Marc Dumont
With the AHL season in full swing, a few Montreal Canadiens prospects are starting to stand out from the crowd, including rough-and-tumble forward Jared Davidson.
Davidson’s development has been fascinating, as he’s gone from a player who did not seem like he had the proper skill set to thrive in a professional environment, to one of the most productive goalscorers on the farm.
The key was a coaching change in 2024-25, when Pascal Vincent took over from Jean-Francois Houle. Davidson, who was used sparingly in his rookie season, was suddenly given a few opportunities to prove his worth, and it’s only fair to say he seized the day.
After scoring 11 goals in his rookie season, Davidson upped his production to 24 goals the following year, not to mention seven goals in 10 games to start the 2025-26 season.
It’s a good reminder that context is king when discussing prospects.
Davidson is currently second in Rocket scoring, making him the most likely call-up should the Canadiens want to add a player who already mirrors Montreal’s ideal playing style.
Simply put, Davidson epitomizes entertainment. Whether it’s big hits, crucial goals, or high-energy fights, he makes the most of every shift.
Jared Davidson giving up a fair bit of size against Cade Webber, and he wins this fight. pic.twitter.com/4CbJCToWL8
— Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) February 8, 2025
Canadiens Prospect Davidson Potential Impact
He’s a particularly interesting call-up option, given the Habs are having a difficult time generating any semblance of production in the bottom six. With that in mind, it should be noted that his most recent assignment saw him play on the Rocket’s second line, alongside Alex Belzile and Filip Mesar, where he set the tone with a heavy forecheck, and a seemingly endless supply of energy.
In other words, he’s willing to work harder than his opponents on every shift, and he’s not a stranger to playing with linemates who tend to focus on finesse plays, indicating there’s a healthy amount of versatility in play.
That’s not to say Davidson is void of offensive talent. He has an excellent wrist shot, and his one-time ranks among the best in the organization.
Given his success under Vincent, it’s only a matter of time before Davidson makes his way from Laval to Montreal.
Jared Davidson (5th round, 2022) is on such a heater for the Laval Rocket this season.He's already got 7 goals in 10 games, and this is guy who hits, fights, goes to the dirty areas and does whatever it takes for his team to win.
— Hockey Junkie (@HockeyJunkieYT) November 2, 2025
Underrated imho.#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/7UBUVQlKay
