Canadiens Rookie Camp 2026: Three Prospects Poised to Impress

The Montreal Canadiens’ season is just around the corner, and the journey begins with the highly anticipated rookie camp set to kick off on Friday, September 11. While a select few prospects will earn an invitation to the main training camp, many will ultimately return to their junior or collegiate programs after a brief look.

Recent years have welcomed some of the organization’s most heralded prospects, including Ivan Demidov, David Reinbacher, Owen Beck, Jacob Fowler, Lane Hutson, and Logan Mailloux. However, the 2026 edition of the rookie camp features a more understated group, lacking the star power of previous gatherings.

Several key prospects will be absent due to scheduling conflicts and developmental paths. Because the camp takes place in mid-September, European leagues are already in full swing, and collegiate players are settled on campuses across the United States. Consequently, top prospects such as Michael Hage, L.J. Mooney, Alexander Zharovsky, and Gleb Pugachyov will not participate. Additionally, the Canadiens are exempting players with a couple of professional seasons under their belts, meaning David Reinbacher, Owen Beck, Jacob Fowler, Florian Xhekaj, and Adam Engstrom will not be in attendance.

Despite the lack of marquee names, the camp remains an essential platform for evaluating emerging talent. A group of 23 prospects will gather at the CN Sports Complex in Brossard and the Slush Puppie Arena in Gatineau for the annual showcase. The prospects will take the ice in Brossard on Friday, followed by exhibition games against the Winnipeg Jets prospects on Saturday night and the Ottawa Senators prospects on Sunday in Gatineau.

While a future superstar might not step onto the ice this week, several intriguing prospects are poised to make a strong impression. Here are three players to watch closely at the Canadiens’ 2026 Rookie Camp.

Tyler Thorpe

Tyler Thorpe is poised to make an immediate physical statement at this year’s rookie camp. Standing at an imposing 6-foot-5 and weighing 220 pounds, the winger was selected by the Canadiens in the fifth round of the 2024 NHL Draft. While he posted decent production during his time in the Western Hockey League (WHL), his selection was primarily driven by his massive frame and physical presence.

After going undrafted in the 2023 NHL Draft, Thorpe used the snub as motivation, registering 23 goals and 44 points in 51 games for the Vancouver Giants. His physical style of play caught the attention of the Canadiens’ scouting staff. Following his selection, he returned to junior hockey, notching 27 goals and 52 points in 68 games. Thorpe spent the last season transitioning to the professional ranks with the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League (AHL), where he recorded four goals and 16 points in 68 games, continuing to rely on his imposing stature as his primary asset.

Expect Thorpe to dominate the physical aspects of the rookie camp. At 21 years old with a year of professional experience already under his belt, he has the potential to develop into a reliable, physical presence on the Canadiens’ fourth line. While he may not dazzle with skill or finesse, his sheer size and strength should make him stand out as a man amongst boys during this event.

Luke Mittelstadt

Luke Mittelstadt represents another late-round gem for the Canadiens’ pipeline. Originally bypassed in his draft year, Mittelstadt was selected in the seventh round of the 2023 NHL Draft at age 20. He earned his spot on the roster following a strong showing with Team USA at the 2023 World Juniors, where he recorded three points in seven games.

That draft year marked Mittelstadt’s first season with the University of Minnesota. Over four collegiate seasons, he developed into a highly dependable, two-way defenseman. Though the Canadiens possess significant depth on the left side of their defense, Mittelstadt quickly endears himself to coaches through his responsible defensive play and his ability to transition the puck effectively.

Measuring 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, the defenseman recorded at least 18 points in each of his four college seasons, playing between 36 and 40 games annually. He earned the captaincy in his final year and averaged nearly 27 minutes of ice time per game, which ranked third in all of college hockey. Following his collegiate career, he concluded the season with the Laval Rocket, registering five points in nine regular-season games and adding two assists in five AHL playoff contests.

At 23 years old, Mittelstadt is one of the elder statesmen of this rookie camp. His maturity, combined with his smart and responsible style of play, positions him as a standout who should quickly rise above the rest of the competition.

Alexey Vlasov

Alexey Vlasov enters the camp as a non-drafted prospect, invited after going undrafted in the 2026 NHL Draft. Despite his name not being called on draft day, Vlasov possesses the talent and tools to make a significant impression during this week’s rookie camp.

The 18-year-old Russian winger made a spectacular debut in the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) last season. In his first year in the league and second overall in North America, Vlasov tallied 80 points, tying him for ninth in league scoring with recent first-round pick Justin Carbonneau. His 44 goals ranked fourth in the QMJHL, a remarkable feat for a player who did not turn 18 until February, making him the most productive player of his age in the league.

Vlasov’s smaller stature—standing at 5-foot-9 and weighing 179 pounds—was the primary reason he went undrafted. He is set to return to the Victoriaville Tigres for the upcoming season, where he will partner with Colorado Avalanche draft pick Egor Shilov to lead the team once again. Following his junior career, Vlasov is committed to the University of Connecticut. The college hockey path will provide him with the opportunity to build strength and fill out his frame. He already possesses the skill to stand out at the rookie camp, and adding physical strength over the coming years could prepare him for a future NHL contribution.

Although Vlasov is not a draft pick, he remains eligible to sign an entry-level contract with the Canadiens before the season starts. If he can showcase his high-level skill set this week, the organization may find him worthy of bringing into the fold.

When the roster for the Canadiens’ 2026 Rookie Camp was initially announced, the general reaction was that it was an underwhelming group compared to recent years. While the camp lacks a top-five draft pick like in previous seasons, it still features intriguing prospects like Thorpe, Mittelstadt, and Vlasov who could eventually contribute to the Canadiens and are well worth keeping an eye on.

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