2022-2023 Laval Rocket

[beowulf]

What do we know about him? Looks like he had a solid season last year but this year his production dropped by 20 points from 44 to 24 in his senior year which is often when guys have their best seasons.

Can't wait for this Saturday the 18th going to the game against Utica with my brother, nephew and dad.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

I was looking at the AHL standings thinking people are crazy saying Laval has a shot at making the playoffs

Then I realized 23 teams make it in the AHL -- WTF?

The AHL playoff format is insane. Starts with a best of 3 series with the best teams getting bye weeks, then 2 best of 5 series, finished with 2 best of 7 series. Madness.

 

[montreal]

I was looking at the AHL standings thinking people are crazy saying Laval has a shot at making the playoffs

Then I realized 23 teams make it in the AHL -- WTF?

The AHL playoff format is insane. Starts with a best of 3 series with the best teams getting bye weeks, then 2 best of 5 series, finished with 2 best of 7 series. Madness.

it's something new they are trying, no clue why, never been done before.

 

[Kobe Armstrong]

it's something new they are trying, no clue why, never been done before.

It's like a crazy covid variation, but if it means more young guys get more games, fine by me

 

[26Mats]

Any of these 7 Dmen that won't be in Laval next season?

Norlinder - Mailloux
Trudeau - Struble
Fairbrother - Beaudin
Schueneman

 

[Addik04]

Any of these 7 Dmen that won't be in Laval next season?

Norlinder - Mailloux
Trudeau - Struble
Fairbrother - Beaudin
Schueneman

Schueneman wont be there

 

[26Mats]

Schueneman wont be there

It's looking that way.

He may try to find an organization that gives him more of a shot at the NHL or sign for bigger money overseas. He's better than Wideman, but we have a lot more LD's.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Hughes and Co need to do a better job with Laval next year.

They're already mimicking Bergevin in that department.

 

[montreal]

Hughes and Co need to do a better job with Laval next year.

They're already mimicking Bergevin in thar department.

I think the job they did was fine when put in context of so many injuries.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

I think the job they did was fine when put in context of so many injuries.

The team is 10th worst in the league.

They didn't do an absolute piss poor job like Bergevin and Co, but he needs to do more (possibly) next season.

Depends on hoe many young guys are brought in.

Primeau isn't doing as well, but they lost 1 key dmen in Ouellet and Belpedio for offense and didn't replace them.

Rocket will likely need that offensive "star" down there.

 

[Le Barron de HF]

The team is 10th worst in the league.

They didn't do an absolute piss poor job like Bergevin and Co, but he needs to do more (possibly) next season.

Depends on hoe many young guys are brought in.

Primeau isn't doing as well, but they lost 1 key dmen in Ouellet and Belpedio for offense and didn't replace them.

Rocket will likely need that offensive "star" down there.

I don't think it was expected for all of the defensive to prospects except for Barron to remain in Montreal. Plus I don't know if Trudeau gets a role and minutes if you sign a veteran.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

I don't think it was expected for all of the defensive to prospects except for Barron to remain in Montreal. Plus I don't know if Trudeau gets a role and minutes if you sign a veteran.

Legitimate reason, but once they made opening night roster, could have made a minor league trade for a d.

They likely didn't expect Belzile and Richard to play a decent amount up because of injuries, so that's why I'm hoping next year they have a more concise plan in place. 1st year, you're hoping the big club does better than focusing on the AHL.

 

[Adam Michaels]

The team is 10th worst in the league.

They didn't do an absolute piss poor job like Bergevin and Co, but he needs to do more (possibly) next season.

Depends on hoe many young guys are brought in.

Primeau isn't doing as well, but they lost 1 key dmen in Ouellet and Belpedio for offense and didn't replace them.

Rocket will likely need that offensive "star" down there.

The first thing is that Laval got off to a really shit start. So they played catch up for a long while. They had to make up a lot of ground to get back into the playoff picture.

Also, you shouldn't forget that the Rocket were decimated by two things: injuries to the Habs that forced call ups to key players and injuries to the Rocket themselves.

For a good chunk of the season, Laval were without Bowey, Martel, Mysak, Leskinen, Bourque, Gignac, Beaudin, Poulin, and Simoneau all at the same time and for a good while (several weeks). And then you add Belzile, Pitlick, Richard, Barron, Ylonen & RHP being called up during that period because of the Habs' injury issues.

This year has nothing to do with management not providing Laval with anything. In fact, they did a lot to add depth in both Montreal and Laval. If you look at all the players they had in the organization top-to-bottom, you'll see that there was supposed to be depth on both teams. The issue became all the long term injuries both teams suffered. Which is something the organization really needs to look into this off-season.

