The Montreal Canadiens signed another defenceman bringing back Laval Rocket captain Xavier Ouellet on a one-year contract.
Xavier Ouellet was an interesting name heading into the 2018-19 season. The Detroit Red Wings chose to buy out the final year of his contract despite being in a clear rebuilding stage where keeping relatively young talent seemed to be the way to go. However, he was made a free agent, and the Montreal Canadiens chose to bring him into the organization on a one-year contract, and it was just announced that they have done it again.
Ouellet started the season on the bottom pair making a convincing duo with Jordie Benn. The two defended well, and Ouellet’s playing style matched the new demands from the coaching staff in having a much more mobile and confident blue line.
It wasn’t all good for Ouellet in the lineup, and the return of Shea Weber as well as his issues pushed him to the press box and eventually on to the waiver wire. The 25-year-old cleared waivers joining the Laval Rocket after playing in 19 games with the Montreal Canadiens putting up three assists.
The Rocket blue line was in need of a boost with Brett Kulak getting recalled while Gustav Olofsson and Noah Juulsen were out. Ouellet played in the remaining 47 games for the Rocket scoring 7 goals and 21 assists. He was also named the team’s second captain in franchise history after Byron Froese was moved to the Philadelphia Flyers in the trade that brought Dale Weise and Christian Folin over.
Now the Rocket are going to have their captain for another year at the same cap hit.
Odds are Ouellet remains in the AHL for the majority of the season, but you never know what can happen. At the same time, you’d like to think that he has aspirations to get back to the NHL after his demotion.
Laval will need him to be steady and a true leader if they hope to turn things around and contend for a playoff spot. Perhaps these are one of the organizational depth signings that helps push that narrative along in the 2019-20 season.