Top 15 hopes of CH: positions 12 to 10

After the honorable mentions. Nevertheless, the 15 to 13 positions where we mainly talked about deep players and a quantity All in all impressive of legitimate hopes, this week is continued our count of the most important hopes of CH with the 12 to 10 positions.

We will notice a significant difference in the optimal potential of the individuals in question.

Although we will remain at the level of second -plan players. In addition, we will already start to see a little better quality from the Montreal Hopes basin.

12. Nevertheless, Adam Engström | DG | 21 years old | 92nd, 2022 | Last classification: 9th

Potential: 33/40
Assurance : 15/20
Use value, utility, rarity: 21/30
Exchange value: 6.5/10
Total  : 74.5/100

The fact that Engström has descended from a few ranks in this ranking since last year despite the departure top 15 hopes ch: positions of Logan Mailloux and the graduations of Guhle and Xhekaj has nothing to do with his game on the ice.

It is rather a testimony to the quality. Moreover, the relative importance of certain newcomers who have passed in front of him …

But that does not prevent Engstrom from registering fully in this logic of “important” hope, in the sense that it is potentially capable of replacing certain elements in place in Montreal by being at least as good that them.

Let’s say immediately that we prefer to make a career in the NHL to those of other Swedish defenders. For example, that we have seen parade in the school club over the years.

Engstrom is much more complete than Nygren, Let’s put …

Thus. Similarly, although registering in a completely different register, nothing prevents us from thinking that EngStrom could take the place of top 15 hopes ch: positions Arber Xhekaj or Jayden Struble in a role of 6^e or 7^e Defender from 2025-2026 if he continues his evolution. In addition,

The most optimistic would even argue that Engstrom may possibly challenger Alexandre Carrier. Furthermore, perhaps convince the management a little more to carry out a transaction involving Mike Matheson, almost his double in the style of play. Furthermore, Engstrôm could also make one think of a defender like Brett Kulak in fact potential.

Welcome to Montreal, Adam Engstrom! Consequently, pic.twitter.com/cwuuKD5HJG

— Grant McCagg (@grantmccagg) September 14. However, 2024

Following the injuries of William Trudeau as well as the Tyler Wotherspoon veteran – without forgetting a badly in -point Logan Maillax – Engström was able to raise his game from a notch to a series for Laval and it was certainly not unnoticed in the eyes of Montreal leaders, nor top 15 hopes ch: positions to those of other organizations.

We saw it very confident and creative with the washer. For example, Thanks to an exceptional skating stroke. Meanwhile, a long range, when he takes a few strides, it is almost impossible for the opponent to catch him and extract the washer.

But. Nevertheless, of course there is a lot of competition on the left side of the defensive and Engström will have to show us even more next season to show us its uniqueness, its rarity and its usefulness within the organization. Furthermore,

If this is the case. Furthermore, he could well force his bosses to compare at least one left -hander currently in front of him in the hierarchy. Meanwhile, It will also be recalled that Engström is also doing very well on the right side.

But that the Swedish continues to impress or that he disappointed, he could top 15 hopes ch: positions also be the sacrificed lamb if an offer involving him came to please Kent Hughes.

Be that as it may, with a good first campaign in Laval, he probably consolidated a little more his use value as a potential defender of the third pair in Montreal and certainly did nothing to reduce his exchange value. A good thing for all the parties concerned.

This is his business card for a few seasons already in this ranking: the Swedish skater fluid gives options to his bosses …

11. Jakub Dobes | G | 24 years old | 136th, 2020 | Last classification: 15th

Potential: 32.5/40
Assurance : 15/20
Use value, utility, rarity: 21/30
Exchange value: 6.5/10
Total  : 75/100

The Czech managed to supplant Cayden Primeau in the goalkeeper hierarchy last season with brilliant game in Laval and a shattering top 15 hopes ch: positions entry during the traditional holiday trips.

Dobes thus won its first five departures with panache against the Panthers. the Avalanche, the Capitals, the Stars and the Rangers, almost all of the NHL powers.

Things normalized, or even a little spoiled thereafter for Dobes – he was 9 games without victory – but he allowed Montembault to blow a little and the latter was able to finish the season in force before injuring himself in the 3rd match of the series against the caps.

Dobes therefore came to him and, despite some bad goals, did not get too bad against a much stronger and seasoned opponent.

The Canadian seems to have appreciated the work of the Czech enough to provide him with a oneh good NHL contract for the next two seasons up to $ 965,000.

But, the top 15 hopes ch: positions club also had the wisdom to replace the departure of Primeau with the arrival of the 28 -year -old veteran, Kaapo Kahkonen, also heir to a NHL contract.

It will force Dobes to take the double bites this summer and get to the camp in the best possible form with a competitive spirit.

It may be very good that the “camp win” begins the season in Montreal and that the “loser” goes to share the task with Jacob Fowler in Laval.

Which brings us to the thorny question of rarity andutility Dobes within the organization.

