The Montreal Canadiens have signed one of their forward prospects to an entry-level contract (ELC). This time it is their fifth-round selection, 130th overall, from the 2022 NHL Entry Draft centre Jared Davidson that signs his two-year ELC. Even though the Canadiens have a strong, young forward group, one aspect they lack is organizational depth. Therefore, this type of ELC signing by General Manager Kent Hughes is an important one to round out their forward group. Especially so, if they anticipate making a push for the Eastern Conference Wild Card playoff position in the 2024-25 campaign.
The Canadiens have agreed to terms on a two-year, entry-level contract (2024-25 to 2025-26) with forward Jared Davidson.
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Jared Davidson Signs His ELC With Montreal Canadiens
Jared Davidson signs his ELC after a decent season for his personal career development with the AHL’s Laval Rocket. In 2023-24, he played 38 games and scored 11 goals and five assists. Definitely his 2023-24, cannot be considered a poor professional rookie season. Before that, in his final two seasons with the WHL’s Seattle Thunderbirds, the centre emerged as a prospect with NHL potential. He put up 42 goals and 47 assists in 64 games in 2021-22. Then, he followed it up with 38 goals and 44 assists in 60 games in 2022-23. Furthermore, this included him wearing the ‘A’ in his final junior season with Seattle. Along with his offensive production, he also showed that he can be a leader. The Edmonton native and the rest of the Canadiens organization hope he can continue to develop over the next two seasons of this contract. Then we will know for sure if we have an NHL, bottom-six guy on our hands or not.
What Does 2024-25 Have in Store for the Canadiens Organization
Montreal is definitely a team in flux, between their rebuild and moving into being considered perennial playoff contenders. On defence, GM Kent Hughes and the rest of the development staff, have compiled a strong group. Guys like Kaiden Guhle, Jayden Struble, and Lane Hutson are developed enough to help fill the top six to eight defence position roles. They are the type of players that will support the Canadiens to make a push as a playoff bubble team. However, the team does have some holes in their lineup upfront. In fact, there is a similar theme among other non-playoff squads, and a team like the Ottawa Senators come to mind as well. They could really use a middle-six guy, a checker, who is a true NHL professional.
You see them all the time on playoff team lineups, like Alex Killorn, Connor Brown, or Sam Bennett. They don’t have to be productive scorers, but they need to tough to play against, win you puck battles, and be responsible defensively. That is the type of player that would benefit the Canadiens forward group big time, and one that Hughes hopes Davidson can develop into as a player. Also, look for the Canadiens to further stock pile the forward position at this year’s draft.
For their forward group in 2024-25, having a healthy Kirby Dach would make a huge difference throughout the lineup. For example, it would allow a player like Alex Newhook to focus on his offensive game. Moreover, for Davidson, he still needs more time to develop under recently extended Head Coach Jean-Francois Houle with the Laval Rocket. So, give him the two years guaranteed with this contract, and see where it lands him within the organization.
Main photo credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports
