Logan Sawyer is selected by the during the Montreal Canadiens with the 78th overall pick in the 2024 Upper Deck NHL Draft (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
The Montreal Canadiens will have yet another prospect joining the US collegiate rankings this fall.
After a few weeks of back and forth, Logan Sawyer, the Montreal Canadiens’ 3rd-round pick in the 2024 NHL Draft has officially decided to head to the NCAA for the 2024-25 season.
RG sources close to the situation say that a final decision came shortly before this week and he will be ready to join the Providence College Friars for the start of the year.
The interest to expedite the move to the NCAA was mutual, as playing another year in the BCHL opened up the risk of Sawyer changing his mind and committing to another program; something Providence likely wasn’t willing to risk, especially after Sawyer was drafted.
The Orangeville, Ontario native spent his draft year in the AJHL and BCHL with the Brooks Bandits, rather than the OHL, to maintain his NCAA eligibility.
Sawyer put up 33 goals and 78 points in 59 games for the Bandits last season, and then followed that up with seven goals and 15 points in 12 games.
Standing at 6-foot-one and 175 pounds, the young forward will have ample time to add to his frame and his gym, thanks to the lighter NCAA schedule.
The 18-year-old will be in tough for ice-time however at Providence College, as other top prospects like John Mustard (Chicago) and Trevor Connelly (Vegas) also join the ranks.
Impact on NHL Rights
Deciding to fast-track the next step to the NCAA is nothing new for the Montreal Canadiens.
Jayden Struble did the same, jumping from prep school straight to the NCAA in 2019; a couple of months after being selected in the second round of the 2019 NHL Draft by Montreal.
Although it can have some beneficial effects to a player’s development path, it does somewhat change the developmental timeline the Montreal Canadiens may have had for Sawyer.
By starting his college career as soon as this fall, the Canadiens will have up until August 15, 2028, to sign him.
Due to the NCAA loophole in the NHL’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), NCAA-based players can come free agents if unsigned as of August 15th from when they graduate college.
Had Sawyer delayed his entry to Providence College and spent the 2024-25 season in the BCHL with the Brooks Bandits, the Canadiens would have had until the summer of 2029 to make a decision.
It's not a massive change, but, given that Sawyer is one of the more raw prospects in the Canadiens’ pool of youngsters, it can be argued that he took the best route for his physical development.
He may not begin the season in the Friars’ top-six at the start of the season, but Sawyer will look to soak it all in and take advantage of his opportunities when they come.
Marco D'Amico is a beat reporter covering the Montreal Canadiens and the NHL Draft, while also being a recurring guest on TSN690 and BPM Sports. His work primarily on NHL CBA breakdowns and prospect analysis, all while covering the Montreal Canadiens on a day-to-day basis.
