September 23, 2024 | 12:30pm ET
By David Calabretta, TheFourthPeriod.com

HABS PROSPECTS MAKING STRONG CASE IN WEEK 1

Lane Huston, defenceman

MONTREAL, QC — Summer has ended and in Montreal that only means one thing: hockey is finally back in the hockey crazy mega city.

The vibes have never been so high with the return of Kirby Dach and the acquisition of former 40-goal scorer Patrik Laine. Oh, and how can I forget Lane Hutson, one of many Canadiens prospects who has stood out in the beginning of training camp.

If there was ever any doubt that Hutson could make the team, it should be dismissed right now. Despite training camp less than one week underway, we got a glimpse of the rookie defenceman last weekend at the organization’s rookie showcase in Montreal versus the Toronto Maple Leafs’ young guns, where he kept all 20,000 in attendance on their feet with his elite hockey sense.

It didn’t stop there. During the team’s practice at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard, the former Boston University blueliner made a remarkable above NHL-level saucer pass to Emil Heineman during a team scrimmage that caught the eye of the whole hockey social media space.

Hutson, 20, played the final two games of the Canadiens’ regular-season in 2023-24 where he put up an assist in each contest. The Canadiens are set to play the Philadelphia Flyers on Monday and the New Jersey Devils on Tuesday, and Hutson is expected to be paired with veteran rearguard David Savard. Don’t be surprised if that is the combination going into the season.

Selected 62nd overall in the 2022 NHL Draft, the Canadiens’ defenceman has all the qualities to be the steal of his draft class. Leaving Montreal in 2022 with Juraj Slafkovsky and Lane Hutson isn’t so bad, eh?

Oliver Kapanen

Many were surprised that Habs GM Kent Hughes and management had decided that the Finnish centre wasn’t asked to go to rookie camp in lieu of being ready for the team’s main camp, however those questions have been answered after an impressive start to the camp for the 2021 second-rounder.

After spending the last two seasons In the Finnish Pro League, Kapanen produced at an impressive rate offensively with 61 points across 106 games with KalPa Kuopio.

Earlier last week, during the team’s scrimmage in Brossard, Kapanen scored two goals catching the eye of many media members in attendance. In the following clip you can see Kapanen score one of his two goals (#91).

With an impressive showing during the pre-season, Kapanen can potentially force Hughes to deal one of his veteran centers, such as Christian Dvorak, who is a pending UFA at the end of the season, to make room for the youngster this season.

Adam Engstrom

The 2022 Draft class is looking really good for Montreal.

Drafted 92nd overall, Engstrom has had an impressive few weeks since finally arriving in North America after spending the last few years in Sweden playing in the first league.

Engstrom, 20, captivated a great display during last weekend’s rookie showcase versus the Maple Leafs, scoring one goal and getting one assist. The Swedish defenceman is an extremely smooth skater who excels in transition. Engstrom has been getting reps with 2023 fifth-overall pick David Reinbacher throughout camp as the two seem to be the top pairing for the Laval Rocket this season.

However, with potential injuries, Engstrom is putting himself on top of the list for potential callups throughout the season with the big club.

The Canadiens have a very good problem with the many talented young defencemen popping up within the organization.

David Calabretta IS THE Montreal CORRESPONDENT FOR THE FOURTH PERIOD. FOLLOW HIM ON TWITTER.