DONE DEAL: Montreal Canadiens Forward Prospect Signs Two-Year ELC.
One of the forward prospects for the Montreal Canadiens has signed an entry-level contract (ELC). This time, they have selected center Jared Davidson, the 130th pick overall in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, in the fifth round, after he signs a two-year ELC.
The Canadiens have a talented young forward corps, but one thing they don’t have is organizational depth. Thus, General Manager Kent Hughes’s signing of this kind of ELC is crucial to completing their forward group. particularly if they plan to challenge for the Eastern Conference Wild Card post-season spot in the 2024–25 season.
After a respectable season for the advancement of his own career with the AHL’s Laval Rocket, Jared Davidson signs his ELC. He participated in 38 games in 2023–24, tallying 11 goals and five assists. Without a doubt, his 2023–24 campaign cannot be written off as a subpar professional debut. Prior to that, during his last two seasons with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL, the center showed promise as an NHL prospect. During 2021–22, he scored 42 goals and provided 47 assists in 64 games. He then responded in 2022–2023 with 38 goals and 44 assists in 60 games. In addition, he participated in his last junior season with Seattle while wearing the “A.” In addition to his attacking output, he demonstrated his leadership abilities. Over the following two seasons of this contract, the native of Edmonton and the rest of the Canadiens organization hope he can continue to grow. At that point, we will be certain as to whether we have an NHL bottom-six player on our hands.
Between their rebuild and transitioning into being regarded as a perennial playoff contender, Montreal is undoubtedly a team in transition. GM Kent Hughes and the other members of the development staff have assembled a formidable defense team. Kaiden Guhle, Jayden Struble, and Lane Hutson are among the sufficiently matured players to contribute to the top six or eight defensive position vacancies. These are the kind of players who will help the Canadiens push as a team on the bubble for the playoffs. There are, nevertheless, a few gaps in the team’s front line. In fact, several non-playoff teams share a similar trend; the Ottawa Senators are one such team that comes to mind. They would certainly benefit from a checker that is a true NHL professional and in the middle of the six.
It’s common to see players like Sam Bennett, Connor Brown, and Alex Killorn in playoff team lineups. They need to be tough to play against, win you puck battles, and be responsible on defense—they don’t have to be prolific scorers. That’s the kind of player Hughes hopes Davidson can become because he would be really beneficial to the Canadiens forward group. Additionally, for the Canadiens to further bolster their forward position in the draft this year.
A healthy Kirby Dach would be a major asset to their forward group in 2024–25, improving everyone in the lineup. It would enable a player like Alex Newhook, for instance, to concentrate on his offensive style. Furthermore, Davidson still requires more time to mature under Jean-Francois Houle, the Laval Rocket’s recently-extended head coach. Give him the two years that are promised under this contract, and then watch where he ends up in the company.