Montreal Canadiens: Jèrèmy Grègoire hopes to be in the future plans

Jèrèmy Gregoire is about to cap off another season in the AHL but hopes his days in the Montreal Canadiens organization continue.

The Laval Rocket wrapped up their final game at Place Bell Friday night with a loss to the Toronto Marlies. In what was a ‘Men vs. Boys’ feel of a match, Rinat Valiev prevented the shutout scoring with less than four minutes left in the game. Montreal Canadiens 2013 sixth-round pick Jèrèmy Grègoire helped out in that effort recording his 13th assist of the season.

Regardless of the year for the team, it’ll be a career high for the 22-year-old as his 24 points in 62 games double his previous years of production. Grègoire picked a good season to play his best hockey seeing as he will be going into the offseason without a contract for next year.

The Quebec native isn’t one who blows anyone away from highlight reel plays, but he doesn’t cheat for effort, is an effective penalty killer, defensively responsible, but has more offensive upside than he’s displayed. In a conversation with Raphaêl Doucet, Grègoire said that he hopes to get a contract offer with the Montreal Canadiens and that with his age, he still has more time to grow and develop.

Whether that’s back in the AHL or the NHL with the Habs is a different story. The issue with Grègoire being in future plans NHL-wise is that there are many names up with the team who will slot in over him. Nicolas Deslauriers, Michael McCarron, and Daniel Carr to name a few are most likely pencilled in already to man the Montreal Canadiens fourth line. Additionally, we don’t know whether management plans on bringing back Logan Shaw and/or Byron Froese.

There’s nothing wrong with internal competition and the more players around to take spots, the better. That is of course if Claude Julien makes good on it. It won’t do any good if players who aren’t giving their best efforts remain in the lineup while someone else jumping at the chance to compete sits. It’s different for the top players, and that’s the reality of the NHL, but the likes of McCarron can’t afford to falter if Grègoire is around for training camp in September.

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Gègoire, however, would be a fresh face on the roster and boost to the outlook of the team. That is of course if the Montreal Canadiens choose to qualify and extend him. Either option wouldn’t be surprising, but it may be a mistake not to see what he can do at the next level.