OHL In The System: Montreal Canadiens
As the 2024 NHL Draft concludes and development camps kick off across the National Hockey League, we’re diving into the current and former OHL talent within each NHL Club’s prospect pool.
This 32-part series will spotlight OHL players who are either signed to an NHL or AHL contract or are recently drafted, and are 25 years old or younger with 50 or fewer NHL games played.
Join us for OHL In the System!
Today’s edition features the prospect pool of the Montreal Canadiens.
Hunter Jones (G) — Peterborough Petes (2017-20)
Signed (AHL): July 1, 2024
OHL Career Stats: 121 Games Played | 3.31 GAA | .901 SV% | 62-47-4-3 Record
Age: 23
Selected by the Peterborough Petes in the fifth round of the 2016 OHL Priority Selection, Hunter Jones spent three seasons in the OHL, playing to a 62-47-4-3 record including seven shutouts, along with a 3.31 goals-against average and .901 save percentage. Originally chosen by the Minnesota Wild in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft, Jones has spent the past four seasons (2020-24) between the AHL’s Iowa Wild and ECHL’s Iowa Heartlanders. The 23-year-old netminder signed a one-year AHL contract with the Laval Rocket on July 1, 2024.
Jacob Perreault (RW) — Sarnia Sting (2018-20)
Acquired: March 7, 2024
OHL Career Stats: 120 Games Played | 69 Goals | 56 Assists | 125 Points
Age: 22
Originally chosen in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft by the Anaheim Ducks, Jacob Perreault was acquired by the Canadiens on March 7, 2024. Tallying 91 points over the last four seasons with the AHL’s San Diego Gulls, Perreault added an additional two points in 13 games played with the Laval Rocket to close out the 2023-24 season after being traded. Selected 19th overall by the Sarnia Sting in the 2018 OHL Priority Selection, the Hinsdale, IL. Native recorded 125 point over 120 regular season games played between 2018-20. Perreault is the son of the former Canadiens player Yanic Perreault, who played in Montreal from 2001 to 2004
Owen Protz (D) — Sudbury Wolves (2023-24), Brantford Bulldogs (2023-24)
Selected: 102nd overall, 2024 NHL Draft
OHL Career Stats: 67 Games Played | 3 Goals | 16 Assists | 19 Points
Age: 18
Montreal’s 102nd overall pick in the 2024 NHL Draft, Owen Protz had a strong rookie season, tallying three goals, 16 assists and 19 points over 67 regular games split between the Sudbury Wolves and the Brantford Bulldogs. Originally selected by the Wolves in the fifth round of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection, the 6-foot-2 blueliner from Ottawa, Ont. spent the 2022-23 season with the Ottawa Jr. Senators program.
Florian Xhekaj (LW) — Brantford Bulldogs (2022-24)
Signed: April 9, 2024
OHL Career Stats: 131 Games Played | 47 Goals | 43 Assists | 90 Points
Age: 20
The younger brother of Montreal Canadiens sheriff Arber Xhekaj, Florian Xhekaj was selected by the Canadiens in the fourth round of the 2023 NHL Draft. Tallying 90 points in 131 games played over two seasons in the OHL, the 20-year-old Hamilton, Ont. native signed an entry-level contract with the club on April 9, 2024. After finding success with Arber at the OHL level as well, the Bulldogs signed the dominant forward as a free-agent ahead of the 2022 OHL season.
Logan Mailloux (D) — London Knights (2019-23)
Signed: October 5, 2022
OHL Career Stats: 75 Games Played | 28 Goals | 34 Assists | 62 Points
Age: 21
Selected in the first round, 31st overall by the Canadiens at the 2021 NHL Draft, Logan Mailloux signed an entry-level contract with the team on October 5, 2022. Helping the London Knights lift the Wayne Gretzky Trophy as 2023 Western Conference champions, the Belle River, Ont. native tallied 62 points in 75 regular season contests over three seasons, along with 24 points in 21 playoff contests. Making his NHL debut on April 16, 2024, Mailloux spent the 2023-24 season with the AHL’s Laval Rocket, recording 47 points in 72 games played. The 21-year-old blueliner was named to the 2023-24 AHL All-Star Team and participated in the AHL All-Star Game (North).
Owen Beck (C) — Mississauga Steelheads (2021-23), Peterborough Petes (2022-2024), Saginaw Spirit (2023-24)
Signed: October 4, 2022
OHL Career Stats: 185 Games Played | 79 Goals | 119 Assists | 198 Points
Age: 20
Selected by the Canadiens in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft, Owen Beck signed an entry-level contract with the club on October 4, 2022. Concluding the 2023-24 OHL season as Memorial Cup champion and MVP with the Saginaw Spirit, Beck registered 81 points in 57 regular season games, along with 14 points in 17 playoff contests. Originally chosen by the Steelheads in the second round of the 2020 OHL Priority Selection, Beck has tallied 198 points over 185 regular season career games spent between Mississauga, Peterborough and Saginaw. Recording 16 points in 22 playoff games during the 2022-23 season, Beck hoisted the J. Ross Robertson Cup as an OHL champion with the Peterborough Petes. Also finding success on the international stage, the Port Hope, Ont. native won a gold medal with Team Canada at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championships. Excelling on and off the ice, Beck was awarded the OHL and CHL Scholastic Player of the Year Award in 2022.
Filip Mesar (C) — Kitchener Rangers (2022-24)
Signed: July 14, 2022
OHL Career Stats: 97 Games Played | 36 Goals | 67 Assists | 103 Points
Age: 20
Selected 26th overall by the Canadiens in the 2022 NHL Draft, Filip Mesar signed an entry-level contract with the organization on July 14, 2022. Registering 103 in 97 games played over two seasons with the Kitchener Rangers, the Slovakian forward added an additional 15 points in 10 playoff contests this past season, leading all Rangers in post-season points. Selected 9th overall by Kitchener in 2021 Import Draft, Mesar has represented Slovakia at three (2021,23,24) U20 World Junior Championships.
Vinzenz Rohrer (C) — Ottawa 67’s (2021-23)
Selected: 75th overall, 2022 NHL Draft
OHL Career Stats: 118 Games Played | 44 Goals | 53 Assists | 97 Points
Age: 19
Selected 75th overall by the Canadiens in the 2022 NHL Draft, Vinzenz Rohrer played two seasons in the OHL with the Ottawa 67’s from 2021-23. Registering 97 points over 118 regular season contests, the Austrian forward was selected 27th overall in the 2021 Import Draft by the 67’s. Representing Austria at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship, Rohrer spent last season in Switzerland with the ZSC Lions of the NHL, recording 19 points in 49 regular season games played.
Daniil Sobolev (D) — Windsor Spitfires (2021-23), Niagara IceDogs (2023-24), Brantford Bulldogs (2023-24)
Selected: 142nd overall, 2021 NHL Draft
OHL Career Stats: 174 Games Played | 10 Goals | 41 Assists | 51 Points
Age: 21
Selected 142nd overall by the Habs in the 2021 NHL Draft, Daniil Sobolev closed out his overage season with 25 points in 64 games played between the Niagara IceDogs and Brantford Bulldogs during 2023-24. Originally chosen by the Windsor Spitfires in the 2020 Import Draft, the 6-foot-1 blueliner registered 51 points over 174 regular season career games, along with three points in 34 playoff contests. Sobolev plans to spend the 2024-25 season in the VHL.
tomorrow’s edition of In The System, features the Utah Hockey Club organization!
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