Montreal Canadiens: Kerby Rychel is making his presence known

Kerby Rychel hasn’t taken a step back since joining the Montreal Canadiens organization, and it’s showing with his play with the Laval Rocket.

When a team trades for a player, you hope that they can maintain strengths and skills in the new organization. Although Rinat Valiev and Kerby Rychel were players who most likely welcomed the fresh start, they’ve already shown the Montreal Canadiens what they’ll be able to do on a nightly basis. Valiev is with the Habs already waiting to make his debut with the Habs while Rychel has made his stamp on the Laval Rocket.

The 23-year-old has been playing on Adam Cracknell’s left on the top line and had goals in both games. His first came on the power play and was assisted by Valiev in his single game in Laval. Goal number two came in yesterday’s game and tied it late in the third to force overtime. The Rocket went on to win the game 5-4, and Rychel also came away with an assist.

It’s possible that Rychel could get a call-up at some point in the next four weeks. Production in the AHL is one thing, but to be able to have a similar impact in the NHL is another. However, the 2013 first-round pick has a steady enough game on both sides of the puck to be a serviceable player. If he can have the same level of scoring as well, then the Tomas Plekanec trade starts to look better and better.

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Even if Rychel isn’t called up, the Habs will have no reason not to re-sign him in the offseason. That way, the Laval Rocket can continue to add to their roster and hopefully have a better overall showing next year.

But the power forward nature of Rychel’s game is something that the coaching staff in Montreal would appreciate. Especially when you consider Claude Julien’s system and how hard a lot of players on the team forecheck already.

His frame can create space for his teammates and his ability to make a play makes him the perfect combination. Will we see that from Rychel with the Habs? If he keeps this up in the NHL, how could we not?

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What do you like about Rychel’s play? Will he play a game with the Habs this season? Let us know in the comments below.