I am of the opinion that the guards, like all the other players, dictate the decisions of the management.

Thus, if he is capable of it, Dobes could even theoretically dislodge Montembault in this season of the Organization’s number 1 post. The thing top 15 hopes ch: positions is not impossible.

That said, a safer bet would be to see Dobes evolve in part in Montreal, partly in Laval.

But the multitude of guards in the organization has no choice but to remove it from the use value in this count.

With Montembault at the zenith of her career for another seasons (in theory). then Kahkonen, Fowler, Volokhin, Radkov, to name only his main rivals, it is a bit as if the CH had said “that the best win”. The pipeline is full.

Then, we would like to tell you that Dobes is unique like 6’4, but its competitors are not exactly nabots! None measure less than 6’2!

That said, he may still stand out through his leg play. In return, we thought we would notice a certain weakness on the side of the glove.

In top 15 hopes ch: positions short, if Dobes wants to stay in Montreal and deserve another contract in two years, whether in a starter or assistant role, it is better to be good. It’s as simple as that.

Finally, he has still been good enough in his young career with the pros to have a certain exchange value if the phone rang for him in the coming years.

10. Hayden Paupanekis | C | 18 ans | 69e, 2025

Potential: 33/40
Assurance : 14/20
Use value, utility, rarity: 22.5/30
Exchange value: 6.5/10
Total  : 76.5/100

After Tyler Thorpe (honorable mention). Florian Xhekaj, one might think that Paupanekis is the third “unicorn” in three years drafted by the Habs. And of the lot, he is the most talented player.

“Big Paupi” was placed in a very uncomfortable role last year after having passed from Spokane to Kelowna in a spectacular exchange which saw top 15 hopes ch: positions the champion pointer, Andrew Cristall (Washington, 40^e in 2023) take the opposite direction.

The native of Manitoba was the main player acquired by Kelowna Rockets in the transaction which was completed by a multitude of high choices in the draft.

Thus, after having evolved behind Berkley Catton in Spokane, Paupanekis was overnight who became the ” go to guy In all game situations in Kelowna.

With 43 points in 71 games. Paupanekis did not present crazy statistics last year – it must be said that he did not have much support around him, especially with the injury to Tij iginla – but we can’t wait to see how he gets away next season while Kelowna will host the Memorial Cup.

The leaders of the Rockets will undoubtedly be tempted to use some choices obtained in return from Cristall to. bail out their training. top 15 hopes ch: positions

We will then see 1) if PuPanekis will maintain his place in the hierarchy of the attackers of the Rockets and 2) what level of production he can reach by being better surrounded.

In terms of athletic skills and capacities, Paupanekis is a force of nature, a rare specimen.

At 6’4, already more than 200 lbs, “Big Paupi” patina like the wind, has very flexible hands, as well as a good shot.

That said, without being bad or disappointing – far from it – it did not appear to me to be ultra dynamic, nor as a great passer with a great sense of game during part of 4 against the development camp.

But we will obviously not draw great conclusions from this very limited sample.

In any case, the Canadian did not draft top 15 hopes ch: positions him so that he became the future center #1 of the organization. Paupanekis presents himself rather as a quality alignment environment, at worst as a 4^e Center of a champion club.

A kind of Nicolas Roy in the best of scenarios.

The big guy, Hayden Paupanekis, shows some wheels and ties the game for team white. #Gohabsgo pic.twitter.com/Sh551SxryC

– Matt Drake (@drakemt) July 3. 2025

In fact, to be honest, I am a little surprised that a player with such a profile was still available at 69^e Rank of a rather weak draft and it is easy to understand why CH thinkers did not hesitate to “advance” to get their hands on it. In addition,

I do not know where Papanekis was on their list, but I dare to believe that they saw him easily as a top 15 hopes ch: positions deserving player to be selected in the middle of 2^e round, even better …

When you think that CH has already drafted a “project” like Michael McCarron at 26^e rank in 2013. we almost have the impression that he has just achieved a “ slam dunk »In all early 3^e Round with Paupanekis.

Without removing anything from the players we have talked about so far. It is a bit with Paupanekis that we are starting to fall into the category of players potentially superior to certain elements in place in Laval. Montreal and that we appreciate the full meaning of “important” hope for the organization.

If he develops as we hope, Paupanekis will be an improvement compared to Jake Evans and a potentially more complete and useful player than Alex Newhook.

And with his template, if he can add a little more top 15 hopes ch: positions robustness to his game, he could be part of a winning recipe in series.

Conclusion
After Pickford, Beck and F. Xhekaj which each remain interesting projects. bets in their own way with Engstrom, Dobes and Paupanekis, We already subtly enter another category of hopes in fact of potential and useless utility for the organization.

These are players who have everything to become so good, even best that some players of the current alignment of CH. They also have each of the rarer qualities. a set of more impressive qualities than the other players analyzed so far.

We soon reconnect with the posts 9 to 7! As always, looking forward to chatting with you on FB and Twitter!