2025 Midseason Draft Preview: Round 2
As we get to the long-awaited 4 Nations Face-Off, it’s also time to check out the draft rankings. For the first time in a few seasons, Habs fans have been busy watching the product on the ice instead of following this list. Recent play would suggest that this might change in the upcoming weeks, even if following the playoff race for a few weeks was admittedly much more fun.
Despite the recent focus on the team, the draft remains an important piece as the Canadiens start to turn toward being a competitive team. Teams that have been able to continue to draft well through this turn have ensured the longevity of their success. As per usual, the second-round outlook is more of a list format, though highlighted are the four players of potential interest from a Montreal perspective, two from each half of the round. Enjoy this early look at the upcoming draft and what it may hold for the Habs.
First Half
#33 – Jakob Ihs-Wozniak
Lulea U20 (Swedish J20) – LW – Start of season rank: 15
#34 – Adam Benak
Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) – C – Start of the season rank: 24
#35 – Nathan Behm
Kamloops Blazers (WHL) – RW – Start of season rank: N/A
#36 – Eric Nilson
Djurgardens J20 (J20 Nationell) – C – Start of season rank: 56
#37 – Sascha Boumedienne
Boston University (NCAA) – LD – Start of season rank: 17
#38 – Charlie Tretheway
USNTDP (USHL) – RD – Start of season rank: 13
#39 – Jack Ivankovic
Brampton Steelheads (OHL) – G – Start of season rank: 32
#40 – Cole McKinney
USNTDP (USHL) – C – Start of season rank: 34
#41 – Shane Vansaghi
Michigan State (NCAA) – RW – Start of season rank: 55
#42 – Luca Romano
Kitchener Rangers (OHL) – RW – Start of season rank: N/A
#43 – Benjamin Kevan
Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) – RW – Start of season rank: 47
#44 – Kurban Limatov
MHK Dynamo Moskva (MHL) – LD – Start of season rank: 43
#45 – Conrad Fondrk
USNTDP (USHL) – C – Start of season rank: 26
#46 – Henry Brzustewicz
London Knights (OHL) – RD – Start of season rank: N/A
#47 – Haoxi Simon Wang
Oshawa Generals (OHL) – LD – Start of season rank: N/A
#48 – Tomas Pobezal
HK Nitra (Slovakia) – C – Start of season rank: 62
#38 – Charlie Tretheway
USNTDP (USHL) – RD
Before the season started, Tretheway was ranked 13th and if the Habs were to be concerned about David Reinbacher’s ability to bounce back from his recent injury issues, Tretheway was an interesting prospect. Tretheway had a strong start to his season until it fell off a cliff to the extent that he’s now entirely out of the first round in many rankings. He plays a safe game that is sometimes too tentative to be a sexy high-ranked pick, but his floor remains without question. The floor appears to be very Alex Carrier-like. I still find it incredibly unlikely that he slips all the way to 38. Tretheway is said to have a calm, mature game that is confident over all 200 feet of play. His ability to chip in offensively might be a bigger question mark at the next level. Should he remain available at the end of the first round and the Habs get a pick there, I would be rather pleased with the selection.
#41 – Shane Vansaghi
Michigan State (NCAA) – RW
A sizable winger who relies on his size to create offensively sounds like a very Trevor Timmins pick if the Habs opt to follow the old scouting playbook from their former top scout. Vansaghi appears to be a high-floor player with a questionable ceiling. His power game is always sought out by scouts as it can more easily be translated to a bottom-six player should the offence not follow and this is likely Vansaghi’s fate.
This might be an ideal second-round pick candidate for the Habs who will need this type of player. As they become competitive, role players will get priced out with regularity and players that can step in and contribute without needing to be stars will be a must. He’s not a player I would expect to make an immediate impact, but he could be a project that pays off huge if he can make the transition in a few years’ time.
Second Half
#49 – Carter Amico
USNTDP (USHL) – RD – Start of season rank: N/A
#50 – Viktor Klingsell
Skelleftea J20 (J20 Nationell) – LW – Start of season rank: 30
#51 – Luka Radivojevic
Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) – RD – Start of season rank: 25
#52 – Eddie Genborg
Linkoping HC (SHL) – LW – Start of season rank: N/A
#53 – Alex Huang
Chicoutimi Sagueneens (QMJHL) – RD – Start of season rank: 41
#54 – Reese Hamilton
Calgary Hitmen (WHL) – LD – Start of season rank: 28
#55 – L.J. Mooney
USNTDP (USHL) – RW – Start of season rank: 39
#56 – William Horcoff
University of Michigan (NCAA) – C – Start of the season rank: N/A
#57 – Owen Conrad
Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL) – LD – Start of season rank: 52
#58 – Dakoda Rheaume-Mullen
Michigan (NCAA) – LD – Start of season rank: 50
#59 – Vojtech Cihar
HC Energie Karlovy Vary (Extraliga) – LW – Start of season rank: N/A
#60 – Artyom Vilchinsky
SKA St. Petersburg 1946 (MHL) – LD – Start of season rank: 31
#61 – Arvid Drott
Djurgardens J20 (J20 Nationell) – RW – Start of season rank: N/A
#62 – Pyotr Andreyanov
Krasnaya Armiya Moskva (MHL) – G – Start of season rank: N/A
#63 – Kristian Epperson
Saginaw Spirit (OHL) – LW – Start of season rank: N/A
#64 – Melvin Novotny
Leksands J20 (J20 Nationell) – LW – Start of season rank: N/A
#52 – Eddie Genborg
Linkoping HC (SHL) – LW
The 6-foot 2-inch forward had scored 30 points in 24 games with his J20 club before being recently recalled to the SHL. He’s since only scored one goal in twelve games, but he’s an interesting player with a nice package to keep an eye on moving forward.
Like Vansaghi, this would be a project pick aimed to fill the bottom of the roster with sizable players with skill. While the Habs should continue to look for higher-risk, higher reward-type players at the top of the draft, balancing these home run swings with solid safe picks isn’t the worst idea.
#61 – Arvid Drott
Djurgardens J20 (J20 Nationell) – RW
A scorer of 28 points in 31 J20 games, the offence hasn’t really popped, but reading the analysis, Drott is a sizable (6’1’’) winger that plays with a ton of pace and likes to initiate contact. He has underrated lateral agility with the puck, mostly because he prefers to shoot. What is said about Drott sounds quite similar to what was said about Emil Heineman at the time of his draft which makes Drott an interesting consideration.