The world of professional hockey is as unpredictable as it is unforgiving. For every story of a young star rising swiftly through the ranks, there are just as many tales of promise that fade before ever reaching their full potential. In Montreal, hope is a currency spent quickly, and expectations for first-round picks are always sky-high.

The city’s passionate fanbase and relentless media create an atmosphere where every move, every game, and every decision is scrutinized under the brightest of spotlights.

Recently, the focus has shifted to one particular player whose journey has taken an unexpected turn. Once celebrated as a cornerstone of the Canadiens’ future, this young forward now finds himself on the outside looking in, his role and relevance within the organization suddenly shrouded in doubt. The excitement that once surrounded his selection has been replaced by uncertainty and speculation about what comes next.

As the playoffs unfold and the stakes rise for the Canadiens and their affiliates, the absence of this former first-rounder has not gone unnoticed. Fans and analysts alike are left to wonder: what happened to this once-promising prospect, and is there any hope left for him to reclaim his place in Montreal’s plans?

Photo credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

It feels like the end for a once-promising Montreal Canadiens prospect, as Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton seem to have lost hope.

At that famous 2022 Draft in Montreal, the Canadiens, of course, selected Juraj Slafkovsky with the 1st overall pick, and Lane Hutson with the 62nd overall pick, but Kent Hughes also called Filip Mesar’s name in the first round.

With their second 1st-round pick of the 2022 Draft, the Canadiens indeed selected another Slovak, a very good friend of Slafkovsky’s, in Mesar.

To say the least, it’s not a pick that’s aging particularly well for the Habs.

Not only did Mesar fail to meet expectations in junior hockey, but it’s been even worse since he arrived with the Laval Rocket.

Filip Mesar is left out of Pascal Vincent’s plans during the 2025 AHL playoffs

That tells you everything you need to know about Mesar’s development and how the Canadiens’ leadership perceives him.

It’s often said, but the main goal of the Laval Rocket is the development of the Montreal Canadiens’ top prospects.

I can promise you, if Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton still saw Mesar as an important future piece for the Habs, he would be in the Rocket’s lineup right now.

But that’s not the case.

We’re not talking about an 18- or 19-year-old player here, we’re talking about someone who is about to turn 22 and was drafted nearly three years ago!

Rocket: Filip Mesar not even playing in the playoffs (and that says a lot)

Yes, it really looks like it’s over for Mesar in Montreal, and all signs point to him being shown the door sooner rather than later.

At least, that’s an opinion shared by many.

And you, do you still believe Filip Mesar has a future with the Montreal Canadiens?

He hasn’t played a single game in the playoffs..