Montreal Canadiens: Joël Bouchard is placing a mark on the organization

The Montreal Canadiens knew Joël Bouchard had big things in store for the Laval Rocket and a lot of it comes from his work off the ice.

The 2018 Rookie Showdown allowed the Montreal Canadiens to see Joël Bouchard as a coach first hand. Fans got a glimpse of it at development camp, but those games against the Toronto Maple Leafs and Ottawa Senators were a decent preview of his effect behind the bench. It’s safe to say Bouchard didn’t disappoint.

His handling of his skilled younger players was one thing, but the way Bouchard worked the media regarding the excitement over Jesperi Kotkaniemi is something to keep in mind. There’s also his best moment during the game against the Leafs after Jarret Tyszka was taken out.

Bouchard held his players accountable, and the Habs came out flying and were by far the better team to the end. The Laval Rocket will be a much better team besides player personnel if he can duplicate that throughout the season.

Bouchard does have an important job considering the rejuvenated emphasis on youth and development. And seeing as he’s a new coach in the fold, it’ll be interesting to see how the new team plays long-term. But on the ice results aren’t the only things Bouchard is taking responsibility for.

Laval’s Twitter account released a short video on Thursday with Bouchard detailing some changes at Place Bell. The new head coach started out by saying he wanted to change the locker room up after Marc Bergevin hired him. And they weren’t ordinary changes. Each had a meaningful and historical purpose to them.

For starters were the pictures of Montreal Canadiens legend Maurice Richard and Jacques Demers to remind the plays always to have their sights on the top prize. As important as those were, what stood out to me were the images of Brendan Gallagher, Tomas Plekanec, and Carey Price back in their days in the AHL.

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Each spent time as a member of the Hamilton Bulldogs back when they were the Habs minor league affiliate. Additionally, Price was part of the championship team in 2007 also receiving the Jack A Butterfield Trophy for playoff MVP.

It’s a good way to show the players on the Rocket that their time there isn’t a waste. They all have the potential to play in the NHL one day. Having the Montreal Canadiens colours throughout to the room as well as the logo above the door. According to Bouchard, it’s a good way for them to look up to their goals which are pretty important when you think about it.

A decent chunk of the personnel are drafted prospects or free agents who are itching for a call-up. The same goes for the older players in search of an opportunity to prove themselves. Having all these reminders around them constantly should be an effective way to bring out their best each and every day no matter what point of the season it is. Especially considering the Bell Centre and members of the Montreal Canadiens front office aren’t too far away.

This may seem insignificant at first, but you have to appreciate the effort Bouchard is putting into his job. It’s really hard not to expect great things from the Laval Rocket because of all of this. At the same time, the players need to put the preparation into practice and perform.

The support system seems to be there and strong. But in a results sport like the one we love to watch, getting wins supercedes all of that.