The Union and Blue golden boy continues to climb the prospect rankings for our publication, and continues to climb the depth chart as well. Guillaume Richard, the former 101st overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, might finally be ready to make his NHL debut at long last in 2026-2027. He might be without a great draft or scoring pedigree, but Richard has proven intangibles that give him clear NHL upside, and a roster spot out of training camp might just be a possibility.
The top prospects list was compiled by a collective ranking from all of the writers at Union and Blue: Matthew Duffey, Mike Stump, Weston Motz, Struan McNevan, and Curtis Deem. We only include players 24 years and under, with fewer than 25 NHL games. Stats are from the previous season, in the league where each player spent the most time. Projections are based on top-end upside.
Top prospect #7: Guillaume Richard
How we ranked him: Curtis (7), Mike (7), Matthew (7), Weston (6), Struan (8). Guillaume was ranked #15 on last year's list.
After Jake Christiansen earned the permanent NHL call up a season ago, now CBJ assistant coach and former AHL Cleveland Monsters head coach Trent Voglehuber needed a top pairing LHD to take over that role that Christiansen had vacated. Cole "Cowboy" Clayton took over this role in 2024-25, but departed for other pastures after that season.
Enter Guillaume Richard. And boy, did he thrive in that role in 2025-26.
Richard finished with 7-11-18 in 70 games played while posting a Monsters-high +20 rating and putting up 20 minutes in the penalty box across the entire campaign. Richard finished in the top 20 of AHL defenseman in +/- and was third among rookie defenseman. For a guy that only scored at a 0.26 point per game pace, those are excellent numbers.
More distantly, Richard was a four-year senior at the University of Providence where his career high was 18 points in a season. Richard has never, and will never be, a scoring play driver. He thrives on the back end and in transition. He's a guy that would thrive during penalty kill minutes, which he took while in Cleveland, and at keeping the puck out of the back of the net.
Pros: Extremely intelligent with the puck, superb gap control, proactive approach to defending rush chances
Cons: Lack of standout offensive skills, not as physical as he could be, struggles against a strong forecheck
Projection: Middle pairing shutdown LHD
The best similar pro comparisons I can think of for Guillaume Richard are Jonas Siegenthaler and prime David Savard, or perhaps a better version of Andrew Peeke, if everything works out the right way.
Richard has shown an extremely cerebral style of play that allows him to slow down the game in the defensive zone and make the right play. He lacks the erratic decision making of Andrew Peeke that has held the former Blue Jacket back at the NHL level. Richard lacks the physicality his above-average size would suggest he plays with, and instead sticks to more stick-focused and boxing out play than pure hitting or muscle.
Puck retrievals and boxing out off the rush are some of his specialties, and he performs these duties well at both even strength and on the penalty kill. He has a calming presence for the rest of the team when he's situated behind the play.
He lacks high end puck skills or a shot that would put him higher in our projections as a possible first-pairing play driver. He shouldn't be seen as a powerplay quarterback or guy that will put up over maybe 20 assists in a season.
Regardless, I am excited, and hopeful, that Richard will make the NHL next season, and add a defensive-first and stabilizing element to the bottom pairing right away that the CBJ sorely need.
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