Montreal Canadiens: Kent Hughes retains the rights to a controversial prospect

A third-round pick by the Panthers in 2020 (74th overall), Smilanic has yet to establish himself as a key player.

After taking a break due to mental health issues, his future with the Canadiens seemed uncertain this summer.

However, according to Marco D'Amico, the Canadiens have decided to retain his rights, unlike those of Rhett Pitlick and Blake Biondi, who are now free to sign with any NHL team.

This decision suggests that the Canadiens still believe in Smilanic's potential, even though he hasn't shown outstanding performances in the NCAA and ECHL recently.

Smilanic now needs to prove that he deserves an entry-level contract with the Montreal club, which currently holds 44 contracts out of a possible 50.

Credit : HABSolument Fan
Le Canadien a confirmé le sort de trois espoirs issus de la NCAA