CANADIENS PROSPECT OWEN BECK WILL CLIMB THE "BECKING" ORDER THIS FALL

When the Montreal Canadiens selected the face-off wizard with the 33rd overall pick at the 2022 Draft, they knew they had a good one on their hands. So much so that he was invited to the team's main camp and signed to an entry-level contract before heading back to the Ontario Hockey League. After two more seasons in the OHL, is it time for Beck to make the jump to the professional level?

A Proven Winner

In his first season after being drafted, Beck lined-up with the Mississauga Steelheads for 30 games before being traded to the Peterborough Petes who were getting ready for making a Memorial Cup run. As expected they made the OHL final against the London Knights and won the Robertson Cup. Beck missed the Cup-winning game after being suspended for a slew foot on London's Jackson Edwards. As OHL champs, the Petes took part in the Memorial Cup tournament, but lost in the semi-final.

Last season, he was traded by the Petes to the Saginaw Spirit, the host of the 2024 Memorial Cup tournament. While the Spirit were eliminated of the OHL's playoffs by the team Beck had beaten with the Petes in the 2022-2023 playoffs. This time, the Knights prevailed, but the Spirit would go on to beat them in the Memorial Cup final. Beck was named tournament MVP after scoring the first two goals of his team in the game and a total of four goals in the competition.

After such a performance, it makes little doubt that Beck is ready to move on to the next stage. He's got nothing left to prove at that level and there is no better way to finish your junior career than winning the Memorial Cup and being selected as the most valuable player.

What's Next for Beck?

Right now, Beck is at the Canadiens' development camp being put through his paces with fellow prospects and try-out invitees. Then, he'll take part in the team's Rookie Camp this Fall and feature in two games against the Toronto Maple Leafs' prospects at the Bell Centre on September 14-15. 

He should then be invited to the team's main training camp which will determine where he will spend his season. Given how crowded the attack is with the Canadiens, I believe Beck will spend most of his season with the Laval Rocket in the AHL.

I'm not excluding the possibility that he does play some games with the Habs before being sent down however, but the more ice time he gets, the better it will be for him. Montreal isn't where he'll get the most shifts on the ice, and there's no rush in making him a regular in the NHL. He's already played one game in the NHL against the Ottawa Senators on January 28, 2023. The Sens won that game 5-0 but the youngster didn't look out of place in an NHL game.

If Kirby Dach stays healthy, Beck should have ample time to develop in the AHL. Considering how badly the Canadiens have been hit by the injury ninja of late though (especially Dach), players staying healthy cannot be taken for granted. 

It would be interesting to see how productive Beck can be in the pro game. While most scouts agreed he would probably be a third line center in the NHL, he has shown a nose for the attacking side of the game lately recording 81 points in 57 games in his last OHL season. Keep your eye on him, he should be one of the most interesting stories to follow this Fall.

2024-07-04T13:47:58Z dg43tfdfdgfd