Montreal Canadiens: Ryan Poehling Sent Down to Laval Rocket

The Montreal Canadiens had an odd breakdown to their initial roster to begin training camp.

While most teams would carry two extra forwards and an extra defenceman on their 23 man roster, the Habs were carrying three extra forwards and the minimum number of blue liners.

Some of that was due to maximizing their long-term injured reserve as it pertains to the salary cap and part of it was due to actual injury.

The Canadiens currently show Shea Weber, Mike Hoffman, Joel Edmundson, Paul Byron and Sami Niku on injured reserve, Carey Price is inactive and Mattias Norlinder, Josh Brook and Joel Teasdale are on season opening injured reserve and can not be assigned elsewhere until they are healthy, though that is really just a paper transaction that needs to take place to allow them to play for the Laval Rocket or in Sweden when they are ready to do so.

With the Canadiens set to take on the Toronto Maple Leafs tonight to begin the 2021-22 season, they have made one more final roster decision ahead of puck drop.

Ryan Poehling was assigned to the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League.

The 22 year old centre had the inside track on winning the fourth centre ice job behind Nick Suzuki, Christian Dvorak and Jake Evans. An okay, but not terrific training camp, along with the acquisition of Adam Brooks via waivers has pushed Poehling down the depth chart.

Instead of the young two-way centre playing a depth role, moving to the wing or sitting in the presss box, he will start the season where he played last year.

Poehling was terrific for the Rocket last season, scoring 25 points in 28 games and leading the team in scoring, even though he missed the last eight games with injury.

He showed terrific two-way play, leading offensively but also taking care of business in the defensive zone as well. He is expected to continue that strong all-around game with the Rocket to begin this season.

Poehling is likely to play on a line with Rafael Harvey-Pinard and Jesse Ylonen and the trio should be dominant at the AHL level.

There is nothing wrong with allowing a 22 year old to dominate at the AHL level for a little while longer. He is free to come and go from the NHL roster without having to pass through waivers, so I am sure we will see him back on the Canadiens roster before too long.

This move also signals that someone is likely ready to come off injured reserve. Sami Niku seemed closest to doing that so perhaps he is ready to join the team today in full capacity.

I wouldn’t look at this as a disappointment for Poehling, but rather a place for him to get off to a strong start before eventually joining the team down the road when injuries open up a roster spot.