Montreal Canadiens prospect Owen Beck is making waves in his first professional season with the Laval Rocket. The 20-year-old center has transitioned seamlessly from junior hockey to the American Hockey League (AHL) and is quickly establishing himself as one of Laval’s most reliable players.
Drafted 33rd overall in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft, the 6-foot, 190-pound Port Hope, Ontario native is thriving under head coach Pascal Vincent.
By the Numbers: Beck’s Impressive Start
Beck’s production has been nothing short of remarkable this season:
- 7 goals, 13 assists, and 20 points in 23 games with a +9 rating.
- He’s only been a minus player in 4 games this season.
- All 7 goals have come at even strength—none on the power play.
- 4 of his goals were game-winners.
- He’s been held pointless in just 7 games this year.
- 9 points in his last 8 games.
- Currently riding a 6-game point streak.
At his current pace, Beck is projected to finish the season with 22 goals, 44 assists, and a +28 rating over 72 games—outstanding numbers for a rookie professional.
It’s long been said that Beck’s skillset is tailor-made for the pro game, and so far, he’s proving that theory correct. The Canadiens organization undoubtedly has to be thrilled with his development to date.
Call-Up Conversation
With Kirby Dach still struggling to regain form in Montreal, there’s been chatter among Canadiens followers about potential solutions. On The Sick Podcast recently, analyst Grant McCagg suggested giving Owen Beck an opportunity to center a line with Patrik Laine and Juraj Slafkovský.
It’s an intriguing idea. Beck’s performance certainly warrants attention, and the thought of him contributing at the NHL level is exciting. However, as Grant acknowledges, the decision for Kent Hughes and the Canadiens management is about more than just short-term fixes—it’s about long-term success for both the player and the organization.
Lessons from the Past
The Edmonton Oilers serve as a cautionary tale when it comes to rushing prospects into significant roles too early. Former Oilers center Eric Belanger once criticized the team for this approach:
“The young guys were given a big role early in their career, which I don’t think was the right thing to do. I saw Taylor Hall putting so much pressure onto himself.”
In a 2021 interview, André Tourigny offered a brilliant analogy about player development:
“People think that development is just playing the young guys, but that’s not what development is. If you have a 12-year-old who wants to be a doctor, you don’t send him straight to university. You go step by step: high school, then university, an internship—and then they become a doctor. Development in hockey is the same. If you push a player too far, too soon, it doesn’t help them. There is nothing more false than to believe that playing at a higher level will allow for a better development. They need to be at a level where they can succeed, whether that’s in the AHL or junior. Otherwise, they’ll fail and lose confidence.”
The Canadiens have applied this philosophy successfully with players like Logan Mailloux and Joshua Roy. Mailloux, though NHL-ready in many ways, was kept in the AHL to continue refining his game. Similarly, Roy has been dominant in Laval but struggled to make an impact during his brief NHL stint, highlighting the significant gap between the AHL and NHL levels.
What’s Best for Beck?
Does Owen Beck deserve a taste of NHL action? Absolutely. His play in Laval has earned him that consideration. But unless a major injury at center forces Montreal’s hand, the best path for his development might be patience. Allowing him to stay in Laval, dominate, and build confidence ensures he’s fully prepared for the NHL when his time comes.
A realistic scenario could see Beck called up closer to the trade deadline when pending unrestricted free agents like Jake Evans or Christian Dvorak are potentially moved. Until then, Laval remains the ideal environment for Beck to thrive, grow, and become the player the Canadiens hope he can be.
