Eyes On The Prize: A Montreal Canadiens podcast

Habsent Minded 5.70: 2023 NHL Draft Preview with Scott Wheeler

Scott Wheeler of The Athletic joins Jared Book and Matt Drake as they discuss the 2023 NHL Draft. What will the Canadiens do at #5 overall? What concerns are there with Matvei Michkov? What about some of the other options rumoured at that pick like Ryan Leonard and David Reinbacher? We also discuss Gabe Perreault, the goalie situation, and take a look at some Canadiens prospects like Joshua Roy, Jared Davidson, and Vincenz Rohrer.

Habsent Minded 5.69: EliteProspects Draft Special, With David St.Louis

Former colleague and EliteProspects draft guru David St.Louis joins the podcast to talk about EliteProspects scouting list and the options available at number five for the Canadiens.

Habsent Minded 5.68: Smaht Scouting Draft Special, with Josh Tessler

Smaht Scouting Josh Tessler joins the podcast to talk about the 2023 NHL Draft, and give his thoughts on Montreal Candiens choices at number five, and whom they should hope for at number 31 and 37.

Habsent Minded EXTRA: Cole Caufield is signed!

Matt Drake, Jared Book and Patrik Bexell talk about the new Cole Caufield contract.

Habsent Minded 5.67: McKeens Draft Special, with Brock Otten

McKeen's Hockey Draft project manager Brock Otten joins the podcast to talk the Montreal draft; Michkov Reinbacher Dvorsky Leonard Edstrom Willander Fowler Nilsson We also get an update from Brock in regards to Owen Beck and Logan Mailloux, as Brocks own area of scouting is the OHL.

Habsent Minded 5.66: Recapping the Rocket

Jared Book and Patrik Bexell discuss the stock of some Montreal Canadiens prospects in the AHL and the Laval Rocket. How has the coaching staff dealt with development? Whose clocks are ticking, and who deserves praise for their season?

Habsent minded 5.65: Draft prospect report; Dalibor Dvorský with Matej Deraj

McKeens hockey scout Matej Deraj joins the podcast to talk about Dalibor Dvorský and some placing Axel Sandin-Pellika at number five as Craig Button did in his latest rankings.

Habsent Minded 5.64: “Fresh prince of Montreal?” Will Smith, with Chris Peters.

Draft scout Chris Peters of @FloHockey and Talking Hockey Sense Podcast joins the pod to talk about the potential "Fresh Prince in Montreal" - Will Smith

Habsent Minded Extra - Fifth Overall

An instant reaction to the draft lottery, and the three players that might be available when it is time for Montreal to make their choice.

Habsent Minded 5.63: The Prospect AllStar Team, with Hadi Kalakeche

Hadi and Patrik Pick the combined AllStar team from their columns "Catching the Torch" and "European Prospect Report."

Habsent Minded 5.62: Grading the Defensive prospects w. Hadi Kalakeche.

Habsent Minded 5.61: Grading Oliver Kapanen's season, with Timo Kunnari

Listen to Patrik Bexell get schooled by Timo Kunnari as we dive into the season that Oliver Kapanen has had. Including another view on brining young players to training camp.

Habsent Minded 5.60: Grading Petteri Nurmi's season, with Timo Kunnari

Timo Kunnari from Finland's biggest newspaper Iltalehti joins the podcast to give us the inside story of Petteri Nurmi's season.

Habsent Minded 5.59: Hadi Kalakeche grades the past season for the North American forwards in the Montreal Canadiens system

Hadi Kalakeche grades the past season for the North American forwards in the Montreal Canadiens system. In order of appearance: Luke Tuch Rhett Pitlick Riley Kidney Joshua Roy Cedrick Guindon Vinzenz Rohrer Filip Mešár Owen Beck Sean Farrell

Habsent Minded EXTRA: The Laval Rocket clinch a playoff spot!

Matt Drake and Anton Rasegard discuss the Laval Rocket clinching the playoffs, and who we should look out for during their run

Bottom Six Minutes 82, Habs vs. Bruins: FIN

Matt Drake recaps the final game of the Montreal Canadiens 2022-23 season.

Bottom Six Minutes 81, Habs @ Isles: Penultimate

Matt Drake recaps the second-last Habs game of the year, including Nick Suzuki's ridiculous shortie

Habsent Minded 5.58: The future is bright

Jared Book, Anton Rasegård, and Matt Drake discuss the Laval Rocket's playoff push and the future of the Canadiens organization. The Rocket won on Monday night to keep their playoff chances alive, and with two games remaining for both the NHL's Canadiens and the AHL's Rocket, the trio discuss what they are looking forward to in the future.

Habsent Minded 5.57: Grading Adam Engström's Season - with Sanny Lindström

Sanny Lindström, hockey expert for CMORE and Expressen as well as a former SHL champion, joins the podcast to discuss Montreal prospect Adam Engström's debut season in SHL with Rögle. You can find Sanny Lindström on Twitter HERE

Bottom Six Minutes 80, Habs @ Leafs: The end is nigh

Matt Drake recaps a really annoying Sportsnet broadcast, and a big loss for the Habs against the Leafs

Habsent Minded 5.56: Grading Emil Heineman's SHL season - with Jimmy Hamrin of Eliteprospects

Eliteprospect's Jimmy Hamrin joins the podcast to evaluate Emil Heineman's SHL season. Does the Victor Olofsson comparison hold up to scrutiny? What about Heineman's defensive ability is that something Patrik has just promoted, and what about that Adam Engström? 

