He’s one of the youngest players in the draft. In fact, if he was eight days younger, he would only be eligible for the 2027 draft. As a rookie top-line centre in the OHL, he’s won 59% of his faceoffs this season. He shows great speed and off-puck awareness while not really being big enough or shifty enough for a smaller guy. I see more of a Jake Evans product, should Vandenberg be open to that possibility for himself.
#64 – Ryder Cali
North Bay Battalion (OHL) – C
The bottom of this round is filled with bigger bodies looking to play a physical game. It will be hard to project who can continue to play this style of game when those bodies find their physical match at the next level. But some will definitely find a way to do so. For that reason, I chose to highlight a player currently playing more games in a more physical environment in North America. Cali is unlikely to play C as a pro; this left-hander is 6’2 and plays a power forward game. In his first full OHL season, he’s scoring at just under a point per game with 19 points in 30 games. This rookie production and play style reminds me of another Battalion alumnus in Justin Brazeau. If the scoring doesn’t work out, he could be developed as a physical presence at the bottom of the roster.