Fowler, Cowan, Yakemchuk among players to watch at Montreal rookie tournament

It’s an exciting time for the prospects and hockey operations departments. Scouting staffs are always keen to see how their drafted and developing prospects compare to others in the league.

Here are some of the players from each competing team that I’m looking forward to scouting in Montreal:

Fowler is one of the top goalie prospects outside of the NHL. He made his AHL debut in the spring after completing two very impressive years at Boston College, including winning the Mike Richter award as the top goalie in the NCAA for 2024-25.

Fowler had a 57-13-3 record at the college level and looked mostly comfortable when he arrived in Laval to suit up with the Rocket. He ended up playing in eight playoff games for the Rocket, posting a 3-3 record, .902 save percentage, 2.48 GAA stat line.

Fowler takes up a good amount of net with his six-foot-two, 211-pound frame. He has outstanding feet. He’s agile and quick while tracking the play and moving side to side. His size advantage takes hold when he arrives ahead of the shooter and fronts pucks on time. The Habs are pretty deep in net with Sam Montembeault and Kaapo Kahkonen on the NHL roster, followed by Jakub Dobes and Fowler in the AHL with Laval. It will be interesting to see how far Fowler pushes his teammates competing for a job at training camp. He could be the goalie of the future for the Canadiens.

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Demidov exploded onto the scene last spring when he arrived in Montreal. By all accounts, he has had a productive off-season of training and is ready for his first official NHL training camp. Demidov will be the star attraction this weekend in Montreal. I fully expect him to dominate offensively, but I will also be closely monitoring his effort off the puck and detail defensively. He knows what the organization expects from him when he isn’t producing.

Cowan exploded onto the scene two years ago with a fantastic rookie tournament in Traverse City followed by a deep run at main camp with the Leafs. Last September, his impact at training camp wasn’t what he, or the organization, were hoping for, but it’s a process becoming an NHL player, and he is undoubtedly motivated to have a good showing this weekend.

I have been criticized by some observers who think I have been too hard on Cowan and his development path. I recognize he was an outstanding, productive and highly decorated player at the junior level playing in London, but he needs to set a new standard for himself at this training camp. Cowan can produce offence but he’s also capable of providing high-end energy and an in-your-face approach that can drive opponents nuts. He strayed from his identity for long stretches last season. He has a massive opportunity ahead of him to reset his trajectory with the Leafs.

The Leafs selected Danford in the first round (31st overall) at the NHL Draft in 2024. He has one year of junior eligibility left, and I fully expect he will return to the OHL, where he is the captain of the Oshawa Generals.

Danford is listed at six-foot-two, 194 pounds. He’s a right-shooting, two-way, shutdown defenceman with very little offensive upside. He’s capable with the puck, but I will be monitoring how he reads and reacts to the faster pace this weekend while executing plays. Most importantly, Danford is hard to play against. He’s generally involved physically and is a very proficient shot blocker. Playing to his strengths will be key to him gaining valuable confidence at Leafs camp.

Yager was acquired by the Jets in the trade that sent Winnipeg first-round pick Rutger McGroarty to the Pittsburgh Penguins. He was drafted by the Pens in the first round (14th overall) in 2023.

Yager graduates to the pro game after a very productive career in the WHL playing in Moose Jaw and Lethbridge. He’s been part of the leadership group at the junior level, and his overall game has evolved to include much more defensive detail as he matures. He’s one of the top forward prospects in the Jets system, but it’s going to take time. I’m curious to see how much more strength he has added to his six-foot, 170-pound frame, and how his overall game translates compared to other high-end prospects in Montreal.

Salomonsson, on balance, had a solid rookie season playing at the AHL level for the Manitoba Moose last year. He produced secondary offence (five goals, 27 assists) and was given opportunities in a variety of roles/game scenarios.

Salomonsson is a right-shot, two-way defenceman who’s listed at six-foot-two, 189 pounds. Defenders who skate the way Salomonsson does and can take shifts at even strength and special teams are valuable commodities. The Jets value developing their own prospects more than any other team in the NHL. I’m sure the two parties are very keen to see how his training camp evolves, now that he is comfortable with the pro game in North America.

What I appreciate about Yakemchuk’s overall game and trajectory is the fact he can impact the game in a variety of ways. He’s proven he can log big minutes at the major junior level in all situations, lead the rush offensively and push back physically in the defensive zone. In time, he will define his role at the pro level, and I’m interested to see how he defines himself and the impact he has this weekend. Right-shot defencemen with a variety of skill sets, who measure six-foot-four, 207 pounds, are highly valuable prospects.

Donovan is another Senators defence prospect who can contribute to the team’s success in a variety of roles.

At the tail end of his OHL career, at the major junior level, his offensive contribution spiked to 13 goals and 33 assists when he was deployed in all situations. Last year, his first year pro in the AHL, he was used primarily at even strength and on the penalty kill. Donovan is a highly competitive prospect who pushes back in the hard areas, is a very strong skater — especially in small-area bursts to win races to pucks — and is capable of moving pucks efficiently out of danger from his zone. I’m monitoring how he defines his overall game.

Player development isn’t as predictable as analysts project it to be. Several moving parts have to be considered when a prospect is working his way through the system with the goal of becoming a full-time NHL player. At the end of the day, players need to provide an A- and B-game that ultimately results in a level of confidence that the NHL team believes can translate to the ultimate goal: winning games in the best league in the world.

The journey begins this weekend in Montreal.