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The Habs enter Saturday’s second day of the draft with a total of seven selections. As is tradition, we will provide a rundown of their selections with scouting reports on their newest prospects as picks are made.
Scouting reports are posted as they appeared in their write-ups; typos were not corrected.
57th – RD Timofei Runtso, Victoria (WHL)
Montreal traded up again, this time flipping the 125th pick to move up from 61st to 57th. They used that selection to bring in an area of some need in terms of organizational depth with Runtso, the son of a Hollywood stuntman. There had been some speculation that he could be an option for them at 28th overall given how high they were on him so it’s not a shocker they moved up to get him. He is college-bound next season at the University of Miami-Ohio. This was his second year of eligibility.
Bio
Defenceman
Shoots: Right
DOB: July 6, 2007 – Marina Del Rey, California
Height: 6’3
Weight: 194 lbs
Scouting Reports
McKeen’s: Runtso is an incredibly peculiar prospect, because his game shows sporadic flashes of supreme skill and huge upside, intertwined with repeating moments that make you want to pull your hair out. He’s tall and lanky, but for a defenceman with his stature his best attribute is actually the ability to create offence. He uses his long limbs to carry the puck out and away from his body, sometimes with a sweeping deke around an opponent first, and he shows initiative when it comes to driving to the net. Both his shots and his passes are good enough to find paydirt when he has the puck in dangerous ice. Where he runs into trouble is in his own end. He’s frustratingly soft in his defending, and he sometimes looks like a baby giraffe with his gangly skating. Improvements in both of these areas will be a must if he ever hopes to play in the NHL. Whichever team drafts Runtso will need to have a ton of faith in their development staff, but the rewards are high if they can pull it off.
Daily Faceoff: He played around 15-17 minutes a night early on in the season but ended up playing north of 20 routinely. Runtso recently had a strong showing at the WHL Prospects Game, which definitely helped his stock. The Royals defender has actually been one of the bigger risers in recent months, to the point where a second-round selection is looking much more likely. Runtso’s offensive game continues to improve, and I think it’s because he’s shown a greater willingness to be aggressive on the attack. He’s fearless, and you notice him (positively) nearly every time he hits the ice.
Pascal Lapointe, Tout Sur Le Hockey: In transition, I think he’s very effective at finding ways to gain the offensive zone. Whether it’s with a chip play, a deke, or by using his strength to protect the puck, Runtso is versatile enough to accomplish it. His skating isn’t necessarily the most fluid or explosive, but I don’t mind his agility, and once he gets going, his top speed is quite respectable.
Corey Pronman, The Athletic: He played around 15-17 minutes a night early on in the season but ended up playing north of 20 routinely. Runtso recently had a strong showing at the WHL Prospects Game, which definitely helped his stock. The Royals defender has actually been one of the bigger risers in recent months, to the point where a second-round selection is looking much more likely. Runtso’s offensive game continues to improve, and I think it’s because he’s shown a greater willingness to be aggressive on the attack. He’s fearless, and you notice him (positively) nearly every time he hits the ice.
Hockey Prospect: He can be characterized as a skilled offensive defenseman who has a lot of raw qualities to his game. Runtso is great at putting pressure on opponents from the blueline in the offensive zone but in his own zone he can struggle under pressure and can have trouble connecting on passes coming out of his own end. He’s at his best when operating from the point with the man advantage, here his plus level skill really jumps out. A fluid skater, Runtso walks the blueline well and can push the pace offensively by creating lanes for himself. He distributes the puck well from the point and was a big asset for his team on the power play. He also likes to shoot from the point and has good power on his heavy wrist shot.
Upside Hockey: His agility and edgework are well above-average, giving him quick pivots, tight turns, maneuverability in traffic, and seamless transitions. His game is a little chaotic and experimental right now, with an extra-high activity rate in his attempts to create offense, but he has come a long way in developing his two-way play and is leveraging his size better to win battles. Runtso isn’t really mean, and doesn’t always finish 100% of his checks, but he can handle the rough stuff, and can play a physical game. He has become quite proficient in closing out the rush, gapping up early, and wielding a smart, well-timed stick, with keen angling to push attackers away from the middle.
Scott Wheeler, The Athletic: A Belarusian-American, Runtso has a pro look to him, with an athletic build and a direct disposition on and off the puck. He makes a good first pass but will also drop a shoulder and drive past the first layer of pressure in the offensive zone into puck protection or a hard wrister from the high slot. He plays with a certainty to his game and decision-making. His feet aren’t quick, but his stride is strong, and he’s sturdy over his feet. He has some pop off his blade and keeps his shots on target. He’s not super physical, but he plays firm defensively. There are some pro attributes and habits there.
Elite Prospects: Runtso’s transition to junior hockey was almost seamless. He racked up 44 points across 68 games and averaged 24:53 time on ice, including a whopping 3:20 of powerplay and 2:06 of penalty kill minutes, according to InStat Hockey. He was a driver, constantly involved in all facets of the game, especially with how he impacted transition. Though not the most mechanically refined skater, Runtso’s knack for knocking down passes on odd- man rushes, timing disruptions across passing lanes, and quiet feet were definitive strengths throughout his game. His quick adjustment to the WHL and overall development trajectory are among the best in the draft; he possesses size, play-driving, and puck-moving ability, all traits of an NHL defender one day, potentially as a No. 4.
