The Montreal Canadiens schedule has already been released for the 2022-23 season. We are already counting down the days for the start of training camp, preseason action and of course the regular season.
Unfortunately for us fans, the 2022-23 season doesn’t come with a lot of promise. The team is not going to be great and will be predicted by most to finish somewhere between 25th and 31st in the NHL. No one is taking that last overall spot from the Chicago Blackhawks, but the Habs could be one of the next teams in line from the bottom.
Their farm team however, could be something close to must-watch next season. The Laval Rocket are coming off a run to the Calder Cup semifinals, and added some reinforcements this offseason, and will be introducing a handful of the Canadiens top prospect to pro hockey in the fall.
While they signed veterans like Mitchell Stephens, Anthony Richard, Kevin Poulin, Alex Green, Emile Poirier and Madison Bowey, it is the younger players that fans will want to keep a close eye on.
It is quite possibly that the Rocket’s top defence pairing is Kaiden Guhle and Justin Barron. Meanwhile, Mattias Norlinder, and Arber Xhekaj will be looking to carve out big roles for themselves on the Rocket in their first full pro season in North America as well.
Up front, it is possible we see the Habs two recent first round picks playing in the AHL to begin the season. Juraj Slafkovsky was taken first overall but there are no guarantees he will play in the NHL to start next season. Sure, he has played well against pro players in the past, but there is no rush to get him to the NHL.
Filip Mesar also has the option of playing in the AHL since he was drafted out of Slovakia. He could elect to go to the OHL and play for the Kitchener Rangers, but the 26th overall pick may be a pro in October.
Those questions will need to be answered in training camp, but we will know the outcome when the Rocket play their first game of the season on October 14th. The 72 game schedule concludes on April 14th.
The Rocket’s first game of the season is in Laval when they will host the Belleville Senators. The full schedule can be seen here.
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