With 15 Montreal Canadiens prospect rankings already revealed, it’s time to discuss the cream of the crop, with cerebral forward Owen Beck nabbing the No.5 spot in our annual project.
As a reminder, to qualify for our list, Habs prospects must under 24 years old and have fewer than 75 NHL games under their belt. The rankings are based on the votes from almost 10,000 Canadiens fans. If you would like to peruse the prospect profiles that have already been published, scroll to the bottom of the article.
5. Owen Beck, 21, Shoots Right, Centre, Laval Rocket (AHL), 6’0″, 198 lb. Picked 33rd overall in 2022.
Few prospects enjoyed as much success as Beck during their time in the Canadian Hockey League (CHL). Not only did he play a significant part in bringing home the first championship for the Saginaw Spirit, he was also named the Most Valuable Player at the Memorial Cup to close out his junior hockey career.
Of course, making the jump from the CHL to the AHL represents an intense uptick in quality of competition, but it was rather clear from the get-go that Beck was well suited for professional hockey. Truth be told, it’s been evident that Beck owns a skill set that would work out in the pro ranks since the day he was drafted, but there were some concerns about his offensive output.
The concerns ignored the context in which Beck was used, not to mention his impressive versatility. When he was tasked with playing a shutdown role, he put together dominant defensive efforts. And once the focus was shifted to the offensive zone, his production increased immediately.
Beck enjoyed a very solid rookie campaign in the AHL, scoring 15 goals and 29 assists in 65 games while preserving his usual defensive acumen that quickly establishes a heightened level of trust between himself and whichever head coach is lucky enough to have him in their lineup.
In addition to finishing the season tied for fourth in Laval Rocket scoring, he had seven multipoint games in the regular season, before closing out the playoffs with six points in 12 games while mostly serving in a bottom-six role for head coach Pascal Vincent.
Owen Beck’s NHL Audition
Beck spent a dozen games in the NHL, earning just one assist in the process. As per usual, context is needed to explain his lack of production. His most common linemates were Patrik Laine and Alex Newhook, two players who rarely finish above 50 percent in key statistical categories, including shot control (CF%) and expected goals (xGF%).
To make matters more difficult, the defenceman who spent the most time on the ice while Beck was playing is freshly retired blueliner David Savard, and we all know that his possession numbers were poor to say the least.
Simply put, he was tied to a few possession anchors, far from an ideal situation for a young player hoping to impress management.
And yet, his underlying numbers speak to his undeniable impact, even as a rookie.
Beck finished the year with a 53 xGF%, the best result of any forward remaining in the Montreal Canadiens organization.
While playing with Laine, his xGF% was just 41.7, but it still represented an improvement over almost all of Laine’s regularly used linemates. When Beck was used away from Laine, his xGF% rose to almost 60 percent.
In other words, even though he was slathered in barbecue sauce and thrown to the wolves from a usage standpoint, Beck’s process in the NHL was quite encouraging.
Owen Beck was told by a lot of teams at the NHL draft that they thought he should be more physical.
He listened.
Here he is on the forecheck, creating a scoring chance with two heavy hits. #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/74julZ3aPb
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) February 5, 2025
What’s Next For Montreal Canadiens Prospect Owen Beck?
Seeing as the Habs have a dearth of talent down the middle of the ice, Beck’s odds of earning a roster spot at training camp are relatively healthy, though they took a hit when the Habs signed forward Joe Veleno.
However, based on their time in the NHL, I’d argue Beck should have the inside track if we’re basing roster spots on potential as well as results. He’s also much more dominant in the faceoff circle, while Veleno struggles to win draws. His impressive work ethic combined with a well-rounded game connotes that he’s closer to being NHL ready than fellow centre prospect Oliver Kapanen.
If he fails to make the Canadiens out of camp, Beck is destined to play an even bigger role in the AHL, where he quickly established chemistry alongside Joshua Roy. Considering his history, don’t be surprised if Beck is among the first call-ups by the Habs, owing to his versatility and penchant for working harder than most of his opponents.
He’s the epitome of a plug-and-play prospect, a smart player who needs very little coaching to make a positive impact on a nightly basis.
Previously Published 2025 Montreal Canadiens Prospect Articles:
Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.7 – Oliver Kapanen
Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.6 – Alexander Zharovsky
Montreal Canadiens Top Prospect Rankings – Final List
Do you agree or disagree with the Montreal Canadiens prospect rankings? Let us know in the comments below!
Montreal Canadiens and Owen Beck statistics via Elite Prospects
