Introduction
The 2024-25 AHL season saw two entirely different players in Sean Farrell’s #15 jersey. He was a complete ghost for the opening 30 games of the season, and then became the AHL’s hottest scoring forward on one of the league’s best lines to end the year.
He is entering his first non-entry level contract year, having re-signed with the Canadiens this off-season on a one-year, two-way deal. Since being drafted in 2020, he has seen quite a lot in his career, including several successful NCAA seasons, two World Championships, and time as a US Olympian in 2022. Professionally the road has had its bumps, but the past year has shown many fans that Farrell isn’t giving up on his NHL dreams.
It was an ugly start to his season with the Laval Rocket, including a stretch of the opening 22 games without a goal and adding just two assists in that time. However, when he was placed with Alex Barré-Boulet and Laurent Dauphin, everything changed like someone flipped a switch.
His 20 goals were good for fifth on the Rocket, with the same holding true for his 24 assists. Across the board it was a huge second half for Farrell to remind fans why he should still be getting attention as a prospect.
Voting
The votes for Farrell ranged from the mid-20s down to myself at 33rd ironically being the lowest vote as one of his loudest supporters for the last year or so. While his ranking has dropped over the years, a major part of that is due to the incredible depth the Canadiens have added, rather than the skill set Farrell possesses.
Top 25 Under 25 History
History of #24
Year
#24
2025
Sean Farrell
2024
Jakub Dobeš
2023
Jakub Dobeš
2022
Emil Heineman
2021
Cam Hillis
2020
Luke Tuch
2019
Joël Teasdale
2018
Rinat Valiev
2017
Josh Brook
2016
Ryan Johnston
2015
Darren Dietz
2014
Morgan Ellis
2013
Mac Bennett
2012
Steve Quailer
2011
Daniel Pribyl
2010
Brendan Gallagher
Strengths
Above all else, Farrell remains an incredible playmaker. His entire game is based around finding gaps and opportunities in opposing defences. He has continued to improve in this area, wrapping pucks through improbable gaps and using his vision to pivot on a dime to put a pass right into the high-danger area for his linemates. Being of smaller stature, he has learned very quickly where pressure is approaching from and how to rapidly shift the puck off his stick, whether it be on net or to a teammate.
Sean Farrell with the push pass to Laurent Dauphin and that goal should send the Rocket to the next round!
— Scott Matla (@scottmatla.bsky.social) May 6, 2025 at 10:46 PM
His knack for piling up goals for the Rocket last year rounded out an incredibly deep lineup. He added a critical element that was lacking in his first pro season. He has never been an elite sniper of any kind, but using his on-ice smarts he found the soft spots in the offensive zone to generate his goals. In the same way that he weaves into soft spots to pass the puck off, he does well to slide to gaps in the defence to also surprise goaltenders when he appears in open space.
As he adjusted to the AHL further, he became a fantastic power-play weapon. While he wasn’t reliant on the power play to produce points, he was a steadfast presence in what was a strong AHL power play. His ability to instantly click with two of the best forwards in the AHL, in all sorts of playing situations, is a credit to his growth. Even when not on the top line, Farrell continued to find strong synergy with Joshua Roy like he had in his rookie season. As the Rocket continue to welcome in new players and new prospects they’re going to rely on Farrell to be able get them up to speed.
Weaknesses
The same issues that have been highlighted since his draft year still apply. He is not a big player, standing 5’9”, and while he’s never had an issue producing points, it is clear that he plays the way his size dictates. When he is working inside the offensive zone you don’t see him often charging into scrums or board battles, at least not as a leading forward. He is more than capable of being a puck thief, using his smarts to steal pucks away.
Despite Farrell’s ability to find space, he hasn’t learned how to absorb and evade physical pressure at the level that Cole Caufield and Lane Hutson have. He doesn’t get hit often, but his response to incoming pressure is avoidant more than anything else. He will bail out on a play if he’s being lined up, as opposed to taking a hit to make a play.
Adding a slight physical edge to his game might allow him to begin generating more space for himself. All too often during the season and especially in the playoffs teams honed in on him physically to try to disrupt his game. While he had a strong playoff and regular season, it’s clear opposing teams see him as a weak spot in the lineup.
Projection
Where does Sean Farrell project in the future of the Montreal Canadiens? In last year’s countdown I mentioned that he needed a strong sophomore season in the AHL to keep himself in the plans, and a 20-goal season was exactly what the doctor ordered. Even with the rough start, the blisteringly hot finish overshadows that, and for good reason. He has the talent and skill set to be an NHL player, likely in an exploitation and power-play role on a team lacking skilled depth.
In Montreal, depth is a big thing holding Farrell back from making the jump, especially with Caufield and Alex Newhook holding down NHL spots, and Florian Xhekaj jumping ahead of Farrell after a strong rookie season. The arrival of Zack Bolduc also complicates things as the newly arrived winger can play either wing as well. For Farrell to make the jump to the NHL full-time, can he adjust his game to be a steady fourth-liner, or is he only capable of being on a skilled line?
If he can carry over his momentum from his strong sophomore AHL season, he could push for an NHL spot out of training camp. It is likely though that he will reunite with Laurent Dauphin on the Rocket’s top line as Laval looks to make another deep playoff run. At #24 in our countdown, having fallen down multiple places in the last few years, he finds himself in that dangerous grey area between prospect with more potential and topping out at what he currently is.
I do believe that Farrell is an NHL player, but the window to be that in Montreal might be coming to a close if he doesn’t take one more step forward in his progression.