Montreal Canadiens goaltending prospect released by his junior team
Photo credit: Mikus Vecvanags via Instagram.
We have an important update to report regarding a Montreal Canadiens goaltending prospect.
A quiet but revealing piece of news has just surfaced around the Canadiens.
Mikus Vecvanags has been released by the Newfoundland Regiment. He belongs to the Montreal Canadiens, but his situation in the QMJHL changed quickly.
He was talked about as a goaltender used as a third option early in the season, then pushed down the depth chart when Louis-Antoine Denault arrived.
This type of decision always draws attention, because a young goaltender needs games. When you find yourself further down the order, the plan becomes simple: find a place where you will play, period.
For the Canadiens organization, it doesn't change the player's rights, but it does change the day-to-day reality and the perception.
Vecvanags is not an unknown name in the prospect pool. The Canadiens selected him in the 5th round, 134th overall, at the 2024 NHL Draft. He is also listed at 6-foot-3, a frame that stands out for a goaltender when you look at the pipeline.
Bad news for a Montreal Canadiens goaltending prospect
Here is the confirmation:
"Mikus Vecvanags, who belongs to the Canadiens, has been released by the Newfoundland Regiment. He was the team's third goaltender in the first half of the season, and with the arrival of Louis-Antoine Denault, he had become the fourth in the QMJHL." - Stephane Leroux
What's interesting is the timing. When a junior team releases you mid-season, it's not the end, but it's quite a detour.
Junior hockey is full of stories like this, especially for goaltenders, where two good weeks can change everything, one way or the other. In Montreal, fans like these situations because they touch on the future.
The Canadiens have already shown that they closely monitor their drafted goaltenders, and Vecvanags has been part of that approach since the 2024 draft. For Vecvanags, the objective is now clear: find a stable environment and start piling up starts again.
For the Canadiens, it's simply another chapter to follow, while keeping expectations in the right place.
In an organization that is building, every detail matters, even when it happens far from the Bell Centre.
Also read on Montreal Hockey Fanatics :
Canadiens name starting goalie ahead of Atlantic Division clash vs. Red Wings
Canadiens name starting goalie ahead of Atlantic Division clash vs. Red Wings