Every NHL organization dreams of unearthing the kind of prospect who flies under the radar, quietly developing overseas before bursting onto the scene with a performance that makes everyone take notice. For the Montreal Canadiens, that moment may have arrived with Vinzenz Rohrer—a name that, until recently, was known only to the most dedicated followers of the team’s prospect pipeline.

Hailing from Austria and just 20 years old, Rohrer has been steadily honing his craft far from the North American spotlight, putting in the hard work and determination required to stand out in the fiercely competitive world of professional hockey. With a relentless motor and a willingness to do whatever it takes for his team, he’s begun to draw attention for all the right reasons.

As whispers of his potential grow louder, Rohrer’s journey is suddenly at a crossroads, with fans and analysts alike wondering when—and how—he’ll make his mark on the Canadiens organization. His recent exploits have only added fuel to the fire, sparking comparisons to a beloved Habs forward and raising intriguing questions about his future. For Montreal, this could be the start of something special, and the hockey world is watching closely.

Photo credit: Habs Eyes on the Prize

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

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.