Day 2 of the 2024 Draft

The Habs enter the second day of the 2024 NHL Entry Draft with eight picks on hand. As is tradition, we’ll keep track of their moves here with scouting reports on their newest prospects.

Scouting reports are posted as they appeared in their write-ups; typos were not corrected.

70th Overall – F Aatos Koivu, TPS U-20 (Fin Jr.)

It’s a blast from the past of sorts as Koivu is the son of long-time Canadiens captain Saku Koivu.  He made his Liiga debut last season, getting into four games but spent most of the year split between the U-18 and U-20 levels.

Bio

Centre
Shoots: Right
DOB: June 22, 2006 – Turku, Finland
Height: 6’1
Weight: 170 lbs

Scouting Reports

Future Considerations: Koivu is known for his offensive creativity and intelligence, though he needs to improve his off-puck game. His best asset is his playmaking ability, consistently creating chances for himself and his teammates through successful entries. Recently, he has shown a more aggressive forecheck and a willingness to drive towards the inside of the offensive zone for high-danger opportunities, displaying creativity and physicality.

DraftPro: This is a smart center. Understands his strengths and weaknesses and plays that role. Responsible defensively, especially with his stick. Uses his stick on the backcheck to disrupt plays and quickly turn defense into offense. Has good size at this point but needs to put on more weight to become stronger on the puck. Time in the weight room and natural growth will further progress his game. Koivu projects as a two-way center at the NHL level.

Elite Prospects: In addition to having the right habits away from the puck, Koivu has legitimate skill as a shooter. After his promotion to the U20 level, he immediately became one of the more dangerous one-timer threats from the left half wall on the power play, beating goalies clean with well-placed and powerful snipes. It’s not all about the onetimer,though, as Koivu also has a variety of different shot types polished down to a promising level. He’s comfortable shooting from either leg and his curl-and-drag wrister mechanics were some of the best among draft-eligible Europeans.

Hockey Prospect: Offensively, his best weapon is his shot, a big contrast from his father who probably wished he had his son’s shooting skills. At the junior level and in international competitions, Aatos has demonstrated his shooting ability successfully. He has shown the ability to score from distance, often on the power play while playing from the Ovechkin spot, and was quite successful at this. He has a quick release, can pick corners with his shot and his velocity is considerably good. As of now, however, his shooting skills have been more noticeable than his passing skills. We wish we saw more projection with his playmaking but have yet to see significant high-end playmaking from him. Though this could develop over time, our observations this season suggest limited high-end playmaking from him, which impacts our NHL projection for him.

McKeens: There are some concerns with his off puck play and his defensive game, calling his hockey IQ and defensive awareness into question at times. While he’s been utilized as a center in Finland, he likely shifts to the wing in North America. There’s some raw talent here, and his development this season has been promising enough to suggest he has the potential to battle for an NHL, bottom-six roster spot.

Dobber Prospects: Koivu is an intriguing prospect not only because of his name. He possesses an intriguing skill set, with his shot being his biggest asset. He’s also a good skater and responsible two-way player on the defensive side of the game. Koivu has slipped a bit in our rankings, mostly based on his inconsistency in the U20 playoffs and lackluster U18 Worlds. However, he’s still physically raw, and there’s a chance his development continues on a steep upward trajectory.

Corey Pronman, The Athletic: Koivu is a strong skater with a stride that will be able to move at an NHL pace. He has good hands, and uses his skill to attack at the net. He’s not overly physical, but like his father, he’s a strong competitor who plays in traffic. Koivu has an excellent shot. When he winds up his one-timer he can beat goalies from distance. His playmaking is fine, he can make the odd seam pass but I don’t see a ton of natural instincts with the puck.

Daily Faceoff: Koivu has the same playmaking qualities as his father, and he also has a hard wrister that can devastate goaltenders in open ice – especially on the power play. The mix of speed, good hands and compete level is keeping scouts interested. He works hard and plays with pace, and now scouts are wondering how much more he can unlock out of his game. Right now, he can play any role, with that type of versatility coming in handy.

