Owen Beck on an NHL third line: “a very, very, very optimistic projection”

Jasons d’Owen Beck un peu.

When the Habs drafted Beck, there was quite a buzz around him. He impressed with his 200-foot game at Habs training camp and had a fine 2022-2023 season in the OHL.

He also had a game in the NHL.

This season, however, he was less in the news. Media attention was focused on other players, and since he didn’t outrageously dominate in the OHL, he didn’t get the attention he deserved.

When you look at his stats, you can still see a progression in his numbers.

2022-2023, in Mississauga and Peterborough: 66 points in 60 games and 16 points in 22 playoff games.
2023-2024, in Peterborough and Saginaw: 81 points in 57 games and 14 points in 17 playoff games.

That said, listening to Simon Boisvert and Mathias Brunet on the Process podcast, it’s clear that both men would like to see more from the Habs prospect.

Here’s the podcast in question. It’s worth listening to…especially the bit about Matvei Michkov, if you ask me.

In the case of Beck, who is the Habs’ only Memorial Cup hope, the guys would have liked to see him dominate in his final OHL season a little more outrageously than he did.

Not so, according to their reading of the situation. When they saw him play, they weren’t impressed.

They talked about the fact that he hasn’t been a one-point-per-game guy (I guess they were talking about the playoffs) and that at his age 19 season, even though he’s defensively responsible, we should have seen more of him.

But why? Because if he aspires to a third line in the NHL, he has to dominate at the end of the junior season.

If you’re not even dominant offensively at 19, how do you expect to be worthy of a third line?

So for me, Beck, the road to the NHL is a long one. A third line, I think, is a very, very, very… optimistic projection in his case. – Simon Boisvert

Obviously, it’s not too late for anyone. A good Memorial Cup, a good 2024 camp with the Habs and a good start to the season (in Laval, no doubt) will bring him back into the discussion.

And since the Habs aren’t overflowing with quality prospects up front, he has what it takes to stand out. It’s up to him now.

In gusto

– Official.

Jim Hiller has been named the 30th Head Coach in franchise history!

Read More https://t.co/TNWTlPZOXW #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/D3qoYTUvXL

– LA Kings (@LAKings) May 22, 2024

– Updates in Dallas.

Jake Oettinger (illness) left practice early, but Pete DeBoer expects he’ll be fine for Game 1.

Roope Hintz (upper body) skated “extensively” on his own before the team’s practice today. Still day-to-day.

Jani Hakanpää (lower body) did not skate today.

– Lia Assimakopoulos (@Lassimak) May 22, 2024

– He’s strong.

He’s one of the reasons the Astros are doing better. https://t.co/bxNrwqeCgT

– Passion MLB (@passion_mlb) May 22, 2024

-Imagine both in Florida…

5 years ago, the #flapanthers tried to sign both Artemi Panarin and Sergei Bobrovsky. Panarin chose the bright lights of the Big Apple, and Bob chose Florida. Now they face off in the Eastern Conference final, and Bob’s contract is no longer an albatross https://t.co/p1RrehVpcc

– Michael Russo (@RussoHockey) May 22, 2024

– Well done.