Filip Mesar had two options when the Montreal Canadiens made the decision to return him to the junior ranks for another season last October: feel sorry for himself or roll up his sleeves. He chose option number two.
After a first year in which they became familiar with North American ice hockey with the Kitchener Rangers in the Ontario League (OHL), Mesar and the CH had put together a plan for the current season, which did not include the return of the juniors provided. On the contrary, during the team’s last development camp, the Slovak forward mentioned: “When the Rocket sent me back to the Kitchener Rangers in October.” [2022]I spoke to Canadiens management and they told me to only play one season in Kitchener. They want to see me in Laval this year. My agent gave the same speech.
However, things didn’t quite go as planned. After a difficult training camp, Mesar started the year with the Rockets, but only played in two of the first four games while sitting out the other two games.
Photo Martin Chevalier
On October 15, the CH decided that the plan no longer stood and returned Mesar to Kitchener.
A decision that was not made unilaterally by Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton.
“I had talked to Jeff and Kent about wanting to play games. They also had the vision that I needed to play minutes in the front two lines of a team and with numerical superiority, and that’s why they moved me back to the junior level,” the Slovakian striker explained in an interview with The Journal.
Dominant
When he was released, Mesar took the bull by the horns. He scored an impressive 24 points in 13 games in Kitchener.
“I didn’t see it as a disappointment coming back as a junior, but rather as a motivation. When I came here I wanted to prove that I was too strong for this league. That’s what really motivates me.”
His head coach Jussi Ahokas noticed this fire in Mesar’s eyes when he arrived.
“He wants to be the best every night. When he came back to us, he wanted to show that he was one of the best young players and that he had what it took.
In contact with Paul Byron
Even though Mesar is in Kitchener, the Canadian is never far away. The striker speaks once a week with Paul Byron, who has been a development advisor since announcing his retirement last September.
Paul Byron now works in the Canadiens’ player development department. Photo Martin Chevalier
CH development manager Rob Ramage also recently spent a few days in Kitchener.
“We had good conversations and spoke on the phone regularly,” said head coach Ahokas about Ramage. We agree on what Filip needs to improve on.”
And what is it about?
“My game without the puck,” assures the Slovakian striker without hesitation. For Ahokas, there is progress in this aspect of his game.
“Filip has the skills in skating and offense. Now he has to continue working on his defensive game, even without the puck. If he improves it, he will have all the tools to play professionally.”
Don’t let expectations bother you
Photo Martin Chevalier
As a first-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens, there are huge expectations in a very demanding market.
In Mesar’s case, those expectations have turned to criticism in recent months, and Canadiens fans fondly remember that two spots after Mesar was selected 26th overall in 2022, the Sabers set their sights on forward Jiri Kulich, the Since then, he has been scoring goals for two years in the American Hockey League.
“He is a good player. He’s more of a goalscorer and I’m more of a playmaker,” says Mesar.
Some have even already started talking about Mesar as a failed first-round pick from CH.
The Slovakian striker tries to stay away from these comparisons and criticisms. Even if he believes he has a protective shield against all these expectations, and a big one beyond that, namely Juraj Slafkovsky.
“I think it was easier for me because I was drafted with Slaf and all the attention was on him. For my part, I just try to concentrate on my game and not get too caught up in expectations or media attention.”
In contact with Slaf
Despite his busy schedule with the Rangers, Mesar makes it a point to watch Canadiens games whenever he can.
Apparently his attention is often focused on his good friend Slafkovsky.
“We talk a lot, he and I. I think he does that well. I think he had a slow start to this season, but things are looking up. He will be a good player in the NHL, he will improve every year.
Joël Lemay / QMI Agency