Top Canadiens Prospects With NHL Opportunities For Remainder of 2022-23

The Montreal Canadiens have once again been ravaged by injuries, giving many young players and prospects a chance in the NHL this season. The trade deadline was quiet, not freeing up any extra spots on the roster. Regardless, there are a number of prospects getting great opportunities down the stretch to get noticed.

Among the young players that were getting great opportunities this season or were primed to post trade deadline, Juraj Slafkovsky, Arber Xhekaj, Jordan Harris, and Justin Barron are all out with injuries. Along with the eight other forwards out with injuries as well, there is lots of space on the team.

The two prospects getting amazing opportunities in the NHL as of late just so happen to both be flanking Nick Suzuki on the top line. Rafael Harvel-Pinard and Jesse Ylonen have proven to be valuable players in the AHL over the past couple of seasons and have been called up to help produce in the NHL as well. That is exactly what both have done.

Harvey-Pinard is a former seventh round pick in only 2019 and the small winger has shown the ability to produce at every level, Seeing as he was over a point-per-game in the QMJHL for the two seasons prior to being drafted, it is shocking that he ended up only being drafted in the seventh round. He's recorded 36 goals and 81 points over 116 games the past two seasons in the AHL and has burst onto the scene with eight goals and 12 points in 21 NHL games this season. Not only is he a steal, he is making a strong case to stick with the Canadiens.

Ylonen was a more highly touted prospect than Harvey-Pinard, but it has taken him a little longer to develop. Drafted in the second round in 2018, he appears to finally be breaking into the NHL. Seeing that he's on the top line and given this strong of a chance to succeed, the Canadiens want to get the best out of him while they have the chance. Ylonen has two goals and nine points in 24 games which isn't great, but also isn't bad for such an inexperienced player.