Introduction
It would have been difficult for Vinzenz Rohrer to improve upon his 2024-25 season, one in which he helped the Zurich Lions claim the National League championship and also won the Champions Hockey League tournament. But not only was there no hardware to hoist at the end of his campaign, he also produced half as many points as he had the previous year.
With the European league season finished earlier than he and his Zurich teammates would have liked, Rohrer made the trip to Laval to join the Rocket at the very end of the season, a move made possible by signing his entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens months earlier. His debut in the AHL team’s regular-season finale looked like the boost a listless club needed, as he recorded a goal and an assist in a loss to the Toronto Marlies.
Unfortunately for Rohrer, he was involved in a second disappointing post-season showing within a one-month span. After claiming the North Division title and earning a bye to the second round, the Rocket were beaten in a best-of-five series by the Toronto Marlies, who subsequently went on to claim the Calder Cup. Rohrer had just one assist in the series, though that still ranked ninth on a team that went cold at the most inopportune time.
He won’t be playing with Laval in 2026-27, which many had hoped would be his plan to play with many of the other prospects. Nor will he return to Zurich, where he had played the past three seasons. With those underwhelming experiences to end his season, he’s made the decision to travel a short distance south to play with EV Zug, seeking to build up some more momentum for his next trip across the Atlantic.
Voting
A placement at 26th is the final one we will see outside the Top 25 the rest of way, and this is also the last range of double digits in the countdown. The majority of panellists believed Rohrer deserved a spot in the top 20, and that’s also the point where the main curve of his distribution of community votes sits, though the mode is at 24 as some members made a point to include him at least within their top 25.
Top 25 Under 25 History
Rohrer spent his first four years right on the cusp of the Top 25, making it just inside last year. In 2026, graduations of several NHLers propel him up the order.
History of #18
Year
#18
2026
Vinzenz Rohrer
2025
Jakub Dobeš
2024
Justin Barron
2023
Filip Mesar
2022
Jayden Struble
2021
Rafaël Harvey-Pinard
2020
Jan Mysak
2019
Michael McNiven
2018
Michael McNiven
2017
Brett Lernout
2016
Lukas Vejdemo
2015
Tim Bozon
2014
Dalton Thrower
2013
Darren Dietz
2012
Tim Bozon
2011
Brendon Nash
2010
Gabriel Dumont
Strengths
When we’ve discussed prospects who come in under six feet tall so far in this series, the compound issue has been that they’re either poor skaters or unable to survive contact. The 5’10”, 172-pound Rohrer doesn’t have either of those limitations. He’s an above-average skater, and he not only handles physical play, but initiates it.
Those two abilities lend themselves to a strong forechecking game, something Zurich attempted to capitalize on with its dump-and-chase system, a style that ultimately didn’t pan out for the team. It wasn’t a failing on Rohrer’s part, however. As we saw in his season review, he was among the best players in the NL at setting up high-danger chances with the pucks he won back.
He’s also a strong transition player, which his team didn’t benefit from as much last year with its newly adopted tactics, but he was still highly involved in turning the play from his end to the attacking zone. That’s a combination of his speed and work ethic, and also his sense of knowing how to support his defencemen. It’s one area where his intelligence comes into play, along with being able to find teammates around the net with his passing skills.
Weaknesses
He has a good head on his shoulders, but it can run hot at times. In the 2025 World Championship he was ejected from a game for a retaliatory cross-check to the face of an opponent, and this spring in the NL post-season he got involved in a fight with former NHLer Connor Carrick after Zurich went up 3-0 and HC Lugano was seeking a momentum shift. Those are things that won’t be well-received when his time comes to audition for a role in the NHL.
He will also be one of the shortest options in that competition when it happens with some of the others prospects in the system. Though it is something that he’s been able to overcome to this point, it will still put him at a disadvantage in many head-to-head competitions for spots, and even hard work and determination won’t allow him to outmuscle many NHL defencemen in one-on-one situations.
Projection
That could be why he specifically chose EV Zug to play with this season instead of a few other teams that were recruiting him. Last year the team finished 11th of the 14 teams in the NL in goals scored, with no point-per-game players and only five who reached even a half-a-point rate. The team desperately needs offence, and having already played a game as the first-line centre is an indication that the team wants him to be part of the solution.
It’s a clearer path for him to follow than what he was experiencing at this time a year ago. He took part in the Canadiens’ rookie and training camps, getting into a couple of pre-season games. This year he’s not attempting to crack an NHL roster, but playing in a relatively familiar environment with that as a goal for after the season.
A more productive season will be his aim, and it’s hard to see him finishing with only 12 points if he gets even second-line minutes. He hasn’t forgotten how to be an offensive contributor, but he needs his teammates to capitalize on the chances he sets up to get on the scoresheet, which wasn’t the case in 2025-26, or just apply the finishing touch on his own.
His best bet to make the NHL is as a secondary source of offence to give him the edge on his competition, or at least counter the size difference that will work against him. With the proper linemates who can finish off plays and work as hard as he does, he could have a future as a play-driving third-liner in the world’s top league.