The Canadiens would be better served with Rafaël Harvey-Pinard than with Ryan Poehling

Let's go!

Ryan Poehling is a first-round pick, the one the Montreal Canadiens selected 25th in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. Poehling is, let's face it, an enigmatic player, and it's unclear what exactly he'll give the Montreal Canadiens in 2021-22.

So far, he's not breaking out in camp, but he's being given every chance in the world because he's a first round pick. That's the way hockey is and the status of players in an organization. In short, Poehling, we don't know what he will do and the coach may wonder about him often. We do not know what to expect from him, it's simple!

In the case of Rafaël Harvey-Pinard, who was 7th rounder of the 2019 Entry Draft, he is a bundle of energy. Now 22 years old, RHP is giving the Montreal Canadiens organization more than its money's worth. From the moment he came on the scene last year with the Rocket, he was used in every way by Joël Bouchard, collecting 20 points in 36 games.

RHP may not have the up-side of a Poehling, but with him, a coach knows exactly what to expect, whether it's in the QMJHL, AHL or NHL. The coach knows exactly what Harvey-Pinard will do when he hits the ice. No question with him. It's foot to the floor, an insistent presence in front of the net and energy to spare.

Wouldn't this be the perfect spice to graft onto a 4th unit led by Cedric Paquette, for example? At the moment, that would be my decision, at least! Although, the two youngsters could get a spot due to the absences of Mike Hoffman and Paquette, precisely.