Recruit Scouting: His overall style of play is really well-rounded. He supports his defenseman well in his own end and does a good job at supporting the breakout. One aspect of his game that blew me away was his reads in the defensive zone. He seems to know exactly who’s open on the ice, who he needs to cover, and when he should be helping a teammate in a double team. Koivu is also a solid skater and does a good job carrying the puck up ice. He will need to improve his first three steps, though, as he struggles to get away from oncoming checkers out of a stop position

Upside Hockey: Koivu’s defensive game is in need of improvement, and he himself acknowledges that fact. He shows good puck-pursuit, and can cause turnovers on occasion that he then turns into offensive rushes, but he lacks composure, and tends to rush things when pressured. He doesn’t always know where to be, and can be caught puck-watching from time-to-time. His overall IQ and awareness has been called into question, with some saying that he needs to speed up his processing, and use his teammates more. Koivu needs to add a lot more strength and bulk, as he can be overpowered in puck battles, and knocked off the puck- adding more muscle will help him in front of the net, as well.

Statistics

Rankings

TSN (McKenzie): 83
McKeens: 104
Flo Hockey: 64
Future Considerations: 95
Daily Faceoff: 91
Central Scouting: 27 (Intl Skaters)
DraftPro: 84
Recruit Scouting: 90
Recrutes: 86
Dobber: 118

78th Overall – F Logan Sawyer, Brooks (BCHL)

It looks like adding more middlemen is a focus of this year’s draft as Sawyer becomes the third centre picked in a row, going back to Michael Hage on Friday although he spent a lot of time on the left wing this past season.  He’s committed to Providence College but is set to start there in 2025-26 so he’ll be more of a longer-term project.

Bio

Centre
Shoots: Left
DOB: May 6, 2006 – Orangeville, ON
Height: 6’1
Weight: 173 lbs

Scouting Reports

DraftPro: Has the ability to be a weapon on the power play and draw players to him to open up passing options. Plays 200 feet and hustles in both ends of the ice. Is responsible defensively and covers his man. Is not the most electric player but he is a true leader on the ice. Has good speed and can drive the centre lane or the outside lane as well. Uses his big frame and ability to skate to drive through coverage and capably keeps control of the puck. Is very hard to knock off the puck. Solid bottom six forward in the future.

Elite Prospects: A volume shooter, Sawyer’s shot isn’t necessarily separating from a projectability point of view, but it’s a tool he leverages at every chance. Crossbody and catch-and-release efforts litter his tape, but he tends to telegraph his intentions, especially when working downhill. His passing game is full of short-strike, give-and-go efforts, but he falls into junior habit patterns, looking for hope feeds and forcing pucks into layers, especially out of offensive zone retrieval wings. A player whose whole is greater than the sum of his parts, Sawyer has enough ability to push a pro-projection, possibly in a bottom-line role.

McKeens: On the ice he possesses a nice collection of above-average tools that all complement each other well. He’s smart, aware, and consistently plays with his head up. His natural athleticism is stellar, and he generates a lot of speed in straight lines. There’s some danger to his shots, mostly through an accurate wrister that has a snappy, clean release. Right now, there’s a bit of immaturity to his game, as he can look a little sleepy out there at times. Between his big, exciting moments are often long stretches of quiet shifts. It would also be nice to see more jam overall, as he doesn’t always commit to digging in and doing dirty work.

Recrutes: He had a terrific first half of the season in the AJHL where Brooks dominated before moving to the BCHL, collecting 59 points in 39 games. He also had two standout games at the World Junior Challenge that put him on scouts’ radars. The hope will be that his skating comes with much-needed strength.

Corey Pronman, The Athletic: He has above-average puck skills and vision and makes a lot of tough plays. He has a good shot and can finish chances from midrange. Scouts often expressed concerns about his skating. He’s a bit knock-kneed, but when I’ve watched I saw a player often pulling away from pressure and showing decent speed in transition to create chances. He has the tools and scoring touch to potentially be a bottom-six wing although his off-the-puck game isn’t ideal for that type of role.

