The Montreal Canadiens left no stone unturned in their 2018 NHL Draft, selecting two prospects out of the US High School leagues in Jordan Harris and Jack Gorniak, betting on their paths through the NCAA and the league’s capabilities for development.
It is assumed that those players are a bit behind the curve compared to other 2018 draftees due to the less-competitive environment they played in. But the advantage of those picks is that the Habs will retain their rights longer than comparable prospects playing in the CHL, who only have two seasons to show enough before a decision needs to be made on an entry-level contract.