The Habs acquired Ty Smilanic in the trade that sent Ben Chiarot to Florida (2022).
We’re talking about the Panthers’ third-round pick (74th overall) in 2020, but he’s never been able to establish himself as an impact player anywhere he’s played since being drafted.
Notably, he was forced to step away from hockey at one point owing to mental health difficulties.
We questioned if the Habs would wish to keep his rights this summer, and we now have further information.
The information comes from Marco D’Amico.
The Montreal Canadiens have acknowledged to RG.org that they have let the exclusive rights to prospects Rhett Pitlick and Blake Biondi expire, but have unexpectedly kept the rights to Ty Smilanic. – Marco D’Amico
Finally, the “new” management acquired the player in 2022.
However, it’s safe to believe that the Habs would have passed on the project if it had been acquired before Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton joined office.
The #GoHabsGo have confirmed the fate of three NCAA-based prospects, shedding light on some loopholes within the NHL's CBA.
My latest report for @RGSafePlay:https://t.co/TifOe0JXPy
— Marco D'Amico (@mndamico) August 23, 2024
As stated in the quote above (according to Marco D’Amico), the Habs have decided not to retain the rights to Blake Biondi and Rhett Pitlick.
Both players can now agree to terms with any NHL team.
In Smilanic’s case, the news came as a surprise.
The player’s performance in the NCAA and ECHL has not been impressive in recent years.
It signifies that the Habs still believe in his potential, and that there is a sense of belonging for the club’s hopeful:
Now it’s up to Ty Smilanic to show that he deserves to sign his entry-level contract with the Habs.
He is currently out of contract. However, he remains the club’s property, and the fact that the Habs have withheld his rights must send a clear message.
Let us also recall that an NHL club has the right to have 50 players under contract. The Canadiens now have 44 contracts that exceed the 50-player maximum.
