There have been no easy paths for Michael McNiven. The 18-year-old netminder's OHL rookie career got off to a tremendous start last year, but he struggled mightily in the second half. While he slipped off the draft radar just as quickly he emerged on it, Montreal invited him to camp and eventually signed him to a standard three-year entry-level deal.
Since putting pen to paper, McNiven has done nothing but impress. While his record of 10-10-4-2 is far from impressive, and he sits just ninth in both GAA and SV%, he has done so with the second-fewest amount of goals for in the league.