The Canadiens Are Taking a Patient Approach With Rohrer

Sometimes the most interesting player-development decisions are the ones that don't involve an NHL roster at all. The Montreal Canadiens have loaned forward Vinzenz Rohrer to EV Zug of Switzerland's National League, giving the 21-year-old another opportunity to play meaningful hockey rather than sit around waiting for a chance in North America.

That might sound like a small transaction. It isn't necessarily. The young Austrian had spent most of last season in Switzerland, playing 41 regular-season games for the ZSC Lions and recording four goals and 12 points. He also appeared briefly for the Laval Rocket, playing one regular-season game and five more during the Calder Cup playoffs.

Those aren't numbers that suggest a player is knocking on the NHL door right now. But that's not necessarily the point.

There’s no need to rush Rohrer to North America.

Rohrer was selected by Montreal in the third round of the 2023 NHL Draft, and the Canadiens don't need to rush him simply because he was a relatively high draft pick. At 21, there is still plenty of development time available. The important thing is finding the right environment for that development.

Playing in Switzerland gives Rohrer an opportunity to play regularly against good competition rather than spending most of his time watching games from the press box or bouncing between limited roles.

Playing in Switzerland will allow Rohrer to become a better hockey player.

The temptation with prospects is always to ask whether they're NHL-ready. A better question might be whether they're becoming better hockey players. Rohrer's loan suggests the Canadiens are taking the second approach.

That doesn't mean Montreal has given up on him. Quite the opposite. A team doesn't generally spend much time worrying about the development path of a player it has already decided isn't part of the future. The Canadiens appear to be giving Rohrer another season to grow.

The bigger story here is that the Canadiens are working to develop their prospects.

Montreal has been rebuilding its prospect pool for several years, and not every prospect is going to arrive in the NHL on the same schedule. Some will move quickly. Others will take longer. A few will take a step backward before taking two forward. Rohrer may be one of those players.

For now, there is no need to turn his four goals and 12 points into a verdict on his future. The more interesting question is what those numbers look like after another full season of development. Sometimes patience is part of the plan.