Statistics
Rankings
McKeen’s: 73
Elite Prospects: 47
Daily Faceoff: 57
Central Scouting: 48 (NA Skaters)
HPR: 53
Hockey Prospect: 79
93rd – RD Cooper Cleaves, Dartmouth (NCAA)
Montreal’s second pick of the day brings them their second right-shot defender. It’s also their second selection of a player who wasn’t drafted in his first year of eligibility; this is actually Cleaves’ third and final year. The Canadiens brought him to development camp previously and clearly, they liked his progressions in 2025-26.
Bio
Defenceman
Shoots: Right
DOB: January 5, 2006 – Riverside, Connecticut
Height: 6’3
Weight: 203 lbs
Scouting Reports
Elite Prospects: Cleaves’ activity level is his No. 1 skill. He defends the rush with a combination of surfs across into poke checks and well-timed heavy hits. He’s constantly moving defensively, winning races for retrievals before bumping them back to an open teammate. Even offensively, he’s active, joining plays, looking across the slot for passing options, and showcasing a heavy shot. Despite Cleaves’ age, he’s a relatively raw player. That’s exciting for his long-term projection, though there’s a lot of work to do. He tends to overcommit and get beat wide, he loses too much speed through his pivots, and his handling breaks down at times, leading to difficulties on the breakout.
Daily Faceoff: Big defenseman, works his tail off. Tries to kill everyone he sees. Skating needs work but he’ll have time to work on that at Dartmouth.
McKeen’s: Cleaves has a very intriguing skill set as a potential shut down defender. His strong mobility allows him to play aggressively; it was routine to see him breaking up plays in the neutral zone or denying entries. It also makes him tough to beat one on one in transition because he also happens to have great length. As he continues to mature, the physical side of things should become even stronger, making him someone who could eventually take on key defensive assignments at higher levels. Offensively, there were flashes this year at Dartmouth, and he can, at the very least, execute a clean breakout and make sound decisions with the puck. Cleaves may just be a real diamond in the rough heading into this year’s draft.
Statistics
Rankings
The Hockey News (Kennedy): 98
McKeen’s: 134
Central Scouting: 166 (NA Skaters)
The Habs had the 103rd overall selection but opted to trade down, sending it to Los Angeles for the 113th and 190th picks.
But instead of using the 113th pick, Kent Hughes once again elected to trade down, sending it to Vegas for picks 117 and 223.
117th – LD Brayden Klimpke, Saskatoon (WHL)
For their third straight selection, the Habs went to a defenceman, though this time with a left-hand shot. Klimpke is committed to the University of North Dakota for the 2027-28 campaign which suggests that this will be a longer-term flyer.
Bio
Defenceman
Shoots: Left
DOB: October 8, 2007 – Calgary, Alberta
Height: 6’0
Weight: 174 lbs
Scouting Reports
Elite Prospects: At an age where consistency is hard to find, Brayden Klimpke is the model defenceman. Every game, even every shift, he plays the same steady game – and that’s no easy feat considering he plays nearly 25 minutes a night on average. A stabilizing defenceman, Klimpke adapts his game to the situation. If his team needs an offensive leader, he takes ownership of the game. If they need clean breakouts for counterattacks, he lands long-range darts with precision. And closing out a game, there aren’t many better options than him.
Ryan Ma: Skating is a real strength for Klimpke. While he doesn’t have this elite top-end speed that will allow him to knife through defenders, he might be one of the smoothest four-directional skaters I’ve seen this year. Super fluid hips that make him look like he’s just gliding out there and allow him to shut down rush plays with ease.
Hockey Prospect: Klimpke is able in his own end to play tight coverage due to his skating ability and at the same time pin bigger forwards to the wall and handle the heavy game down low. Add in his high motor and that he can play over 30 minutes a night and you have yourself one serviceable defenseman that has the tools needed in his own end to play at the pro-level. The smaller defensemen in the NHL who have success play this style in their own end.
Upside Hockey: He’s an expert puck-mover, a proficient transitional contributor, and one of the best defensemen against the rush in this draft. He’s a battler, and will take on bigger players in front of his net, rub attackers out along the boards, and will throw hits to dislodge pucks. In the other end of the ice, he walks the line with confidence, makes smart pinches, and gets pucks through to the net in an effort to create opportunities for teammates. A very smart and impactful player for the Blades, and one that could go in the top-96.
McKeen’s: He’s a blueliner who has fantastic vision when driving play up the ice, always keeping his head up when transporting the puck. He’s naturally quick and knows to keep his feet churning, though he doesn’t exactly have a great top gear. For him it’s more about quickness and pace than pure speed. When he’s under pressure, he’s able to remain poised and responsible with his puck management. While he can execute the obvious play offensively, he lacks dynamic skill and isn’t naturally creative. There are definitely some struggles when it comes to defending with his body and winning back possession of the puck.
