As the NCAA season winds down, NHL teams shift their attention toward one of the more intriguing talent pools available outside of the draft: college free agents. For the Montreal Canadiens, this market has historically provided low-risk, high-reward opportunities to bolster organizational depth.
With a strong development system in place and opportunities both in Montreal and Laval, the Habs could once again be aggressive in targeting undrafted NCAA talent over the next few weeks. Here are three names that could make sense for Montreal.
TJ Hughes
If there’s one name that stands out immediately, it’s TJ Hughes. The Michigan forward, and teammate of top Canadiens prospect Michael Hage, has quietly built one of the most consistent offensive resumes in college hockey over the last four years.
Now 24 years old, Hughes just wrapped up a 53-point season in 37 games, continuing a trend of production that has seen him record at least 36 points in each of his four NCAA campaigns. That level of consistency is hard to ignore, especially for a player who has shown he can produce in a competitive program like Michigan.
What makes Hughes particularly interesting for Montreal is the familiarity with Hage. The Canadiens have invested heavily in their young core and prospects, and adding a player who already has chemistry with one of their key forward prospects could ease the transition to the pro level.
Hughes projects more as a skilled, offensively driven forward rather than a complete two-way presence, but that’s not necessarily a drawback for an organization looking to add depth scoring. At worst, he becomes a productive piece with the Laval Rocket. At best, he develops into a call-up option who can provide secondary offence.
Hank Cleaves
The Canadiens’ prospect pool is deep, but one area they’ve consistently looked to improve is size, particularly at the centre position. That’s where Hank Cleaves becomes an intriguing option. Standing at 6-foot-5, the Dartmouth centre brings a physical dimension that is hard to teach. At just 22 years old, Cleaves is also one of the younger NCAA free agents available, which adds to his appeal from a development standpoint.
On the ice, he produced 39 points in 34 games this season, showing that he’s more than just a big body. Cleaves has demonstrated solid offensive instincts and an ability to contribute consistently, especially for a program like Dartmouth that doesn’t always get the same spotlight as powerhouse schools.
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For Montreal, Cleaves would likely begin his professional career in Laval with the Rocket. That’s not a negative; it’s actually the ideal scenario. The Rocket have been a key part of the Canadiens’ development pipeline, and adding a player with Cleaves’ size and skill set could strengthen their depth while giving the organization another long-term project down the middle.
If he develops well, Cleaves could eventually fill a bottom-six role in Montreal, bringing size, puck protection, and a different look compared to some of the Habs’ smaller, more skill-oriented forwards.
Isaiah Norlin
On the defensive side, Isaiah Norlin presents the kind of profile that NHL teams love to gamble on. The 22-year-old Colgate defenceman stands at an imposing 6-foot-6 and is coming off a 28-point season in 37 games. Those are strong numbers for a player of his size, especially considering that big defencemen often take longer to develop their offensive game.
Norlin is still somewhat of a project, and there’s a real possibility he chooses to stay in college for further development. However, if he does decide to turn pro, he’s likely to draw interest from multiple teams, and Montreal should be one of them.
The Canadiens have built a solid defensive core at the NHL level with players like Lane Hutson, Noah Dobson, Mike Matheson, and Kaiden Guhle, but adding size to the pipeline is always valuable. Norlin wouldn’t be expected to jump into the NHL anytime soon. Instead, he would be a longer-term development piece, likely starting in Laval and working on his defensive consistency, mobility, and physical play.
Given his frame and offensive flashes, Norlin represents the type of upside swing that can pay off if developed properly.
The beauty of NCAA free agency lies in its low-risk nature. These players don’t cost draft picks or prospects, just a contract and a development plan. For a team like Montreal, which is still building toward sustained contention, these are exactly the types of bets worth making.
