The Montreal Canadiens’ rookie group opened its prospects challenge schedule with a 3-1 loss to the Winnipeg Jets on Saturday afternoon in Gatineau, and the scoreline fit the matchup. Montreal simply didn’t have the kind of star power that’s made rookie camp buzz in other years, when Ivan Demidov and Lane Hutson were the names drawing attention.
That didn’t stop the Canadiens from sending a squad into a field that also includes the Toronto Maple Leafs, Ottawa Senators, and Jets prospects. Winnipeg showed up with a deeper and more dangerous lineup, led by Viggo Bjorck, their eighth overall pick from the last draft, along with Brayden Yager, a 14th overall pick by the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2023, and Colby Barlow, the Jets’ first selection in that same draft at 15th overall.
Arseni Radkov, Montreal’s 82nd overall pick in the 2025 draft, got the start in goal against Samuel Hrenak, Winnipeg’s third-round pick in the last draft. The Jets did the damage early, with Bjorck striking in the first period and Yager adding a power-play goal in the second to send Winnipeg into the third up 2-0.
The gap widened early in the final frame when Radkov lost control of a puck in the crease and Kevin He buried it into an open net for a 3-0 lead. Montreal finally got on the board midway through the third, when Alexander Legkov finished a power-play chance with Tyler Thorpe and Luke Mittelstadt picking up the assists.
Legkov, who signed with the Laval Rocket as a free agent, had a few eye-catching individual shifts and showed the kind of skill that stands out even on a tough afternoon. The 22-year-old went undrafted and spent last season in the LPHL, splitting time between the Danbury Hat Tricks and the Pee Dee Ice Cats, where he scored 93 points in 58 games.
There were still some signs of life from Montreal beyond the goal. Thorpe and Owen Protz delivered a few notable hits, while Parker Trottier stayed active offensively, even if he couldn’t find a way past Hrenak.
The Canadiens pulled Radkov late in the third in search of another goal, but the extra attacker didn’t change the outcome. Hrenak even came close to scoring into the empty net himself.
Luke Mittelstadt wore the captain’s “C” for Montreal, while Thorpe and Dillan Bentley each had an “A.” The Canadiens will be back at it Sunday at 6:00 PM against the Senators. Toronto is the only team Montreal will not face, and the Leafs opted not to play Gavin McKenna, meaning his debut will have to wait until the preseason.
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The surprise is as important as the signing itself. Kreider had been tied more often to Boston and Philadelphia, so Montreal was not the destination many expected, especially for a player with his background and the kind of market interest he generated. Instead, the Canadiens got the player who believes they can chase a Stanley Cup, and that alone says something about how far this roster has come and how it may be viewed going forward. [Read more 🡒]