Statistics
Rankings
Elite Prospects: 119
McKeen’s: 197
Central Scouting: 74 (NA Skaters)
Upside Hockey: 161
189th – LW Parker Trottier, US NTDP (USHL)
After a long break between picks, the Habs kicked off their back-to-back selections with the grandson of Bryan Trottier. He’s committed to the University of Notre Dame starting in 2027-28 and will be another longer-term project selection.
Bio
Left Wing
Shoots: Left
DOB: February 18, 2008 – Edina, Minnesota
Height: 6’1
Weight: 186 lbs
Scouting Reports
McKeen’s: Parker shouldn’t be compared to his grandfather; he’s a completely different kind of player. Parker Trottier excelled in a high energy, checking line role for the U.S. NTDP this year and he projects as that kind of player at higher levels too. His combination of straight-line speed and tenacity in a decent frame make him the ideal checking line player for the modern age. He’s a terrific forechecker and he works hard away from the puck to earn scoring chances between the dots. Presently, he’s not a very creative player and that hurts his projection. He excels playing straight lines but can be contained by larger and quicker defenders. There’s a need for him to get better at protecting the puck through contact. He could go to Notre Dame next year, but the WHL, where his rights are held by Regina, could be a better option for him to try to improve his offensive impact first.
Upside Hockey: Wherever Trottier goes in the draft, he is destined to be a fan favorite, with how fierce, rambunctious, and violent he plays. While he may not be the biggest, and may never be a top-six scorer in the show, he makes something happen on each and every shift – be it a bone-rattling bodycheck, an extra shot in a scrum, a heads-up takeaway, or a crashing of the net. There are few in this draft who have the motor that he does – he never takes a shift off, and wins battles by outworking bigger opponents, but will also dole out a few nasty crosschecks, or some hacks and whacks to punctuate a physical confrontation.
Hockey Prospect: His best hockey comes when his motor is going and is playing a hard nosed game. He can be effective in the dirty areas around the net front and the corners. Trottier plays with grit and can bring a physical game. But for this to be your calling card, Trottier doesn’t have a hard enough game with the puck in terms of puck protection, extending plays, or wearing the other team down. And unfortunately for Trottier, he doesn’t have any plus projectable attributes to think a jump in development is coming.
Elite Prospects: Energy is a constant in Trottier’s game. He plays fast and direct, hunting down loose pucks, bumping opponents off balance, and ripping away pucks on the backcheck. Then, he gets to work. He draws in pressure, cuts back, and either turns the corner to the middle or keeps the cycle going. Then, he goes to the net and creates some chaos. If he successfully elevates on his dimensions to a standout level, Trottier could become a fourth-line checking forward who makes his teammates’ lives easier.
Statistics
Rankings
McKeen’s: 183
Elite Prospects: 110
The Hockey News (Kennedy): 115
Smaht Scouting: 82
Central Scouting: 79 (NA Skaters)
190th – RW Wesley Royston, Owen Sound (OHL)
By this point of the draft, it’s clear that size and physicality are playing a big role in Montreal’s draft board. Unsurprisingly, that combination is in play once again with this selection despite Royston’s production dropping from 27 to 19 points this past season.
Bio
Right Wing
Shoots: Right
DOB: November 22, 2007 – Oro-Medonte, Ontario
Height: 6’4
Weight: 186 lbs
Scouting Reports
McKeen’s: Royston is a near lock to be selected at some point in this year’s draft because of his size, skating, and physicality combination. At 6-foot-4, he builds speed quickly and effortlessly thanks to long powerful strides. He can also impact the game as a forechecker and net front presence. However, the offensive skill set hasn’t developed much over his three seasons in the OHL as a late born 2007. Even a mid season trade to Owen Sound and increased ice time failed to lead to a jump in production. As such, even though it’s easy to see him as an NHL player in some capacity, the upside is likely very limited.
Upside Hockey: His NHL-projection will be that of a bottom-six power-forward, who crashes and bangs, and will drop the gloves when necessary, but he will be able to chip in some offense here and there because of his hands around the net, and his willingness to drive the inside. Royston owns solid checking skills and sharp defensive awareness, but his best asset is his breathtaking footspeed; his stride is long, fluid, and powerful, giving him explosive mobility that enables him to separate from checkers. His size, quickness, and edgy physical game could make him a popular option on draft-day.
Elite Prospects: Catch Wesley Royston on the right night, and he looks like an easy top-64 pick. An explosive skater, he flies past opponents off the rush with strides and crossovers alike. He’s a skilled shooter, capable of firing in stride and even creating lanes for shots with skilled moves. Too many nights, Royston wasn’t involved in the physical side of the game. His impact was highly limited, moving off possession instead of giving himself a chance to make a play, and passing up opportunities to engage physically and win possession. It’s a rarity to find players with Royston’s physical characteristics – size, dynamic speed, and skill – but he has to get more involved in the game to reach his potential in the OHL, and then the NHL.
Statistics
Rankings
McKeen’s: 246
Central Scouting: 80 (NA Skaters)
