One of the most underrated prospects in the Montreal Canadiens organization is without a doubt Vinzenz Rohrer.
The 20-year-old Austrian has spent the last two seasons playing with the ZSC Lions in the Swiss National League without attracting much attention.
However, he just put his name on the map while representing Austria at the Ice Hockey World Championship.
In a game against Canada, where Rohrer's team was a major underdog, he managed to stand out in a big way.
He gave Austria the lead by beautifully beating veteran goaltender Marc-André Fleury.
What's next for Vinzenz Rohrer?
When his team won a second consecutive championship in the Swiss league, many believed Rohrer would join the Laval Rocket.
Instead, he chose to represent Austria at the World Championship.
However, it's only a matter of time before the Canadiens' 2022 third-round pick (75th overall) makes the jump to North America.
His contract situation, similar to Oliver Kapanen's this season, will complicate a potential stint with the Laval Rocket.
Rohrer currently has a valid contract through the end of the 2025-2026 season.
If he were to sign with the Canadiens, he would have to play in Montreal, because if he were assigned to Laval, he would return to Zurich under the European assignment clause.
The Austrian himself admits he truly doesn't know what will happen in the coming months.
"I'll have to think about it over the summer. I'm not trying to dodge the question, I really don't know which direction things will go."
"It'll depend on several factors, my level of play, what happens in Montreal, in Laval.
But my goal remains to one day make the move to North America."
- Vinzenz Rohrer
"It'll depend on several factors, my level of play, what happens in Montreal, in Laval.
But my goal remains to one day make the move to North America."
- Vinzenz Rohrer
Vinzenz Rohrer: A Brendan Gallagher 2.0
Many compare Rohrer to current Canadiens forward Brendan Gallagher. Their similar builds and playing styles are the basis of this comparison.
Indeed, the Habs prospect is known for his intense, gritty style of play.
His hockey IQ, smooth skating, and fearlessness in driving to the net make him a standout forward.
In 52 games this season with the ZSC Lions in the Swiss league, Rohrer tallied 15 goals and 10 assists for a total of 25 points.
That's an increase of 6 points compared to the previous season with the same team. It'll be interesting to see how things unfold for this intriguing Canadiens prospect.
This is shaping up to be yet another great move by Kent Hughes with the selection of Rohrer.
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