Filip Mesar was selected by the Canadiens in the first round of the 2022 draft but faced a challenging start to his career. After being sent down to the Ontario Hockey League for a couple of seasons, he had two seasons with the Kitchener Rangers, where he accumulated 103 points in 97 games. This season, Mesar began strong with the Laval Rocket, recording five points in five games, but his progress has been interrupted by a lower-body injury that will keep him out for eight to ten weeks. His situation reflects a tough start for Canadiens prospects, with another player, David Reinbacher, also sidelined for an extended period.