Shocking behaviour forces Montreal Canadiens' first-round pick on trade block
The Montreal Canadiens' 2022 first-round pick Filip Mesar might be facing the end of his tenure after experiencing an unprecedented slump.
The 2022 NHL draft was notable for GM Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens, who selected two Slovakian players, Juraj Slafkovsky and Filip Mesar, in the first round. However, one of them has fallen to the bottom of the prospect list due to behavior and attitude issues.
A Slovakian source reports that Kent Hughes has been attempting to trade prospect Filip Mesar in exchange for Rutger McGroarty from the Winnipeg Jets. Similar to Mesar, McGroarty is also being shopped around due to character concerns.
»According to information circulating overseas, Filip Me�ár was offered as part of a trade aimed at acquiring Rutger McGroarty from the Winnipeg Jets. However, in addition to the Slovak youth, Montreal would also have to add a draft pick from the Panthers or Flames in 2025 and a young defenseman, perhaps Justin Barron or Jordan Harris. However, Winnipeg seems to be rejecting Kent Hughes' various offers for now. The Canadiens' first-round pick played in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OHL) for the Kitchener Rangers and had 52 points in 45 games, which is disappointing for a 20-year-old. Despite the presence of star junior teammates on the team like Carson Rehkopf and Hunter Brzustewicz, Me�ár couldn't get his game going, and worst of all, he chose to point at his teammates. "When I was trying to create something, my teammates were there a little late, and that frustrated me a little, but I had to get over it," he said in an interview with Slovak media. This frustration no doubt contributed to the tense atmosphere in his junior team. Me�ar's situation was further complicated when the Montreal Canadiens decided to return him to his junior club after a difficult stint with the Laval Rocket, even though they promised him a spot in the farm competition. Even though the organization explained to him that players like Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield had not yet played in the NHL at his age, Me�ár had a hard time accepting this decision. Me�ár's behavior was also questioned. In addition to publicly criticizing his teammates, he turned down Kent Hughes' invitation to attend the Canadiens' development camp. This refusal was seen as a lack of professionalism and dedication. Filip Me�ár is now at the bottom of the list of team prospects. With young talents like Hutson, Kapanen, Beck, Demidov and Hage all set to play in the NHL soon, Me�ár will have to change his attitude if he wants to regain the trust of the organization. Filip Me�ár's potential trade could represent a new opportunity for him to prove his worth in a new environment. Me�ar's future in the NHL will depend on whether he can change his attitude.» "Me�ár's behavior was also questioned. In addition to publicly criticizing his Ok teammates, he turned down Kent Hughes' invitation to attend the Canadiens' development camp. This refusal was seen as a lack of professionalism and dedication."
Given the young forward's lack of cooperation and constant issues with teammates, it's no surprise Montreal wants to move on from him. Regardless of their conflicts, hopefully, Filip Mesar will still have the chance to achieve his goal of playing in the NHL.
| POLL |
JUILLET 11 | 181 ANSWERS Shocking behaviour forces Montreal Canadiens' first-round pick on trade block Do you think Kent Hughes will trade Filip Mesar before he plays a game with the Montreal Canadiens? |
| Yes | 130 | 71.8 % |
| No | 51 | 28.2 % |
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