Article content
It didn’t take long for forward Owen Beck to impress Canadiens management.
On Tuesday, GM Kent Hughes announced that Beck had agreed to terms on a three-year, NHL entry-level contract that will pay the 18-year-old centre US$775,000 at the NHL level in 2022-23, US$835,000 in 2023-24 and US$855,000 in 2024-25. The contract, which also contains signing bonuses of US$95,000 each year, will pay Beck US$82,500 per season at the AHL level.
The Canadiens selected Beck with the first pick in the second round (33rd overall) at this year’s NHL draft and he was very impressive during training camp and in preseason games.
Beck posted 21-30-51 totals in 68 games last season with the Mississauga Steelheads, finishing fifth among OHL rookies in scoring, and won 60.6 per cent of his faceoffs.
“It’s a huge honour to sign a contract in my first NHL camp,” Beck said after taking part in the Canadiens’ morning skate Tuesday in Brossard. “It’s a great feeling that the organization has that kind of trust in me. I think it’s just a testament to the hard work I’ve put in over the summer and getting ready to do my best here.”
Article content
Beck was in the Canadiens lineup at centre between Emil Heineman and Joel Armia for Tuesday night’s 5-4 loss to the Ottawa Senators in preseason action at the Bell Centre. After the game, the Canadiens announced that Beck was being returned to the OHL’s Mississauga Steelheads.
“It’s all been a whirlwind the past couple of weeks,” Beck, who took part in a development camp, a rookie camp and training camp since being drafted, said after Tuesday’s morning skate in Brossard. “It’s just one thing after another. All of it’s been pretty positive, so it definitely boosts my confidence a little bit. I’m just super-excited to be here and really honoured with all the things that have happened so far.”
When asked if he feels like he’s closer to playing in the NHL now than he did after getting drafted, Beck said: “Yeah, for sure. I think the NHL is something that a lot of guys put on a pedestal and it is a very big jump from junior. But kind of getting that experience in the preseason and in the rookie tournament it’s been able to kind of bring that pedestal down a little bit closer to me and it’s good to have that experience.”
Beck was ranked 10th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting heading into the draft and was also named the CHL’s Scholastic Player of the Year.
Article content
Beck had a 93 per cent grade average in Grade 12 at Philip Pocock Catholic Secondary School in Mississauga. His grades included 96 per cent in advanced functions, 93 per cent in university chemistry, 94 per cent in kinesiology, 91 per cent in calculus and 93 per cent in university biology. Beck said he’s going to put university on hold this year to focus on hockey.
“I’ll see how the first part of the year goes,” he said. “If I’m a little bit bored and feel like I have a lot of time on my hands I might pick up a class or two in the second semester. But as of right now I haven’t started any courses.”
Canadiens head coach Martin St. Louis noted Tuesday morning that Beck has maturity in his game and is consistent in making good decisions on the ice. The coach added that Beck has a good shot, is dangerous when he gets scoring chances and is also responsible defensively.
St. Louis also said Beck can go back to junior with a lot of confidence after a good NHL camp and signing his first contract. St. Louis added that Beck can take everything he learned at this camp and execute it both on and off the ice at the junior level while taking more of a leadership role with the Steelheads.
Article content
“Owen Beck is a 200-foot player,” Martin Lapointe, the Canadiens co-director of amateur scouting, along with Nick Bobrov, said after the draft. “Plays the right way. He’s a student of the game. He’s a good student at school. He does good things on the ice. He’s got A’s at school, he does A things on the ice and it reflects on his play. Everything is detail oriented. He’s been the best faceoff guy in the OHL. Competes, can skate, can make plays, supports his defencemen really well. He’s below the puck all the time. He just plays the right way.”
Meanwhile, forward Filip Mesar will start this season with the AHL’s Laval Rocket after being selected in the first round (26th overall) of this year’s NHL draft. Mesar will be joined by defenceman Mattias Norlinder — a third-round pick from the 2019 NHL draft — forward Xavier Simoneau and goalie Kevin Poulin in Laval.
The Canadiens made those moves Tuesday afternoon and also announced that forwards Alex Belzile, Anthony Richard and Mitchell Stephens had been placed on waivers.
After Tuesday night’s game, the Canadiens announced that forward Brandon Gignac was being sent to Laval.
"entry" - Google News
October 05, 2022 at 10:56AM
https://ift.tt/J6UhrMX
Canadiens sign Owen Beck to NHL entry-level contract - Montreal Gazette
"entry" - Google News
https://ift.tt/XTg9vWa
https://ift.tt/AqftE7V
Bagikan Berita Ini
0 Response to "Canadiens sign Owen Beck to NHL entry-level contract - Montreal Gazette"
Post a Comment