On the bubble is a series examining the players in Montreal Canadiens training camp who are fighting for a roster spot. With limited space on the Habs main roster, there is not enough room for all of them. This series looks to figure out who has the best chance of making the team.

Next up: Michael McCarron

On the Bubble: Michael McCarron

Michael McCarron is a big strong forward. At first glance, McCarron looks like just another big body to plant in front of the net. What made him a first-round pick in the 2015 NHL draft was his overlooked skill set. He showed a combination of size and skill with the US NTDP that every team is looking for.

As a professional, McCarron has yet to realize his potential. While he has played 51 games for the Canadiens over the past two seasons, he is deployed in a fourth line role. Even in the AHL, McCarron has not quite produced at the level that is expected of a first-round pick.

McCarron may have an inside track to making the Habs roster based on his size. He played 31 games with the Habs last year, including a playoff game. Still, he needs to have a strong training camp to solidify his position.

Strengths

The biggest strength Michael McCarron has is his physical size. He is big, 6’6″ tall and 230 pounds. McCarron uses his body and long reach to protect the puck to help drive the offense. He goes to the net, where his size creates havoc for the goalie and defense. His size makes it difficult for defenders along the wall and in corners during puck battles, which keeps the pressure on in the offensive zone. McCarron knows when to go to the dangerous areas on the ice. When he gets in front of the net, his size makes it impossible for the goalie to see anything. While his size might be enough, McCarron also possesses good instincts on the ice.

McCarron’s skills are often overshadowed by his size. He is not a typical big body that can only screen the goalie. While his big size will draw the attention of defenders he has the ability to find his teammates in space. His playmaking ability is what makes McCarron such an intriguing prospect. His flashes of offensive skill are why some people are so high on him.

Weakness

McCarron’s biggest flaw is his skating ability. Once he gets to his top speed he is fast but his slow foot speed means it takes him a bit longer to reach his top speed. Coupling with his skating issue, he doesn’t have great hand skills.

McCarron shows flashes of brilliance in his game, but they don’t happen as frequently as expected from a former first-round pick. When his game is struggling, McCarron tends to fight to make his presence known on the ice. While using his size and physicality can be helpful, McCarron is more useful to his team on the ice.

McCarron did not take the next step many were expecting last year. He struggled early, not scoring his first goal until November. McCarron scored seven goals and 19 points in 32 games with the IceCaps last year. He did finish third on the IceCaps primary points five-on-five. Unfortunately, this type of production doesn’t project to more than a third-line player in the NHL.

Lastly, McCarron has had issues with conditioning. He can wear down late in shifts, or later in the season. McCarron has indicated that he worked on his fitness over the summer and thinks that this will be less of an issue this season

Conclusion

This is an important year for McCarron. He needs to show a significant improvement in his offensive game to show he still has high-end potential. It’s important to note that while McCarron has not produced at the NHL, he was deployed in a fourth -line role. His linemates were some combination of Torrey Mitchell, Steve Ott, Andreas Martinsen, Brian Flynn, and Dwight King. It’s not realistic to expect a young player to produce offensively in this situation.

He might find himself in a difficult spot to make the team coming out of training camp, especially if the Canadiens are looking for McCarron to bring some offense. Not to say it’s beyond him, but the Habs might have more established options in camp. McCarron may have an inside track to make the roster based on his size and physicality if the Habs and Head Coach Claude Julien are looking to add size. With a strong training camp, McCarron should find himself with the Canadiens at the end of the pre-season, probably in a rotation on the fourth line. McCarron might not be ready for a full-time role in the NHL yet, which means he will find himself in the AHL at some point this year. More seasoning in the AHL is not the worst thing for McCarron, but he will need to show significant improvement in his offensive game. A strong showing by McCarron in Laval means the Canadiens will come calling sooner rather than later.

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