Filip Mesar sees himself in Laval and Gothembourg this season

If there’s one prospect I’m looking forward to following this season, it’s Owen Beck. It’s David Reinbacher. It’s Jacob Fowler. It’s… several guys at once. I’m not going to name them all.

But Filip Mesar’s name doesn’t come to mind quickly.

Mind you, I’m not saying I’ve given up on the young man. After all, it would be really, really unfair to give up on a 19-year-old after a more ordinary season.

That said, he’s not the first player who comes to mind among the hopefuls. His season of less than a point per game in the OHL wasn’t the most extraordinary I’ve ever seen. It wasn’t horrible, but he had his moments.

He left for Kitchener with the disappointment of not staying in Laval, and it shows.

And now, this year, he keeps repeating that he wants to be in Laval. I don’t know if it’ll happen, but that’s what he repeated to Simon-Olivier Lorange on the sidelines of the NHL showcase .

I don’t think another year in junior would do him any harm. Dominating a league (or putting yourself in a position to dominate) has never been a bad thing for a player… and I don’t think he’ll be able to do it in Laval.

But that’s probably the plan.

Canadiens coaches, as reported by La Presse, want to see Mesar playing “in a big league” in 2023-2024. To me, that means the AHL, because I don’t see him returning to Europe.

His plan is also to take part in the World Junior Championship for a third and final time. He believes that with Simon Nemec and Dalibor Dvorsky, the Slovaks could spring a surprise.

That said, he doesn’t expect Juraj Slafkovsky to join the squad in Gothenburg, Sweden. He’s thinking along the same lines as a lot of people on this one.

Mesar’s training camp will be important in putting it into the heads of people like me that yes, he can do well in Laval and that he can reclaim his place as an important prospect. And I’d love to be proven wrong.

In bursts

– It’s off to a good start.

“I thought Scheifele was their captain” 🙄 https://t.co/8AS1NYWAIi

– TVA Sports (@TVASports) September 6, 2023

– Joël Bouchard wants to help the Lightning win the Stanley Cup.[BPM Sports]

– The CH wanted to reobtain Alexei Emelin from Vegas in 2017.

– Great catch to help Kyle Dubas.

– Wow.