As for Laval needing an offensive star, would you be surprised that Laval is 5th in the entire league in Goals For? Or that they're Top-10 in the entire league on the PP? The team's issues hasn't been offense.

 

[Le Barron de HF]

Legitimate reason, but once they made opening night roster, could have made a minor league trade for a d.

They likely didn't expect Belzile and Richard to play a decent amount up because of injuries, so that's why I'm hoping next year they have a more concise plan in place. 1st year, you're hoping the big club does better than focusing on the AHL.

It's a balancing act and can quickly cause more harm than good. Few examples:
Mysak, who admittedly has done nothing, would have started in ECHL. Belzile wouldn't taken an extra step in his game with the additional TOI he got. Teasdale wouldn't be producing like he is. RHP might have had a diminished role. Etc. Oh Simoneau too.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

The first thing is that Laval got off to a really shit start. So they played catch up for a long while. They had to make up a lot of ground to get back into the playoff picture.

Also, you shouldn't forget that the Rocket were decimated by two things: injuries to the Habs that forced call ups to key players and injuries to the Rocket themselves.

For a good chunk of the season, Laval were without Bowey, Martel, Mysak, Leskinen, Bourque, Gignac, Beaudin, Poulin, and Simoneau all at the same time and for a good while (several weeks). And then you add Belzile, Pitlick, Richard, Barron, Ylonen & RHP being called up during that period because of the Habs' injury issues.

This year has nothing to do with management not providing Laval with anything. In fact, they did a lot to add depth in both Montreal and Laval. If you look at all the players they had in the organization top-to-bottom, you'll see that there was supposed to be depth on both teams. The issue became all the long term injuries both teams suffered. Which is something the organization really needs to look into this off-season.

As for Laval needing an offensive star, would you be surprised that Laval is 5th in the entire league in Goals For? Or that they're Top-10 in the entire league on the PP? The team's issues hasn't been offense.

They lost 2-0 last night in an important game.

They very well could be a team that scores in bunches when they win. Either way, they're tied for 10th worse in the league and their division seems to suck as to why they have a chance.

Bergevin f***ed over the AHL so many times. It took him so long to realize what needed to be done down there.

If Laval had a bunch of injuries, then the Habs need to really look into their system and figure out why they are once again a badly injured NHL team and this year AHL team.

Hopefully the Habs all recover and have Richard and Belzile back and they start in thr A with a fairly good dman who can provide offense down there.

If there's a bunch of callups/injuries then it's on the Habs medical staff.

They might need a goalie as Primeau might get claimed if sent down. Might.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

It's a balancing act and can quickly cause more harm than good. Few examples:
Mysak, who admittedly has done nothing, would have started in ECHL. Belzile wouldn't taken an extra step in his game with the additional TOI he got. Teasdale wouldn't be producing like he is. RHP might have had a diminished role. Etc. Oh Simoneau too.

That's possible, but usually good players develop no matter what.

To be completely honest it might have been better to start Mysak in thr ECHL and just have a random player play 4th lime minutes in that case.

Brett Stapely did well in the ECHL this year. He's also a few years older than Mysak.

 

[Adam Michaels]

They lost 2-0 last night in an important game.

They very well could be a team that scores in bunches when they win. Either way, they're tied for 10th worse in the league and their division seems to suck as to why they have a chance.

Bergevin f***ed over the AHL so many times. It took him so long to realize what needed to be done down there.

If Laval had a bunch of injuries, then the Habs need to really look into their system and figure out why they are once again a badly injured NHL team and this year AHL team.

Hopefully the Habs all recover and have Richard and Belzile back and they start in thr A with a fairly good dman who can provide offense down there.

If there's a bunch of callups/injuries then it's on the Habs medical staff.

They might need a goalie as Primeau might get claimed if sent down. Might.

They lost an important game last night. They've also won important games. It's the race that they're in. And that all started by their terrible start.

They've been playing .539 hockey since December. They've been winning more than they've been losing.

 

[Treb]

It seems Laval will not make the playoffs, right? Is the AHL playoffs top 8 from each conference?

No. It is division based, not conference. The top 5 teams in the North makes it.

2023 Calder Cup Playoff Primer

theahl.com

They are currently 1 point off a playoffs spot with a game in hand.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

They lost an important game last night. They've also won important games. It's the race that they're in. And that all started by their terrible start.

They've been playing .539 hockey since December. They've been winning more than they've been losing.

Do you know if the Marlies suffered any injuries, or just deployment ?

According to a Google search, Toronto is 2nd for man games lost and the Marlies are way ahead in the North

 

[Adam Michaels]

Do you know if the Marlies suffered any injuries, or just deployment ?

