Montreal Canadiens: The steps down the line for Alexandre Alain
By Omar L
Alexandre Alain finished his final season in the QMJHL and will be looking to make a name for himself in the Montreal Canadiens system.
Losing that final junior game when you know you’re not coming back is hard to watch but even worse to experience. Unfortunately, that feeling came Alexandre Alain‘s way on Sunday after he and the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada lost Game 6. Seeing as the newly signed Montreal Canadiens prospect is 21, that would be his final chance at a President Cup.
Alain played a total of 255 games in the QMJHL spread across five seasons and two teams. His point totals increased as the years went on starting with the Gatineau Olympiques before moving to the Armada. His final QMJHL totals are 97 goals and 104 points, but this year was his best. Alain’s age and who he had around him was a factor, but 44 goals and 43 assists in 65 games is a nice number.
With an NHL contract in hand, the next step for Alain will be in the pros. The safe assumption is that he will make his debut in the AHL with the Laval Rocket. There looks to be a lot of turnover on the verge of taking place as a handful of the players are free agents of some kind. Additionally, Jöel Bouchard potentially taking over as head coach will provide Alain with a comfortable niche.
What Alain needs to do is prove that his latest season in Blainville-Boisbriand was more than an overage one. He brought more to the table such as compete, execution, and awareness in all three zones. Although in the AHL, Alain and everyone else on the team will constantly be competing for an eventual audition with the Montreal Canadiens.
The main benefit of the AHL team moving to Laval was the proximity to the NHL club. They’re always watching, and a stretch of solid games could earn Alain a call-up.
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