Laval Rocket: 2023-24 Laval Rocket Thread

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Roy started off really well and the last handful of games I've seen you barely notice him.

Started watching mid 2nd. He and the other player a lot like to talk about, Kulich, were pretty much non-existent.

 

[Team_Spirit]

Meanwhile Pierrick Dube is 2nd in the league for goals and Anthony Richard is 10th.

 

[BaseballCoach]

The defense is still a sh*t show and despite some flashes here and there our top prospects haven’t really blown people away ( and yes that includes Mailloux who despite his offensive flair still hasn’t made great strides defensively)

I'm not sure I agree.

Mailloux has turned it around from -16 his first 24 games to +13 his last 19 games.

That's a significant improvement, not very likely just random variation.

Meanwhile Pierrick Dube is 2nd in the league for goals and Anthony Richard is 10th.

Does this mean that if a confident Pierrick Dubé were to be elevated to the NHL that he would have a better career than Slafkovsky?

 

[Team_Spirit]

Does this mean that if a confident Pierrick Dubé were to be elevated to the NHL that he would have a better career than Slafkovsky?

It means Laval would be in a better spot if they kept them.

 

[jrom]

Meanwhile Pierrick Dube is 2nd in the league for goals and Anthony Richard is 10th.

Dube left because he wanted a NHL contract / more chances to play in the NHL like Dauphin, Belzile, Ouellet, etc.

 

[Treb]

Meanwhile Pierrick Dube is 2nd in the league for goals and Anthony Richard is 10th.

Dubé left for a team full of aging wingers and a 2 year ELC. Also, if healthy, Laval is deeper at W than Hershey, so it looked like he would have less opportunity here. Obviously we had so many injuries that would not really have been the case.

We wanted Richard back, but he wanted to try his luck to make the NHL on another team. Pretty sure he would like a mulligan on this one. Probably would be the guy called up instead of Stephens.

Anyway, forward scoring is really not the issue this year. Laval is still 2nd in goals for. Plus, Andersson+Maillet (their replacement) also have PPG pretty close to Richard+Dubé.

The problem has been the defensive side of things. Even with the December/January win streak, Laval is still last in the league for goal against (at least the gap has tightened).

Blame the goalies, the D, the coach or the GM, but don't blame forwards not scoring enough.

 

[BaseballCoach]

It means Laval would be in a better spot if they kept them.

Agreed, but Washington gave him an NHL contract. I'm not sure I would have wanted KH to do the same.

 

[Kimota]

Dube left because he wanted a NHL contract / more chances to play in the NHL like Dauphin, Belzile, Ouellet, etc.

And all of them are all in their farm club. lol Habs should have kept Dubé, Belzille and Richard. Why not allow them to get a crack at the big club? Belzille was better on the fourth line than the scrubs we have now.

 

[Treb]

It means Laval would be in a better spot if they kept them.

Not really. Unless you're trying to argue Andersson/Maillet are a lot worst at preventing goals than Dubé/Richard.

What Laval needs is not goalscoring, they are a top team in that department, it's preventing goals against for which they are one of the worst team.

That's one of the reason why I didn't like Laaouan getting traded away as he definitely would have helped. Even worse that he`s getting cucked in Rochester, he definitely should play.

 

[Treb]

And all of them are all in their farm club. lol Habs should have kept Dubé, Belzille and Richard. Why not allow them to get a crack at the big club? Belzille was better on the fourth line than the scrubs we have now.

All of them went elsewhere to try to crack the NHL lineup (or at least get a better position).

None of them were upgrades on our healthy lineup.

Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovsky
Newhook - Dach - Anderson
Pearson - Monahan - Gallagher
Evans - Dvorak - Ylonen
RHP, Pezzetta

They have also been replaced in the AHL by the new vets/incoming rookies Maillet/Andersson/Roy.

If you actually looked at the farm club, you would have seen keeping them would have made very little impact except further hinder the development of Davidson/Kidney/Mysak/Roy.

 

[habbubba]

Happy for the players Montreal called up but it puts Laval in a precarious position. It will be interesting to see who can bring their game up.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

Happy for the players Montreal called up but it puts Laval in a precarious position. It will be interesting to see who can bring their game up.

Hopefully it's Roy.

Davidson gets in full-time and he's got some skill, energy, bite.

 

[habbubba]

Hopefully it's Roy.

Davidson gets in full-time and he's got some skill, energy, bite.

Don't forget Kidney,has skill as well. Would be great if many step up and make gains in their game.

 

[Tyson]

Laval is about to get pillaged. Too bad because they have been doing pretty well lately

 

[beowulf]

What's the latest on the goalie situation?

 

[Kimota]

All of them went elsewhere to try to crack the NHL lineup (or at least get a better position).

None of them were upgrades on our healthy lineup.