According to a Google search, Toronto is 2nd for man games lost and the Marlies are way ahead in the North

How many man games lost did the Marlies have?

Because as I already told you, it's not just the call ups that hurt the Rocket. It's all the injuries in Laval, as well. They had several guys out to long term injuries simultaneously.

 

[morhilane]

Do you know if the Marlies suffered any injuries, or just deployment ?

According to a Google search, Toronto is 2nd for man games lost and the Marlies are way ahead in the North

Toronto is 2nd because it has two SOIR since the start of the season (Amirov and Dahlström) who never played and won't play this year for the Leafs. That's a free 160 game in main games lost on their real total.

SOIR is for players injured during the off-season/training camp who are meant to be loaned/returned to another club once healthy, but the rules doesn't allow you to load/return injured players until they are fit to play.

 

[montreal]

The team is 10th worst in the league.

They didn't do an absolute piss poor job like Bergevin and Co, but he needs to do more (possibly) next season.

Depends on hoe many young guys are brought in.

Primeau isn't doing as well, but they lost 1 key dmen in Ouellet and Belpedio for offense and didn't replace them.

Rocket will likely need that offensive "star" down there.

They addressed the moves they needed to in the off-season, just got crushed with call ups / injuries and with the 50 contract limit they have to be very careful. We'll see what they do this off-season but with the big influx I'm sure they were keeping a close eye on that.

Richard was the offensive star they needed, nice pickup as he torched us last year. I would love to get Hudon back though, as he is a legit sniper but room is just going to be so tough as they have so many damn prospects incoming in the next 2 years it's crazy.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

How many man games lost did the Marlies have?

Because as I already told you, it's not just the call ups that hurt the Rocket. It's all the injuries in Laval, as well. They had several guys out to long term injuries simultaneously.

Yeah, that's why I asked if you might now.

Toronto is 2nd because it has two SOIR since the start of the season (Amirov and Dahlström) who never played and won't play this year for the Leafs. That's a free 160 game in main games lost on their real total.

SOIR is for players injured during the off-season/training camp who are meant to be loaned/returned to another club once healthy, but the rules doesn't allow you to load/return injured players until they are fit to play.

While they're no Price, we knew Price wasn't going to play and Byron.

Also, i dont think either one counts, but i could be mistaken as on EP neither one is there. If they do, then the habs have another one in Fairbrother.

They addressed the moves they needed to in the off-season, just got crushed with call ups / injuries and with the 50 contract limit they have to be very careful. We'll see what they do this off-season but with the big influx I'm sure they were keeping a close eye on that.

Richard was the offensive star they needed, nice pickup as he torched us last year. I would love to get Hudon back though, as he is a legit sniper but room is just going to be so tough as they have so many damn prospects incoming in the next 2 years it's crazy.

Yeah, they need to replace Richard. Just scored another and the speed he has. I can't imagine the Habs build so much, so he'll be on the Habs maybe.

 

[NHLInjuryViz]

I know next to nothing about AHL rosters but I know someone has done some AHL viz that includes a "starting roster games lost" metric - don't think it only covers injuries though.

https://public.tableau.com/app/profile/seanobrien81/viz/AHL2022-23/Forwards

On the NHL MGL numbers (which I do know about), correct that the Leafs are only close to having the most (and even then I only have them top 5 not top 2) if you count six players who have spent time on SOIR, with Amirov and Dahlström being on there all season,

FWIW I don't count Price in the Canadiens' numbers but have included Byron (if only because it didn't appear to be the case at the start of the season that he was expected to be done). I only have Heineman and Mailloux having a handful of games "missed" while on SOIR for them. Fairbrother doesn't appear on SOIR because he got injured after being reassigned.

 

[Steve Shutt]

I don't follow Laval closely enough but curious why the team didn't re-sign three local veteran guys at the end of 2021-22:

Lauren Dauphin (27) put up good numbers during his 3 seasons with Laval and has continues to put up solid numbers with the Tuscon Roadrunners (AHL)

Jean Sebastien Dea (29) had one solid year in Laval and is playing well with the Tuscon Roadrunners as well.

Xavier Ouellet (29) had 4 seasons with Laval and was our captain. His numbers in Wilkes-Barre (AHL) also look good but he must have missed time to injury.

Did management choose to go in a different direction and favor ice time for younger players. Was there some type of falling out? Does the AHL limit number of veterans on a team - thought I saw a rule on that at some point. Was there concern of the Habs hitting their 50 contract limit and other players were prioritized?

It's interesting that some solid depth guys who all have NHL experience and ties to Quebec (not sure about Ouellet) would choose to leave. Would be nice to have the depth now with so many injuries and hopes of qualifying for the AHL playoffs.

Anyways - maybe one of you who follow the Rocket have more insight.