Bottom Six Minutes 79, Habs vs. Caps: Playing for Pride

Matt Drake discusses the Habs dominance over the Caps on pride night at the Bell Centre

Bottom Six Minutes 78, Habs vs. Red Wings: Brutal

Matt Drake recaps a game he didn't watch live, and wished he didn't watch at all as the Habs lose 5-0 to the Red Wings

Prospect Minded: Post-game interview with Riley Kidney

Matt Drake caught up with Riley Kidney after a disappointing playoff loss for the Gatineau Olympiques

Habsent Minded 5.54: Scouting report - David Reinbacher, with Thomas Roost

Central scoutings @Thomasroost joins the podcast to talk about David Reinbacher who plays for Kloten in the Swiss NLA.

Bottom Six Minutes 77, Habs vs. Canes: April Schooled

Matt Drake discusses a pitiful effort from the Canadiens, in which they'd have been thoroughly embarrassed if not for Samuel Montembeault

Habsent Minded 5.53: Organisational Players of the Month - March

Anton Rasegård, Matt Drake, Hadi Kalakeche, Jared Book and myself provides a veritable smörgåsbord in opinions and tangents when we discuss; Lane Hutson Adam Engström Pierrick Dubé Mike Matheson

Bottom Six Minutes 76, Habs vs. Panthers: Farrellmania

Matt Drake recaps another one for the tank, and Sean Farrell's first NHL goal on his first career shot at the Bell Centre

Bottom Six Minutes 75, Habs @ Flyers: Tankathon

Matt Drake recaps a four point tank night, keeping the Flyers well ahead of the Canadiens, and thus behind them in the draft lottery

Bottom Six Minutes 74, Habs @ Sabres: PEZ DISPENSER

Matt Drake discusses Michael Pezzetta's shootout heroics, wild celly, and the impact that an unexpected win has on the tank 

Bottom Six Minutes 73, Habs vs. Blue Jackets: Harvey Three-Nard

Matt Drake discusses Rafael Harvey Pinard's brilliance in an 8-2 rout for the Habs over the Blue Jackets

Bottom Six Minutes 72, Habs @ Bruins: Old time hockey

Matt Drake discusses the Habs and Bruins getting a little out of hand thanks to the refs, as well as the night's tank moves

Bottom Six Minutes 71, Habs vs. Lightning: He's Daaaach

Matt Drake discusses the return of Kirby Dach, the brilliance of Samuel Montembeault, and an update for EOTP's podcast production

Bottom Six Minutes 70, Habs @ Lightning: Tank Moves

Matt Drake discusses the Jonathan Drouin situation, as well as the Habs making another tank move with a loss to the Lightning.

Bottom Six Minutes 69, Habs @ Panthers: INSANITY

Matt Drake recaps a wild game featuring 10 goals in the first 20 minutes, two Habs goaltender changes, and plenty of ridiculousness.

Bottom Six Minutes 68, Habs @ Pens: Anti-Tank Monty

Matt Drake discusses Samuel Montembeault's brilliant, yet detrimental to the tank performance against the Penguins

Bottom Six Minutes 66 & 67: GOING STREAKING

Matt drake recaps both recent Habs losses to the Devils and Avalanche, and what they mean for their draft lottery odds.

Bottom Six Minutes 65, Habs vs. Rangers: Loser points suck

Matt Drake discusses the Habs dominating the scoring chances against the Rangers, yet still only getting that annoying loser point.

Bottom Six Minutes 64, Habs vs. Canes: Of course it was KK

Matt Drake discusses the inevitability of Jesperi Kotkaniemi winning the game for the Canes in Montreal, among other things.

Bottom Six Minutes 63, Habs @ Golden Knights: Perfect

Matt Drake discusses how perfect a tank game the Habs played against the Golden Knights on Sunday evening.

Bottom Six Minutes 62, Habs @ Ducks: Deadline Disappointment

Matt Drake discusses the deadline inactivity of the Montreal Canadiens, as well as their loss to the Anaheim Ducks

Bottom Six Minutes 61, Habs @ Kings: Crown Jewels

Matt Drake discusses Denis Gurianov's first goal as a Hab, and some potential trade bait performances in a loss against the Kings.

Habsent Minded 5.52: Organisational Players of the Month - February

Hadi Kalakeche, Matt Drake and Patrik Bexell talks about the players of the months picked by the Eyes on the Prize staff.

Bottom Six Minutes 60, Habs @ Sharks: Sharknado

Matt Drake discusses Denis Gurianov's debut, and Kaiden Guhle's return in a Habs win over the Sharks in California

Bottom Six Minutes 59, Habs vs. Sens: Tank Nation

Matt Drake discusses the tank, as the Habs look pretty good through 60 minutes, but still fall to the Senators

Bottom Six Minutes 58, Habs @ Flyers: Bullying the bullies

Matt Drake discusses the Habs going into Philly, and putting a beating on the "Broad Street Bullies"

The Dispatch - Axel Sandin Pellikka, with Robert Ohlsson coach of Skellefteå

We get to hear a short interview with Robert Ohlsson, coach of Skellefteå AIK, and what he has to say about Axel Sandin Pellikka.

Bottom Six Minutes EXTRA! A word on the Tim Peel situation

Tim Peel was recently in the news for his behaviour at a minor hockey game in Missouri. Matt Drake shares some thoughts on that, and hockey parents in general.

Bottom Six Minutes 57, Habs @ Devils: NonTembeault, again

Matt Drake discusses Samuel Montembeault's brilliance in a big win over one of the best teams in the east.

Bottom Six Minutes 56, Habs @ Leafs: Brain Farts

Matt Drake discusses how defensive lapses cost the Habs against the new look Leafs. Another one for the tank!