Davidson was originally chosen by the Canadiens in the fifth round, 130th overall, during the 2022 NHL Draft. Hailing from Edmonton, he transitioned from junior hockey last year, securing a one-year deal with the Laval Rocket, the Habs’ AHL affiliate.
There were uncertainties about how well Davidson’s skills would translate to the professional level, but he displayed promising performances in his rookie season, tallying 11 goals and 6 points in 38 games. In Laval, he ranked third in rookie goal-scoring, trailing Logan Mailloux and Joshua Roy.
Davidson caught Montreal’s attention during his tenure with the Thunderbirds, where he spent all five seasons of his junior career. He achieved a career-high of 42 goals and 89 points in 64 games during the 2021-22 season. Subsequent seasons saw Davidson amass 82 points in 60 games, contributing to Seattle’s Ed Chynoweth Cup victory as Western Hockey League champions
At last year’s Memorial Cup in Kamloops, Davidson notched a goal and six points, propelling the Thunderbirds to the championship game, though they ultimately fell short against the Quebec Remparts.
In his 254 appearances in the WHL, Davidson recorded 99 goals and 111 assists, including 52 points in 47 playoff games. He earned a spot on the U.S. Division First All-Star Team for the last two seasons of his junior career.
With Davidson’s signing, the Canadiens have secured 39 standard player contracts for the upcoming season. According to CapFriendly, they maintain a projected cap space of a little over $8 million.
