There are just 12 Montreal Canadiens prospects left to reveal in our annual prospect rankings, with hard-hitting forward Tyler Thorpe kicking things off in the dirty dozen.
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.
12. Tyler Thorpe, Right Wing, Shoots Right, 19, Vancouver Giants (WHL), 6’5″, 220 lb. Picked 130th Overall (2024)
I’ve been writing Canadiens prospect rankings for longer than I can remember, and I have to say this is the first time I’ve profiled back-to-back players who stand at 6’5″, as Hayden Paupanekis landed at the No.13 spot in our rankings. It’s a testament to Kent Hughes’ obsession with adding more size to the lineup, a mandate that he set from the very moment he was hired as the team’s general manager.
Of course, players can’t succeed on size alone, there must be a certain level of talent involved if there’s any chance they will ascend to the NHL.
Thorpe’s clear-cut strength is… well, strength. He was almost always the biggest and strongest guy on the ice during his time in the WHL, an advantage that led to 27 goals and 25 assists in 68 games last season, as well as three points in five playoff games. It should be noted that he did play alongside Cameron Schmidt at times, which definitely bolstered his offensive output.
Drafting (More) Big Players
Thorpe possesses a fantastic shot that uses a smooth release to fool goaltenders off the rush. Beyond the great shot mechanics, Thorpe owns above-average accuracy, as evidenced by his play at the Canadiens Development Camp, where he stood out as one of the better prospects in the system.
Tyler Thorpe donne les devants aux Blancs!
Tyler Thorpe gives Team White the lead!
🔴 1 – ⚪ 2#GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/aF7UDNzKjy
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) July 5, 2024
He’s also quite adept at taking up precious real estate in the offensive zone, heading to high-danger areas in a bid to tip point shots whenever the opportunity arises. I would stop short of suggesting Thorpe has elite hands, but he undoubtedly possesses much silkier mitts than you’d expect from a 6’5″ forward.
Tyler Thorpe with a banger in the shootout. pic.twitter.com/dQBXu53KbJ
— Matt Drake (@DrakeMT) July 3, 2025
Potential Laval Rocket Impact
Thorpe will be heading to the AHL next season to play with the Laval Rocket, where he will start his professional career in earnest. He did feature in one game for Laval last year, which led to a two-point effort from the Richmond native.
If he eventually makes his way to the NHL, Thorpe could serve as a key member of the penalty kill, especially when we consider he finished second in the WHL last season with six shorthanded goals.
Count em’. 6⃣ shorthanded goals for Tyler Thorpe.@WHLGiants | @CanadiensMTL | #GoHabsGopic.twitter.com/04WqjgeKQl
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) February 27, 2025
What’s Next For Montreal Canadiens Prospect Tyler Thorpe
Simply put, Thorpe he will have to work on his skating.
He’s not the slowest player on the ice at all times, but he’s also far from the fastest. His first stride could be improved, and he’ll have to find another gear if he’s to flourish in the AHL, where open ice is a lot rarer than in Junior hockey.
The AHL is also a much faster league, leaving prospects with almost no time to make decisions. This could be an issue for Thorpe, especially if he glides as much as he did in the WHL. The good news is that there are specialists in place who will be able to help Thorpe improve his skating, as well as ensure he keeps his feet moving.
Playing in Laval means the Montreal Canadiens development team is just a short metro ride away.
It remains to be seen how much ice time will be available, especially since Laval already has players like Jared Davidson, Florian Xhekaj, and Luke Tuch in place, but if Thorpe does the required work to improve his skating, there’s a healthy chance he’ll become an important player for the Rocket under the tutelage of head coach Pascal Vincent.
Previously Published 2025 Montreal Canadiens Prospect Articles:
Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.14 – Bogdan Konyushkov
Canadiens Prospect Rankings No.13 – Hayden Paupanekis
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 Tyler Thorpe statistics via Elite Prospects
