Photo credit: A Winning Habit

The end may be near for 2022 first round pick Filip Mesar after he hits an all time low with the Montreal Canadiens.

It was a Slovakian filled 2022 NHL draft for GM kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens selecting both Juraj Slafkovsky and Filip Mesar in the first round, however one of them has been put on the bottom of the prospect list due to his behaviour and attitude.

According to a Slovakian source, Kent Hughes has been trying to trade prospect Filip Mesar in a trade for Rutger McGroarty from the Winnipeg Jets. Like Mesar, McGroarty is being shopped around because of his character issues.

»According to information circulating overseas, Filip Mešár was offered as part of a trade aimed at acquiring Rutger McGroarty from the Winnipeg Jets. However, in addition to the Slovak youth, Montreal would also have to add a draft pick from the Panthers or Flames in 2025 and a young defenseman, perhaps Justin Barron or Jordan Harris. However, Winnipeg seems to be rejecting Kent Hughes’ various offers for now. The Canadiens’ first-round pick played in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OHL) for the Kitchener Rangers and had 52 points in 45 games, which is disappointing for a 20-year-old. Despite the presence of star junior teammates on the team like Carson Rehkopf and Hunter Brzustewicz, Mešár couldn’t get his game going, and worst of all, he chose to point at his teammates. “When I was trying to create something, my teammates were there a little late, and that frustrated me a little, but I had to get over it,” he said in an interview with Slovak media. This frustration no doubt contributed to the tense atmosphere in his junior team. Mešar’s situation was further complicated when the Montreal Canadiens decided to return him to his junior club after a difficult stint with the Laval Rocket, even though they promised him a spot in the farm competition. Even though the organization explained to him that players like Nick Suzuki and Cole Caufield had not yet played in the NHL at his age, Mešár had a hard time accepting this decision. Mešár’s behavior was also questioned. In addition to publicly criticizing his teammates, he turned down Kent Hughes’ invitation to attend the Canadiens’ development camp. This refusal was seen as a lack of professionalism and dedication. Filip Mešár is now at the bottom of the list of team prospects. With young talents like Hutson, Kapanen, Beck, Demidov and Hage all set to play in the NHL soon, Mešár will have to change his attitude if he wants to regain the trust of the organization. Filip Mešár’s potential trade could represent a new opportunity for him to prove his worth in a new environment. Mešar’s future in the NHL will depend on whether he can change his attitude.»

Mesar hasn’t exactly progressed like the Canadiens have been hoping, perhaps a trade may be beneficial for both parties.