NEW SIGNING! Habs Add A Young Defenseman!

SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS!
Great Gear! https://cheapesttshirts.ca/
Design Your Own! https://instacustoms.com/
Great Food & Drink! https://www.mcleanspub.com/pub/
Best In Home Security! https://cablatel.com/
All of your pets needs! https://littlebearonline.com/

The Montreal Canadiens have signed defenseman Owen Protz to a three-year entry-level contract — but what kind of player are they really getting?

Shaun Starr and Marco D’Amico break down Protz’s profile as a physical, shutdown-style defenseman, what sets him apart in the Habs prospect pool, and why his game fills a need in the organization.

We also dive into when his contract officially begins, what his pro timeline looks like, and whether he’s destined for Laval or could climb the depth chart faster than expected.

Plus, where does Protz fit within the Canadiens’ defensive depth moving forward?

#montrealcanadiens #nhl #hockey 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

The Star D'Amico Show is brought to you by CheapestT-Shirts.ca. If you're looking for quality gear without overpaying, shop cheapesthirts.ca. Food selection for men, women, and kids. Tees, hoodies, headwear, bags, and more. Proud Montreal business. Order today, ship today, delivery tomorrow. That's cheapesthirts.ca. Local, fast, and affordable. Brought to you by Instacustoms.com. Do you need custom gear from a local Montreal business? Instacustoms.com has you covered. Custom shirts, hoodies, hats, and more. Made your way. Fast turnaround, great quality, and proudly Montreal-based. Check out Instacustoms.com. Brought to you by Cablotel. For trusted alarm systems in Quebec and eastern Ontario, choose Cablatel. Over 20 years of expert installation and top-tier protection for homes and businesses. Check out Cablotel.com. Email them infocablotel.com. It's Cablitel. Peace of mind you can count on. Brought to you by Little Bear. Give your pet the best with Little Bear Pet Supply. It's a proudly family-owned business here in Montreal for over 30 years. Chuck Evy and their all-star staff have you taken care of with all the top brands at the best prices, and they really care for your pets. Shop online at LittleBearOnline.com or visit them on St. Catharine across from Westmount Square. It's Little Bear Pet Supply. Brought to you by McLean's Pub. Head over to McClain's Pub, 1210 Peel Street in the heart of downtown Montreal. Great food, cold drinks, and big games on all the screens. McClain's Pub, good times and great company. There's Marco D'Amico. I'm Sean Starr. What a pleasure it is to be with you as we wind down the month of March. Looking forward to seeing so many loyal supporters of the Star and Domico show at McClain's The Real Deal on Peel coming up Sunday afternoon. We're going to be there live starting at four o'clock. Already it was fun to see Marco in the live chat during our Friday stream. How many people are ready to come and enjoy uh the great atmosphere and the awesome vibe that McLean's on Peel does provide before and after every game.

SPEAKER_00 2:00

And the chicken tenders.

SPEAKER_01 2:01

And the chicken tenders. Great. Like I can't wait. No doubt. It's an awesome place, as I mentioned, before and after every game. A proud supporter of the Star and Domiko show. Let's dig in. The Montreal Canadians announced a new signing. Ken Hughes announced on Friday the team agreed to terms mark on a three-year entry-level deal with defenseman Owen Pratt. Let's dig in. Let's learn about Owen Pratz. What type of player? Who is this guy?

