Overview
- Montreal, which announced the deal Friday, signed defenseman Owen Protz to a three-year entry-level contract that runs from 2026–27 through 2028–29.
- Protz was drafted 102nd overall in the fourth round in 2024 and anchors the blue line for the OHL’s Brantford Bulldogs, who finished 48-10-10.
- He posted 23 points and a team-best plus-45 this season, underscoring his hard-hitting, shutdown style that earned a World Juniors camp invite.
- Brantford opens the OHL playoffs against Sudbury on Friday, and local reporting views the Bulldogs as strong contenders to reach the Memorial Cup in Kelowna.
- He becomes the third member of Montreal’s 2024 class to sign, joining Ivan Demidov and Tyler Thorpe, in a step that brings prospects under contract while they complete junior seasons.