Montreal Canadiens prospect Tyler Thorpe is wasting no time making himself known in Laval.
The 6-foot-5 winger, drafted in 2024, has dropped the gloves in each of his first two games with the Rocket this season. His most recent scrap came against veteran Jarred Tinordi, and Thorpe made sure his size and edge were on full display.
At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, Thorpe brings the kind of frame that jumps off the page immediately. The Canadiens picked him in the fifth round, a spot where teams often look for players who can carve out specific jobs, and his path points toward exactly that kind of role.
There’s a real fit here if he keeps progressing. Thorpe profiles as a physical depth forward who can make opponents uncomfortable, and that type of player could eventually be useful on Montreal’s fourth line.
That said, he’s not there yet. His offensive game still needs work, and he has more development ahead before NHL looks become realistic. But the appeal is obvious: big body, willingness to engage physically, and a game built around making life harder for the other team.
Finding that blend is not easy, even for an organization with plenty of young talent. Thorpe is giving the Canadiens something different, and he’s doing it the way he knows best.
In Laval, he’s starting to define himself one fight at a time. If the rest of his game keeps coming along, that could lead to a real opportunity down the road.
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Dylan Larkin Just Gave Canadiens Fans A Reason To Revisit This Dream
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Larkin didnt exactly pour cold water on the whole scene, either, praising the atmosphere in Montreal and calling it one of hockeys best arenas. Even so, the practical side of the story has not changed much, with Montreal not currently listed among the 10 teams on his reported trade request list and no deal anywhere near confirmed. For now, it is still more reminder than resolution, but it was enough to make Canadiens fans revisit a dream they know well. [Read more 🡒]
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What has made the trend harder to ignore is how often Buffalo has had to lean on late rallies just to collect points. That approach can keep a team afloat for a night, but it is not a recipe for staying competitive over the long haul, especially when the margins are so thin in the standings. The Canadiens exposed that reality again, leaving the Sabres with another reminder that the comeback formula only works so many times before it catches up. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Came Shockingly Close To A Franchise What-If With Brett Hull
Brett Hull recently reopened one of the more fascinating what-ifs in Canadiens history, saying he was very close to signing with Montreal in 2001 before ending up in Detroit instead. The timing alone makes it intriguing for Canadiens fans, since Hull was still a proven scorer with a chance to alter the direction of the franchise, even if landing him would not have guaranteed instant contention.
On a podcast, Hull recounted the kind of recruiting pitch that makes these stories linger, including a conversation with Canadiens icon Jean Bliveau as Montreal tried to make its case. What tipped the balance away from the Canadiens was a late push from Detroit, and Hull wound up with the Red Wings, where he won a Stanley Cup in 2002 instead of becoming part of a very different Montreal chapter. [Read more 🡒]