SPEAKER_00 2:25

Owen Pratz is a train. In the sense that oh, yes, and and the the he has a significant motor. So he was a fourth round pick of the Montreal Canadians in 2024. Uh, same draft as Demitov, same draft as Michael Hage. Um, but he's a big boy, 6'2, 207 pounds already. Uh just turned 20 in February. So that's all the that's all the you just the way you have to understand is this is a big boy. And um, you know, one of the things about Owen, you know, in my conversations with him, uh, you know, I I didn't see this contract coming so soon. Uh apologies for not being on top of this one. Uh, I was uh was dealing with a newborn at home, so I haven't been in the uh I haven't been making as many calls, but uh I knew that they were the Canadians had an interest in signing Owen Pratt's. Owen Pratt's needed to be signed prior to June 1st of this year, or else the Canadians were gonna lose his rights because you only have up and you know, well, well, obviously that's gonna change with the new CBA, but as of right now, you only have two years to sign players out of junior. He was drafted in 2024, so it only makes sense that June 1st, 2026 was the cutoff. Uh, the Canadians were very happy with him, Sean, because he plays for a powerhouse team in Brantford, uh, for the that are the Bulldogs, not Brampton and not Hamilton. Correct. So, so and then it's a powerhouse team. Again, he he plays on what probably is one of the best, if not the best, defensive pairing in the entirety of the CHL between Owen Pratt's and St. Louis Blues first-round pick. Adam Yurichek also picked in the 2024 entry draft. Yeah, so it's um what kind of player is he? Smash mouth, defensive defenseman, open ice hitting monster. Uh, he does shoot from the left. Um, this is a guy that you want on the penalty kill, takes up a lot of space, very rangey kind of defenseman, hard against the the the opposition and the boards. Um, but you know, I'll give you a line that he told me in the in an interview I did with him in December. He said, I'm never gonna be the kind of defenseman that's gonna go end to end. I know that, you know, I focus on the details in the game. Uh, I'll let the the offensive defensemen do their thing. My thing is to defend, to clear the front of the net, and to, you know, when the opportunity strikes, lay the open ice hit.

SPEAKER_01 4:59

Brother, that's music to my ears. Uh love hearing that. Love that scuttling report. Now it's about living up to the potential. Make sure you stay with us in this conversation. We're gonna talk about um the new signing, Owen Owen Pratt's, and are we already projecting his role on the Montreal Canadians? Is there someone on this team that maybe with Pratt's arrival? And we'll talk about the timeline. Is there a leveling up situation? We're gonna get to that question and that answer in in a matter of minutes. Um, with Marco D'Amico and Sean Starr right here on Star D'Amico. As always, like and subscribe as we march towards 15,000 subscribers, Marco. What about this three-year entry-level contract? In terms of the details, when does it begin? What's that look like? And we'll dig into the options as well on the timeline for his development.

SPEAKER_00 5:42

Yeah, so you uh given his age, he had no choice but to sign a three-year deal. Uh between ages 18 to 21. It's three years after that, it's two and one and so on. Um, so with Owen, like we said, he had to sign a contract by June 1st. Now, his contract kicks in effective July 1st, 2026. That means his contract doesn't start this year like Bryce Pickford did. His contract starts next year.

SPEAKER_01 6:09

There's a guy who was on fire, by the way.

SPEAKER_00 6:11

Yeah, yes, yeah. He uh I think medicine had it a pretty good start to the WHL playoffs last night.

SPEAKER_01 6:16

Yeah, we just got sorry, we just got goals in nine straight playoff games. I mean, it's crazy. What a start!

SPEAKER_00 6:22

I mean, first of all, it just goes to show you how good he was in the playoffs last year, but no doubt back to Owen Pratt's. This is gonna be a guy to watch in the playoffs as well, because in the playoffs, yes, there's ridiculous amounts of scoring in the first round. We all know how you know they try to bring in the most amount of teams to play in the playoffs, and that sometimes creates a mismatch between the top seeds and and the ones that just squeaked in. Um, but where it really becomes important is when you start getting into those third and fourth rounds, and that's where a player like Owen Pratt comes in, right? So a lot of people have asked since the signing, oh, okay. Well, now that he signed his entry-level contract, can he come to Montreal? The answer is no, he can't come to Montreal this season because his contract only kicks in next year, right? He and the Brantford Bulldogs will be going on a lengthy or projected lengthy playoff run. They're one of the top teams in the entirety of the CHL. Uh, they've got elite talent on that team, you know, Jake O'Brien, uh, Caleb Malhotra, Jet Luchenko, for those that that that that appreciate him as well. I just talked about Adam Yurichek, you know, Pratt's being part of that combination as well. Marek Vaneker, who's one of the best goal scorers in the OHL. So they have a dynamite team. But what happens if the Bulldogs get you know upset? Well, the he did it last year, and there's an opportunity for him to do it again this year, and that would be to sign a either an amateur professional tryout to join the Laval Rocket for the remainder of the playoffs, or even the season, and then the playoffs. There is an opportunity for that. I just don't know how early the Bulldogs season is gonna end because they look really good, and I think it might go down to the finals for them, and the finals will bring them right around the beginning of May. So, beginning of May in the AHL playoffs, I think you're getting into like the set the end of the second round, beginning of the third round. So, you know, obviously you hope that Laval goes on a lengthy run, but it's all a question of timing, as you could see. But you also have to factor in playing time because right now you have Adam Engstrom, you have William Trudeau, and you have Luke Middlestadt as your left defenseman for the Laval Rockets. So if he is brought in on an ATO, you know, it would most likely be as a seventh defenseman that could get into games if there's an injury, right? So if you're a Montreal Canadiens fan, I personally, the way I see it, you want the Bulldogs to go all the way, win the OHL championship, go to the Memorial Cup in Kelowna, um, and and you know, get that experience because I don't foresee him getting a ton of playing time in Laval if he were to join them in the middle of the playoffs on an ATO.

SPEAKER_01 9:23

He's a 20-year-old kid, he's from Ottawa, you know, as you pointed out. I mean, Brandford Junior boy, you know, uh top team in the in the Ontario Hockey League. And as you alluded to earlier in this conversation, you know, he's not a in his own words, he's not an end-to-end guy, right? Five goals, 18 assists, uh, but also takes a lot of penalty minutes. Again, to your point about you know, his role, how he plays 190 penalty minutes in his OHL career, 84 of them came this season. Is a reasonable expectation for the Canadian fans to look forward to this rugged, kind of no nonsense defenseman to be with the Laval Rocket in the fall of 2026? Is is that the next level up for him? And I guess a follow-up to that. So I guess a two-pronged question. Laval next fall, and what can you tell me about the challenges of development for let's let's let's go extremes, like a high-end skill player like Lane Hudson versus the more prototypical stay-at-home defenseman. Which do you think is the the harder path to get to the NHL and stay there?

SPEAKER_00 10:28

I think it all has to do with with opportunity as well, right? Um, the thing with like, you know, for example, we're gonna talk about Bryce Pickford a lot over the next year or two, right? Yeah, I think the biggest problem for Bryce Pickford getting a spot with the Montreal Canadians is that if he isn't gonna get first or second power play wave, you're wasting his best attributes. Whereas if you know you have Noah Dobson and Lane Hudson signed as your top offensive defenseman, which they are, um, well, then you can you you have an easier time thinking, okay, we have those types of personas. Now we need to go and get other profiles that are more defensive-oriented, more physically oriented oriented. Like it's no, it's not by chance that the Canadian's main roster on defense has solidified itself because now Caden Gooley has returned to that smash mount hard-hitting defensive style that he made him such a coveted prospect uh coming through the CHL ranks and in his first couple of seasons in the NHL. Well, I feel like it's easier to round out your lineup with those kinds of guys than it is to try and continue to add the high-skill players. Not that I don't think Bryce Bickford's gonna have a lengthy NHL career, he's well on his way to do so. But maybe the fit may not be there considering the elements that are in the lineup. Of course, you know, he's not a bad defensive player and he's a rare right shot. So he may very well force his way onto that lineup. But not to say he'd be more of the same, but it would just he would need to add or he need to really develop aspects in his game that would diversify it so that he would be able to find value at five on five or potentially you know on the penalty kill. Well, I don't think you really have to worry about that with Owen Pratt. And this is not me saying that Owen Pratt is a better prospect than than Bryce Pickford, not even in the stretch of the imagination.

SPEAKER_01 12:30

Different different players, though, that's fair, right? Exactly.

SPEAKER_00 12:33

It's more it's more first of all, that would be a crazy good pairing. Those two together on your bottom throat would probably be excellent. But I just feel like given the personas that are signed long term, Owen Pratt's skill set, a very defined skill set, is what's lacking right now for Montreal vis-a-vis what Bryce Pickford is doing. Bryce Pickford is doing historical things, absolutely historical things, but he is primarily an offensive defenseman. So, you know, just just to juxtapose, I think both of them are gonna play in the NHL. I think both of them are gonna be NHLers, and I like I just said, wouldn't that be an interesting third pair for Montreal, right? Where you have a pickford that can produce offense at five on five, and then an Owen Pratt that's more the defensive rock that's able to you know run guys over and in in open ice hits because that's an element of Owen Pratt's game that's just incredible to watch. He has mastered the timing of the open ice hit. He's so good at that, and he's and and it's even in junior, you kind of see it. His physical ability, like he's you if you see him, he's still got that baby face on him, he's still got to fill out, he's still got to get stronger, which is a scary thought considering how big he is already. So, to me, my projection for him is a third pair left shot defenseman. That's my projection, and the Canadians have a lot of time because I know a lot of people are gonna and we're gonna talk about this, but oh, left shot defensemen, right? Whereas you always want to add and stack right shots because they're they're rarer in in that regard. Well, I don't know that the Canadians have an a player like that that could play that kind of a detail-oriented game, really good at using a stick, really good at uh you know separating player from puck, stands up for his teammates, like you won't believe, can't very much open to dropping the gloves. And I think that's going to be an element of his game as well. Um, and again, a guy that you could put on special teams on the penalty kill and and you know not blink an eye. So a guy that can bring you definitive elements and you know that you can allow to develop in Laval without having to worry about rushing him to the NHL because there are players ahead of him in the pecking order that maybe will get a cup of coffee first.

SPEAKER_01 14:57

I look forward to the summer months for for a variety of reasons, right? I look forward to you know what we're gonna do on this channel, you know, with daily habs coverage and just on topic, because if we're talking about you know Bryce Pickford, ultimately, and we'll dive into him, no doubt, in future episodes and what he's doing. Owen Pratt's here now. If you're just joining us, signing a three-year entry-level deal with the Montreal Canadians that kicks in in July 2026. Left defenseman, big body, violent, nasty, no nonsense, love all that stuff, right? It builds waves, like you can have Caden Gooley on the left side being mean and nasty, and then he gets off the ice and potentially Owen Pratt's comes in after. I mean, it's wave wave after wave, right?

SPEAKER_00 15:36

That's what the Canadians are lacking.

SPEAKER_01 15:38

No doubt. I mean, we spend most of the season talking about and being critical of that.

SPEAKER_00 15:42

But if you've noticed the way that the Canadians have drafted in the later rounds over the last two, three drafts, they're really going for that role, like the defined role style players, right? Like Florian Jacky in in the fourth round. Uh, you look at uh Tyler Thorpe in the later rounds, you look at Hayden Papanikis in the third round, you look at uh Owen Pratt's right now, you look at Andrew McNeil that they drafted recently as well, like big boys, guys that aren't necessarily gonna be sexy when you you do your stat sheet and and try to see who the top prospects of a of a given team are, but they have a role. The kind of player that when they've had two years in the American Hockey League, you have an injury and you want to bring up a guy that's gonna be able to like bring something different, that's when it comes in handy. And worst case scenario, then if not, then there are really good pieces to have in with your with with your AHL team, ensuring that your AHL team continues to be competitive because there is value in that, and your AHL team being competitive, having a positive environment for the prospects, the higher end prospects that you funnel in as well. So there is there's twofold benefit. But I I having spoken to the player, having spoken to the coaching staff, having spoken to players around him, um I I I'm of the belief that he will be an NHL.

SPEAKER_01 17:13

So who's sweating this? You know, Marte St. Louis can't ice five pairs of defensemen, you know. So, like going into camp next fall, the big the big camp, right? I mean, there's a legitimate case if they're still part of the organization, depending on what happens between now and next fall. We're talking about Adam Engstrom, we're talking about David Rheinbacher, maybe making the leap, breaking camp as Canadians. Something has to give. And we're gonna spend time, you know, in the coming months talking about and reacting to because I think Marco believes it, I believe it. Something's gonna give, and the Canadians are gonna make a couple of moves in order to make room that allows Owen Pratt to graduate and play for the Laval Rocket, right? So, like I gotta believe if we're talking about on the left side today, you know, Jaden Strubbel is under the under under pressure in terms of I mean, he's been playing well, granted, since MSL has kept him consistently in the lineup, but he's on the left side to Lane Hudson, you know, more often than not in the last five or six games here. So if you're talking about Owen Pratt and the role he plays, I think Arbor Jackey, a potential uh RFA coming up at the end of the season, Jaden Struble, these guys are under the pressure test here.

SPEAKER_00 18:16

Well, especially I think Adam Engstrom is the biggest threat to the two players that you just brought up.

SPEAKER_01 18:21

Okay. He's the closest two, I guess, right? Yeah, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 18:24

He my opinion, he's NHL ready, right? Um, but then after that, what's what's the next wave? And I think that's the thing. Jaden Struble, we'll see what happens. Arbor Jackey, I I per I am of the belief. I this is not based on internal information, good, but I'm of the belief that the Canadians probably are gonna move on uh and try to find him a place where he can continue his career and find a niche. That that is my feeling on the subject. I don't think the signature of Owen Pratt's impacts anybody on the main roster in the foreseeable future. I think if he's an NHL er, he's a he's two years away from the start of next season, right? So let's say two and a half years away from being a legitimate option for the NHL, and there's nothing wrong with that. Like, take your time, work your way up, and then you're gonna get your games, right? Like, I don't think anybody, when he was drafted, thought that Jared Davidson was gonna play NHL games. He played NHL games earlier this season because he just worked and worked and worked. Now the Canadians have a ridiculous amount of forward depth, so they're not gonna be calling anybody from Laval and they reclaimed Samuel Blay. So, you know who the first call-up is probably gonna be at forward if there is one. The same applies here with Owen Pratt. I think they're gonna take their time with Owen Pratt's. I think the player that is out, and I don't think that, you know, I don't know that Canadians fans will really worry about this, but William Trudeau is probably the the one that's gonna be on his way out. And I, you know, I feel for the guy because I think he's an elite defenseman in in the AHL, but I feel I feel like again, with Montreal and all the left shot defensemen they have, he may seek an opportunity elsewhere in another organization that is weaker at left shot, uh at left D, where he may actually have the legitimate option of a call-up. So I I I do hope that for William Trudeau because with Engstrom, with Luke Middlestadt, you bring in an Owen Pratz, uh Toby uh Paquet Bisson is with is around the team as well. Uh, you you know, you don't you you don't want to have too many rookies, you also want to sprinkle in some veterans in there as well. And we know that next year there's the possibility of having as well David Reinbacker and Bryce Pickford, uh you know, as a sophomore and a rookie. It you know, you you just gotta oh well, David Ryanbacher's not theoretically a sophomore, but with the amount of games he's played, let's call him one. But you know, you want to put some veterans in there, so this is why I say protests, but it's an intriguing project because if he hits, those are the kinds of defensemen, that persona, those are the kinds of defensemen teams will spend second and first round picks on at the trade deadline to shore up the roster. Well, if you're able to develop those players internally, then you continuously have waves of these players that come in on cheap contracts that are able to be that higher end depth and eventually, if given the opportunity, steal a spot on the roster. So that's that's the way I see it for Owen Pratt's. If my projection stands hard-hitting left shot defenseman that you would put on your third pair that you could play on the penalty kill, that could take, you know, that could change the momentum of a game with a you know strong open ice hit or some really um well timed defensive play. That's my projection for him.

SPEAKER_01 21:50

Looking forward to seeing everybody uh Sunday afternoon, uh starting at four o'clock for the live presentation uh from our home away from home. That's McClain's Pub, the real deal on Peel. It's a great vibe. Awesome place before and after every game, every major sporting event from soccer to football to uh baseball in its opening days and the opening week of a brand new MLB season. And of course, the National Hockey League and the Montreal Canadians push for the playoffs. There's no better place to watch or take in the post-game festivities than with our friends at McClain's Pub. We look forward to meeting and greeting everybody Sunday afternoon, starting at two. Of course, the links to all of our proud sponsors. We love to support local from cheapest t-shirts to McLean's, the best in home security at Cablotel. You got a bachelor-bachelorette party, you got something for your softball team for the summer. You need uh custom t-shirts, custom jerseys, hats, you name it. Instacustoms.com is the place to get it. Uh, the link in the description of today's video, and of course, our friends at Little Bear Pet Supply, where they got their spring savings 50% off. The rebate will be applied when you shop online or go shop in store on St. Catherine across from Westmount Square. Marco, thanks as always. Looking forward to seeing you Sunday morning live at 10 and then at McLean's Sunday afternoon. Thanks, brother.

SPEAKER_00 22:58

Always a pleasure, guys. Have a great day.