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Could the Canadiens Be Looking at Utilizing Their Deep Prospect Pool to Acquire Different Assets?

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Aaron
December 1, 2022  (9:31)
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When in a rebuild, moving prospects is the last thing on teams' minds. However, this is no conventional rebuild, and Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton could be looking to utilise their deep prospect pool in order to acquire draft assets or different young players.

On the Puck and Roll podcast, two names in particular were brought up as potential candidates for a trade. These players being QMJHL superstars Riley Kidney and Joshua Roy.

On Riley Kidney, the podcasters are concerned about his NHL projectability. His habits of playing along the perimeter will make the translation of his game to the NHL difficult. It will equally make him susceptible to more hits into the boards at the AHL level. As the AHL is a more physical league than the NHL, it could be dangerous for the 176 pound Kidney.

As for positives with Kidney, he is the heart of his team, the Acadie-Bathurst Titans, and will likely play for team Canada at the World Juniors. He is also on pace to once again be at the top of the QMJHL in scoring. Last season he finished with exactly 100 points in 66 games, and this season he's on pace for 105.

Unfortunately, however, points in junior, especially in the weak defensive league of the QMJHL, can't be taken as a true projection of NHL skill. With wingers such as Sean Farrell, Filip Mesar, Vincenz Rohrer, and Jesse Ylonen having much more projectable NHL trajectories, maybe selling high on Kidney could be the right move.

For Joshua Roy, things get a little more complicated. As a former 1st overall pick in the QMJHL, Roy lulled behind, being accused of a bad attitude and of laziness. He turned things around last season, and did amazing things in his league. His 119 points led the 'Q', and his Sherbrooke Phoenix were one of the most exciting teams in the league.

However, similarly to Kidney, the professional instincts in his game aren't all there. On the podcast, it was suggested that Joshua Roy's value could be at an all-time high. He may equally play on Connor Bedard's line at the World Juniors, which would only be a boost for him.

If he can be packaged to acquire a high pick in the draft, it would be incredible asset management to take a 5th round pick in 2021 that far.

It's never easy to part with such high scoring prospects, but taking a gamble on NHL success may be more risky than taking a gamble that their value has peaked.

What do you think?

POLL
1 DECEMBRE   |   56 ANSWERS
Could the Canadiens Be Looking at Utilizing Their Deep Prospect Pool to Acquire Different Assets?

If you were the Canadiens GM, would you be shopping Riley Kidney and Joshua Roy?

Yes2341.1 %
No3358.9 %
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