The Montreal Canadiens announced today that they have signed prospect Martin Reway, a 5’8… 173 lbs forward from Slovakia to a 3 year entry level contract today:
Canadiens agree to terms on a three-year contract with forward Martin Reway. DETAILS | https://t.co/7A7n4P7xYg pic.twitter.com/n9PIEd0XXb
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) May 18, 2016
Reway was drafted 116th overall in the 4th round of the 2013 draft. He might be one of the Canadiens most offensively talented prospects but he is also one of their most contentious having bounced from club to club over the last few years. When the Canadiens drafted Reway, he was playing as an import for the QMJHL’s Gatineau Olympiques under head coach Benoit Groulx. After two seasons in the Q, Reway decided to turn pro as a 19 year old and play with Sparta Praha in the Czech league. Despite leading his team in scoring this season, Reway would often play minimal minutes and ride the bench for long periods of time. In November, less than midway through the season Reway left Sparta to join Fribourg-Gotteron HC of the Swiss NLA league where he recorded 21 points in 19 games.
Fans may remember Reway from when he captained and was one of the standout players for Slovakia to a bronze medal at the 2015 World Junior Championships. At the young age of 21 at the current World Championships taking place in Russia, Reway was named an assistant captain for Slovakia. With only one assist in 7 games though, Reway was not able to lead Slovakia to spot in the quarterfinals as they needed to defeat the United States in regulation to move on in their last game, not in overtime as they did.
So which is it? Is Reway a troublesome player who cannot get along with his coaches or is he a leader? By signing a 3 year agreement with the Canadiens, Reway is fully aware that he may end up playing in Saint John’s rather than in Montreal. Any hint of an attitude will not be taken lightly by Marc Bergevin and Michel Therrien/Sylvain Lefebvre. One has to assume that the Canadiens have done their homework before offering Reway a contract to make sure that he is committed to playing with the team.
Reway certainly has the skills but with his small frame, will he be able to translate them into finding success at the NHL level? It is a low risk signing for Bergevin but the Canadiens cannot count on Reway improving the team immediately. He will also be in competition with the newly signed Artturi Lehkonen who is coming off a tremendous season and playoffs in Sweden. Fans should get a chance to see both of them in person at the development camp this July.
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