Canadiens: Youth Movement Taking Hold With Laval Rocket

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With a plethora of Montreal Canadiens selections set to turn pro, the Laval Rocket could have a very interesting, young core for the 2023 campaign.

The Rocket finished last season in fifth place in the AHL’s North Division and lost the play-in series in two straight games. They technically made the playoffs by getting into the play-in series but were not able to advance even to the round of 16 playoff teams.

Next season, winning is not going to mean everything in Laval. The focus is going to switch fully to development of young players as the team is going to be inundated with young prospects that have high hopes about helping the Canadiens in the near future. The playoffs may not be in sights for the 2023-24 Laval Rocket, but that will not be the focus anyway as development of these new arrivals will become the top priority for head coach J.F. Houle and his staff.

While growing pains are synonymous with young players stepping into a new league, the development and talent will be a treat to watch. The crop of talent set to head to Laval over the next couple of seasons, Place Bell will certainly be loud and proud.

While Logan Mailloux is yet to get confirmation from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman about his NHL status, he will most certainly be a welcomed addition to the Rocket blue line. The forward crop is an interesting one as well, considering the log jam in the NHL, some talented players could find themselves in Laval until the trade deadline. And, as far as goaltending goes, Primeau will have some competition as well.

Without further ado, let’s dive into the potential additions for the 2023 edition of Rocket lineup.

The list will be compiled of four defensemen, one goaltender and five forwards.

Jun 28, 2023; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Montreal Canadians draft pick David Reinbacher. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports /

Defenseman

The Canadiens blue line prospect pipeline has a bit of everything, from physicality to offence, to offensive skill and intrigue. Lane Hutson is committed to playing in the NCAA for another season, but come season’s end, should he opt to sign his ELC he would certainly be a welcomed addition to a playoff run. Not much can be said about him that hasn’t already, but let’s talk about guys that will be available for head coach JF Houle.

Logan Mailloux is perhaps the most intriguing, and despite not playing a pro game yet, he tops the list. His skating, offensive IQ and ability to control breakouts are all attributes that will endear him to his forwards. Mailloux is also physical when need be.

David Reinbacher spoke about going back to Switzerland to finish his education and play another season with HC Kloten, but he did sign his ELC before heading back. Should he come over to North America, he will likely be on the top pair in Laval or potentially get some sheltered minutes with the Habs to adapt. He is brilliant defensively, skates beautifully and has some offensive touch that is still marinating.

Jayden Struble makes up for any lack of physicality amongst the blue line, as he is a specimen, and he loves to throw his weight around, especially at his own blue line. Struble is a smooth skater, and I think he has some more offence in him. He will be a nice shutdown piece, with the skating and smarts to carry the puck up the ice in transition.

Adam Engstrom is likely to play in Sweden this year, but his skating and ability to shut down plays are focal points of his game. He is very smart, and his vision allows him to spring tape-to-tape passes to his forwards with ease. For a 19-year-old, his patience with the puck is impressive, he knows how to use time and space efficiently, which allows him to avoid trouble.

Goalies

The Canadiens stocked their goaltending cupboard at the 2023 NHL Draft, and with the selections being a few seasons away from turning pro, there’s just one name that will provide Primeau with competition for goaltending duties in Laval.

Jakub Dobes signed his ELC at the duration of his sophomore season with Ohio State University. The 6-foot-4 native of Ostrava, Czechia, is a huge presence in the net, but his athleticism is certainly his calling card as he is able to make difficult saves look routine. He finished his NCAA career with a 42-28-5 record, to go along with six shutouts. Dobes is primed to wrestle the starting role away from Primeau.

Oct 1, 2022; Ottawa, Ontario, CAN; Montreal Canadiens Filip Mesar (Mandatory Credit: Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports /

Forwards

Much of the intrigue for Canadiens fans is the number of forwards between the NHL club and AHL club, along with young guys set to make their mark. The beginning of the season could see a wealth of talent before players make their to the NHL if an injury or trade occurs. Disclaimer; If Owen Beck were 20 years old, he would without a doubt be on this list, and I fully expect him to be on the roster once he turns 20.

Emil Heineman is interesting, in that much like Ylonen, he looks with an eye test, as though he is ready to take his talents to the NHL and be an impact player. He has an NHL shot, he skates well and he has the ideal size to play in the pros. He went on a heater after coming over from Leksands IF in the SHL, scoring seven 7-2-9 totals in 11 AHL regular season games.

Sean Farrell made his NHL debut and scored his first NHL goal shortly after signing his ELC with the Habs after a very successful NCAA career with the Harvard Crimson. Farrell is a duel threat, that can play centre or wing, although his game is more suited for the wing. While he is undersized, don’t let that fool you, he is a gamer with some elite offensive skills.

Riley Kidney is an interesting piece also, he could very well return for another season in the QMJHL, but because of his age, he would be eligible to play in Laval. He is capable of playing wing or centre, but the wing allows him to put his offensive skills to better use. He is very skilled and has shown an ability to put up impressive point totals at the junior level, if it translates he could be a nice addition to the Rocket roster.

Filip Mesar is an interesting player, he is one of the few forwards set to play in Laval, that already has pro experience, having played in HK Poprad in 2021-22. Mesar is a speedster, with soft hands, which allow him to thread nice passes and make defenders look silly. As evidenced by his 17-34-51 totals through 52 2023 OHL games with the Kitchener Rangers, he has a solid shot but prefers to be a set-up man.

Joshua Roy could very well threaten to make the NHL club ahead of the four other forwards mentioned on this list, as he is so smart defensively, he could thrive in a bottom-six role. Ideally, however, you would likely want to set him up for success, and the best way to do that is allowing him to play in the top nine with more skilled players, to take advantage of his skills. He is a strong playmaker, with a wicked shot, and he thinks the game so well.

While there will be an adjustment period, with the talent here, the patient approach will prove very important.

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