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Montreal Canadiens: Nathanael Halbert upgrades his contract with Laval

By Omar L

BLAINVILLE-BOISBRIAND, QC - DECEMBER 18: Nathanael Halbert #5 of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada reacts on a call during the QMJHL game against the Quebec Remparts at the Centre d'Excellence Sports Rousseau on December 18, 2015 in Blainville-Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada. The Quebec Remparts defeated the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 3-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
BLAINVILLE-BOISBRIAND, QC - DECEMBER 18: Nathanael Halbert #5 of the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada reacts on a call during the QMJHL game against the Quebec Remparts at the Centre d'Excellence Sports Rousseau on December 18, 2015 in Blainville-Boisbriand, Quebec, Canada. The Quebec Remparts defeated the Blainville-Boisbriand Armada 3-0. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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The Montreal Canadiens affiliate continues to add players to their roster signing Nathanael Halbert to a one-year deal after initially playing on a tryout.

Even though the American Hockey League has no confirmed restart date for the 2020-21 season, that hasn’t stopped the Laval Rocket from adding more talent to the Montreal Canadiens organization.

The latest signee is defenceman Nathanael Halbert who isn’t exactly new to the program. The 24-year-old joined the Rocket in February coming from McGill University at a time where Laval head coach Joel Bouchard was scrambling for players to fill the roster. Halbert’s season ended, but he jumped at the chance to play when Bouchard gave him the call as they needed a defenceman to replace Gustav Olofsson ahead of their game against the Toronto Marlies.

Halbert played both games against the Marlies and joined Laval on their three-game road trip for a total of five contests. He recorded his first professional point assisting on Yannick Veilleux’s 12th goal of the season against the Cleaveland Monsters.

Bouchard praised Halbert’s defensive game after his debut, and his role as a captain in McGill was another reassuring sign of a good fit.

"We needed a defenceman. He knows the way to play defensive hockey, keeping it simple."

There is history between Bouchard and Halbert as the Richmond Hill native played for Blainville-Boisbriand for there years. Again, we see the benefits of the link between the Armada and the Montreal Canadiens organization, and it’s helping them gain more players.

To Bouchard’s point, Halbert isn’t a point-getter. The most he ever put up in the QMJHL was 5 goals and 19 assists for 24 points in 52 games while he never eclipsed double digits at McGill with 8 being his peak. That doesn’t mean Halbert doesn’t have value. He’s a quiet player who is playing his best when you don’t notice him.

The deal itself is two-way, so it’ll be in Halbert’s best interest to perform well enough to stay at the AHL level. However, he’s already built up a stable ground with the coaching staff and players on the team, and that could be the beginning of a decent AHL career.

There is going to be pressure as it’s only a one-year deal, but pressure can bring out the best in one’s game when used the right way.

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