Recruit Scouting: Logan Sawyer is the ultimate do-it-all workhorse forward that every bottom-6 needs to win games. Sawyer never stops moving when he is on the ice and is always around the puck. A strong stick and never-ending supply of energy make him the perfect puck retriever and he thrives in dump-and-chase situations. His defensive stick work has improved, but he needs to add more strength to consistently win those tie-ups. Sawyer goes to the dirty areas and battles till the puck has left then proceeds to chase down the puck carrier like a dog on raw meat. While he doesn’t have the velocity on his shot to beat goalies at the NHL level regularly, he is accurate with his shot.

Upside Hockey: Sawyer’s main asset is his shot, which is good enough for any league, and it comes with a deceptive release. It’s hard and heavy, and he can pick corners with it. He can change the angle and the release point of the shot to stun goalies, and has some nice moves and deception to slice his way inside for shot opportunities. He’s also a net-front presence, able to convert rebounds, and cash in on scrappy goals- he has the hands to beat goalies in-tight, and seems to like to target water bottles by roofing pucks.

Statistics

Rankings

Elite Prospects: 122
McKeens: 119
Flo Hockey: 84
Central Scouting: 114 (NA Skaters)
DraftPro: 147
Recruit Scouting: 172
Recrutes: 105

102nd Overall – D Owen Protz, Brantford (OHL)

The Habs made their first selection from the CHL, selecting Protz, a hard-hitting blueliner.  He split the season between Sudbury and Brantford.

Bio

Defenceman
Shoots: Left
DOB: Feb. 7, 2006 – Ottawa, ON
Height: 6’1
Weight: 213 lbs

Scouting Reports

Elite Prospects: A midseason trade from the Sudbury Wolves to the Brantford Bulldogs turned Owen Protz from a depth defenceman to a No. 1. By season’s end, he easily proved that he had what it takes to not float, but excel in such a big role. When Protz steps on the ice, he holds a monopoly on violence – smart violence. He steadily angles attackers to the outside, lining them for a bone-crushing hit. He eliminates the attacker’s options on the cycle, then slams them to the ice. And he even throws some oldschool hip checks.

McKeens: Currently, he is one of those “jack of all trades” types. He’s a good skater, but not a great one. He’s competent with the puck and can initiate the breakout, but he’s not a dynamic puckhandler or someone we envision running a powerplay. He shows good instincts at both ends, but as a first year OHL player, his decision making still needs further refinement.

Recrutes: In 38 games with Sudbury, Protz averaged 13:46 per game, playing 52 seconds on the pk. In 35 games after he was traded to Brantford, he averaged 23:13 in ice time, including 3:48 shorthanded. A burly defender who is effective when he uses his brawn, his draft stock rose significantly after the trade.

Upside Hockey: Protz contributes well to the transition with his passing game, executing breakouts successfully, although he has a propensity to pass into battles. In his own end, Protz is a solid defensive player with sparkling advanced stats that paint him to be a shut-down specialist. He exerts tight gap control to close quickly on attackers, forcing them to the outside and putting them in his crosshairs for a big hit. In killing the cycle, or breaking up rushes, he uses a blend of quality positioning, violence, and well-timed stick work. He separates opponents from the puck, always staying on the right side of possession, and is very details-oriented.

Brock Otten: First, his aggressiveness defensively is great. He takes the battle to you and rarely sits back. He has a penchant for the big hit and he is strong as an ox down low. At 6’2, 200lbs, he’s already got pro size. Second, his four way mobility is solid. He can play that aggressive game because he can close quick, but also recover when required. He is tough to beat one on one. Thirdly, Protz flashes some puck moving skill, especially as a transition leader. He can clear the defensive end with his feet and lead the counter attack. However, the application of all of these skills is inconsistent. His overall defensive effectiveness can be a bit erratic. His reads and coverage do need tightening. The same could be said for his reads with the puck and ability to handle the pressure of a forecheck. Realistically, Protz probably best projects as a third pairing, stay at home type.

