The Canadian could use the same strategy as with RHP to sign prospect Jared Davidson

KAMLOOPS | If the Montreal Canadiens want to quickly become an aspiring team, they will have to rely on players built for the playoffs. That’s good, he has one in his line who is just waiting to get a contract with the team, underlines the head coach of the Seattle Thunderbirds, Matt O’Dette.

That player is forward Jared Davidson. Ignored in his first two years of eligibility for the NHL draft, he finally found a taker last summer by the Habs, in the fifth round.

The 20-year-old forward just wrapped up his final season in junior hockey with 38 goals and 82 points in 60 games. He added 23 in 19 playoff games to help the Thunderbirds reach the Memorial Cup tournament.

“He’s one of our best players and our greatest leaders,” O’Dette said. He’s a big part of our team. He scored 42 goals as a 19-year-old and added almost 40 this season. It is an excellent choice of the Montreal Canadiens. He can score and be effective in all facets of the game. He plays aggressively and likes the physical game. He is the perfect prototype of the series player.

His teammate Brad Lambert adds: “He’s an incredible player and an excellent leader. His shot is lightning and he skates well in addition to being very smart with the puck.

Like RHP?

If he has his eyes on the Memorial Cup, Davidson is still waiting for the call from the Habs. For now, he does not know what awaits him next season, and the team has until 1^er June 2024 to get him to sign a first entry contract.

“I think I had a good regular season and good series. Couldn’t have asked for better. I improved all facets of my game and tried to focus on being a better two-way player, not just a forward who can score goals. Now, come what may,” he says.

The option that seems most likely in Davidson’s case would be to start with an American Hockey League contract for the 2023-2024 season.

The strategy would resemble that adopted by the team with Rafaël Harvey-Pinard. The Quebecer had also been drafted at the age of 19, in 2019, had completed his junior internship as a 20-year-old player, before making the jump to the professionals under an AHL contract.

This strategy had allowed the Habs to gain a year of development without having to “burn” one of the 50 professional contracts allocated to it.

RHP then signed his entry contract the following season and we know the rest.

Eyes on the big trophy

But, for the moment, it is not the priority n^oh 1 from the Edmonton native. The Thunderbirds are considered favorites to win the Memorial Cup, and that’s what he’s focused on right now.

“WHL teams haven’t won much lately [leur dernier titre à ce tournoi remonte à 2014]. It is an additional motivation for us.”

And the status of favorite of his team is not worth much in his eyes.

“I don’t see it that way. All the teams won their league and Kamloops is a very good team and they gave us a hard time in the playoffs. I don’t care too much about who is considered favorite. We will have to be ready for every game.”