Montreal Canadiens shockingly release NCAA star prospect
The Montreal Canadiens have made a surprising move by relinquishing their rights to former 5th round draft pick Rhett Pitlick.
Drafted 131st overall in the 2019 draft, Pitlick was known for his skill but faced challenges due to his small size. The Canadiens have decided that he has not developed sufficiently to overcome this hurdle.
Pitlick, who has completed three seasons at the University of Minnesota, is now heading to free agency. The Canadiens needed to sign him by August 1st to retain his rights, but they chose not to.
This decision surprises many scouts and Habs fans, as Pitlick has shown steady improvements. He had a strong junior season at Minnesota, and many considered him an underrated prospect.
Went from a pure skill and speed player who used his on-puck carries to create offence, to a really translatable board battler and off-puck mover. Leads U. of Minnesota in pts with 35. #GoHabsGo
Pitlick's stats reflect his progress: 18 points in his rookie NCAA season, 25 points in his sophomore season, and career highs of 19 goals and 36 points last season.
Despite his improvements, Montreal chose not to sign him. However, other teams will likely show interest. Pitlick might need to sign an AHL deal, but with hard work and continued progress, his path to the NHL remains open. The Canadiens might eventually regret their decision to let him go.
Source: EliteProspectsRhett Pitlick Career Statistics
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5 AOUT | 50 ANSWERS Montreal Canadiens shockingly release NCAA star prospect Do you think Rhett Pitlick will ever play games in the NHL? | ||
| Yes | 19 | 38 % |
| No | 31 | 62 % |
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