The Montreal Canadiens have dipped into their own backyard, signing Antoine Waked out of the QMJHL to a three-year entry-level. The 20-year old winger went undrafted, and has just completed his fourth year for the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. The deal will begin next season when Waked will likely be assigned to the new Laval-based AHL affiliate that will begin play in 2017-18.
Waked is from Saint Bruno de Montarville, a Montreal suburb that is perhaps best known for being the home of former Canadiens great and NHL hall of fame player Serge Savard. He’ll have big skates to fill behind Savard, but experienced a breakout this season for the Huskies, scoring 39 goals and 80 points in 67 games. Unfortunately, he was held out of all but one of the Huskies’ playoff games with an arm injury and had to watch them fall to Chicoutimi in overtime of game 7 in the second round. He had already experienced winning though as part of the Rouyn-Noranda team that won the Q championship last season.
While he’s still far away from any possible NHL action, Waked did take his final opportunity in the CHL to make his presence known and perhaps open a few eyes to the potential he could hold. It’s mostly due to the fact that he was overaged in the league, but perhaps he can continue to work hard enough to take that success to the next level. The Canadiens think so, giving him a precious contract spot—he’ll be the 34th out of 50 already signed for next season, with at least a dozen RFAs needing decisions as well as other unsigned prospects.