Statistics

Rankings

McKeens: 164
Central Scouting: 100 (NA Skaters)
DraftPro: 84
Recrutes: 128

130th Overall – RW Tyler Thorpe, Vancouver (WHL)

The Habs went big with their first selection of the fifth round with Thorpe, who just finished his first full WHL campaign.  This was his second year of eligibility.

Bio

Right Winger
Shoots: Right
DOB: August 11, 2005 – Richmond, BC
Height: 6’4
Weight: 209 lbs

Scouting Reports

DraftPro: Big winger with a developing game. His play has undergone a drastic change compared to last year. His skating, which has been a concern, seems to have become a priority to him to improve. He has taken steps to enhance his starting and stopping, and straight-line speed, though it’s not yet at a professional level. With tremendous upper body strength and desire to make contact in the corners he is harder to compete against. Durable and unafraid to battle in the tough areas of the ice. Puck protection skills are excellent; his frame and long reach make it challenging for opponents to poke the puck away from him.

Elite Prospects: It’s uncommon to see a player of Thorpe’s stature shoot in motion and off-the-catch with such impressive form. His hands always stay in front of his body and he really elevates his top arm to put his full body weight behind the net. He also has a knack for deflections bolstered by between-checks positioning. Thorpe’s skating is volatile, and unlikely to become a strength. But he will do his best to overcome a lack of powerful edge work and speed with pure effort. He never quits on a play, forces a ton of turnovers, and throws the occasional big hit. Thorpe projects as a fourth-line forward. Further refining his skating, puck-winning skills and physicality will help him get there.

Hockey Prospect: Thorpe’s game is still really raw, and has a long way to go before impacting the game at the pro level. But with his growth spurt, the huge improvement he did in his game over the years, with some interesting tools to work with, there’s still a lot of opportunities to improve and develop his game. He should be in a position to have a lot of success next season for the Giants. When you look at his statical profile, his size and traits his game, the late blooming aspect of his development, there’s a lot of similarity to Justin Brazeau. If a team can be patient and invest in his development, there could be some rewards.

McKeens: Thorpe stormed out of the gate for his 2023-24 campaign and looked like he could be one of the top re-entry prospects in this draft, but his game cooled off considerably from there. He’s built like a brick house and has quite a howitzer for a shot. He does some good work down in the cycle but is at his most dangerous when he has time and space to shoot. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have the skating or hands to easily open up that kind of room for himself. And when he’s not scoring, he’s not contributing much else. There’s a chance that Thorpe could become a Brett Ritchie type of player one day.

Corey Pronman, The Athletic: Thorpe progressed well in his second WHL season after not making much of a dent as a rookie and first-year draft eligible. Thorpe is a big winger who plays hard. He has a good shot from range, and displays strong instances of puck skills. His hockey sense is a major question however, and his skating is just OK as well although he moves well for a big man.

Statistics

Rankings

McKeens: 260
DraftPro: 221
Central Scouting: 111 (NA Skaters)
Hockey Prospect: 110

134th Overall – G Mikus Vecvenags, Riga (Latvia Jr)

Even after drafting three goalies last year, the Habs elected to take one this time around.  Once again, it’s a longer-term project as Vecvenags will need to establish himself after bouncing around with four different teams this season while also needing to fill out his frame.

Bio

Goalie
Catches: Left
DOB: Jan. 17 2006 – Riga, Latvia
Height: 6’3
Weight: 159 lbs

Scouting Report

Future Considerations: Vecvanags is a very intriguing goaltender because of his flashes of brilliance. He plays a very active style of goaltending, and it works with his above-average athleticism and footwork. He is incredible in the rebounding sector of goaltending. He punches away rebounds on the blocker side with ease and control, and snaps pucks into his glove.

Statistics

166th Overall – C Ben Merrill, St. Sebastian’s (USHS)

It feels like every year, the Habs will use a later-round selection on a high-school player, one who will be an extremely long-term project.  Merrill is one of those players.  He’s moving to the BCHL for next season and has a 2025 college commitment to Harvard.

Bio

Centre
Shoots: Right
DOB: Nov. 4, 2005 – Hingham, MA
Height: 6’4
Weight: 190 lbs