Laval Rocket Sign Seven Players To AHL Contracts: Laurent Dauphin Returns

The Laval Rocket were the most active team in the Montreal Canadiens Organization, signing seven players to AHL deals. Their parent club signed Alex Barre-Boulet, who could end up in Laval, and their rising star Juraj Slafkovsky to an eight-year extension. However, the Rocket's focus is returning to the playoffs after a two-year absence. The next order of business for the Rocket will be finding someone to replace Jean-François Houle.

The Rocket signed forwards Laurent Dauphin, Vincent Arseneau, Jakov Novak, defensemen Joshua Jacobs, Vincent Sevigny, Tyler Wotherspoon, and goaltender Hunter Jones.

Laurent Dauphin

Dauphin spent his entire life playing in Quebec until the Phoenix Coyotes drafted him with the 39th pick in the 2013 NHL Draft. Dauphin bounced around between Phoenix, Chicago, and Nashville, before the Canadiens acquired him from the Predators for Michael McCarron. Dauphin played three seasons in Laval, tallying nearly a point per game, then got an opportunity to play 38 games with the Canadiens, with four goals and eight assists.

Dauphin spent last season in Ambri-Piotta in the Swiss league but will return on a one-year deal to play for Laval this season.

Vincent Arseneau

Arseneau is another Quebec-born player who has spent most of his career bouncing around the minor leagues. He will finally play in his home province for the first time since his last season in Shawinigan in 2012-13. Arseneau was an assistant captain with the Providence Bruins last season.

Jakov Novak

Novak played two games with Laval last season, spending most of his time with Trois-Rivieres where he had 56 points in 66 games. It was his first full professional season after five years in the NCAA. Novak also has some bite to his game which should excite Laval fans, as he had 81 penalty minutes last season. Novak was a 2018 seventh-round draft pick by the Ottawa Senators.

Joshua Jacobs

Jacobs hasn't played since the 2022-23 season, when he had four goals and six assists with the Colorado Eagles. He is a former second-round pick by the New Jersey Devils in 2014 but has had some injury-hampered seasons which slowed his development. Jacobs brings some winning pedigree, as he won a Calder Cup with the Chicago Wolves in 2021-22.

Vincent Sevigny

Sevigny finished his QMJHL career as captain of the Saint John Sea Dogs in 2021-22. He averaged over a point per game in his last season but struggled to find that offensive success in his past two seasons with Bridgeport. He had 22 points in 86 games with the Islanders' farm system.

Tyler Wotherspoon

Wotherspoon brings plenty of professional experience with him to Laval. He was an assistant captain with Utica for the last two seasons after representing Canada at the 2022 Winter Olympics. He also played 30 NHL games over four seasons, tallying five points and a -8 rating. Wotherspoon is another player to add to the list of experienced players who will help Laval get to the playoffs.

Hunter Jones

Jones played one AHL game last season with the Iowa Wild, spending most of his time in the ECHL. He played 18 games for the Iowa Heartlanders, tallying a 5-9-2 record, a 3.61 goals-against average, and a .890 save percentage.