5 players who could be next year’s Ryan Johansen

May 22, 2014; New York, NY, USA; Montreal Canadiens center Alex Galchenyuk (27) celebrates after scoring the game-winning goal against the New York Rangers during the overtime period in game three of the Eastern Conference Final of the 2014 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports

Alex Galchenyuk, Left Wing/Centre, Montreal Canadiens

The former third overall pick, and Yakupov’s former linemate in junior, is primed for a big season in Montreal. Many believe that if he hadn’t been injured during his draft year, Galchenyuk could’ve been the top pick in the 2012 draft. He’s that good.

So far, he’s managed 58 points in 113 games while getting just over 13 minutes of ice-time per game. He’s also been productive in the playoffs with six points in 10 games over two seasons, something that is uncommon for players his age.

While he’s been primarily used as a left winger so far, Galchenyuk’s natural position is at centre and it’s likely the Habs use him more there this year. His future in the NHL is as a number one pivot, not as a left winger.

That likely means an opportunity to produce more points.

The Canadiens have made it a club policy to always sign bridge deals for players coming out of entry-level, as with PK Subban, Carey Price and Max Pacioretty. If those three didn’t qualify as exceptions, you have to believe anything short of an Art Ross/Hart Trophy calibre season from Galchenyuk will put him in the same boat. But given the lack of a true number one centre in the organization for decades now, can Montreal afford to play hard-ball with him, assuming it comes to that?