Caufield - Suzuki - Slafkovsky
Newhook - Dach - Anderson
Pearson - Monahan - Gallagher
Evans - Dvorak - Ylonen
RHP, Pezzetta

They have also been replaced in the AHL by the new vets/incoming rookies Maillet/Andersson/Roy.

If you actually looked at the farm club, you would have seen keeping them would have made very little impact except further hinder the development of Davidson/Kidney/Mysak/Roy.

I disagree. To me Bezillie really represented what a fourth liner should be. A real energy guy that that never stop. I loved the energy and enthusiasm that he brought to the Habs when they last called him. Everybody noticed to, he really made a difference. Reminded me of a cross between Darche and Dale Weise. I like him more than Pezzetta, Dvorak, Ylonen. And he had good chemistry with RHP the time they played together. Richard could have had a try out as well. He deserved it with his play in the farm club.

 

[Treb]

I disagree. To me Bezillie really represented what a fourth liner should be. A real energy guy that that never stop. I loved the energy and enthusiasm that he brought to the Habs when they last called him. Everybody noticed to, he really made a difference. Reminded me of a cross between Darche and Dale Weise. I like him more than Pezzetta, Dvorak, Ylonen. And he had good chemistry with RHP the time they played together. Richard could have had a try out as well. He deserved it with his play in the farm club.

You would have waived Pezzetta or Ylonen to make a spot for Belzile? He's 32 years old and has had many injury plagued seasons.

And Richard got a bigger tryout with the Habs than with any other team he was part of and possibly ever will.

 

[beowulf]

I disagree. To me Bezillie really represented what a fourth liner should be. A real energy guy that that never stop. I loved the energy and enthusiasm that he brought to the Habs when they last called him. Everybody noticed to, he really made a difference. Reminded me of a cross between Darche and Dale Weise. I like him more than Pezzetta, Dvorak, Ylonen. And he had good chemistry with RHP the time they played together. Richard could have had a try out as well. He deserved it with his play in the farm club.

What? Belzile is a dime a dozen player who is back in the AHL now that he is no longer in the Habs organization. His playing in the NHL with the Habs had more to do with the team being bad than his ability as a hockey player.

 

[Wateredgarden]

I've only watched games where he wasn't playing, but is Andersson good enough to be part of the tank centerline for the Habs this year? He seems like he has all the tools.

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

I've only watched games where he wasn't playing, but is Andersson good enough to be part of the tank centerline for the Habs this year? He seems like he has all the tools.

He has played primarily on the wing this year, however he has definitely played well enough for a promotion to the NHL.. especially since Ylonen and Pezzetta play 5 minutes a game and do next to nothing.

 

[Kimota]

You would have waived Pezzetta or Ylonen to make a spot for Belzile? He's 32 years old and has had many injury plagued seasons.

And Richard got a bigger tryout with the Habs than with any other team he was part of and possibly ever will.

Ylonen brings nothing to this group and Pezzeta has passed his expiration date. As far as Richard, I think I saw him 1 time with the big club.

What? Belzile is a dime a dozen player who is back in the AHL now that he is no longer in the Habs organization. His playing in the NHL with the Habs had more to do with the team being bad than his ability as a hockey player.

He was not a dime a dozen the last time he was with the Habs. People really have a short memory.

 

[HABitual Fan]

Ylonen brings nothing to this group and Pezzeta has passed his expiration date. As far as Richard, I think I saw him 1 time with the big club.



He was not a dime a dozen the last time he was with the Habs. People really have a short memory.

I said it before the season and a few disagreed with me, local players need to be recruited on guaranteed AHL contracts for the same money they would get on an NHL deal so they could avoid waivers, but still be in a position like Gignac to get an NHL deal midseason if injuries cripple the big team.

I understand a player who is under 25 believing he can still be an NHLer and not being interested, but if I was 28 years old I would be more interested in financial security for my family, playing at home in a major city, having my kids educated in French, than pursuing the dream in some place like Springfield Mass.

Signing elsewhere hasn't worked out for guys like Ouellette, Richard and Belzile, when if Montreal would spend the required money, could be bringing stability to Laval and helping develop the young players, and perhaps open coaching opportunities when their playing days are done. Guys like them on NHL deals are a dime a dozen to find, ones ready to commit to Laval and the organization should be rewarded financially and be given priority in signings.

 

[Treb]

Ylonen brings nothing to this group and Pezzeta has passed his expiration date. As far as Richard, I think I saw him 1 time with the big club.



He was not a dime a dozen the last time he was with the Habs. People really have a short memory.

What does Richard/Belzile bring to the group that Ylonen doesn't? They're also 3/8 years older respectively, so there's a lot less room for improvement.

Not sure what you mean by Pezzetta being past his expiration date. Could we upgrade on him? Sure. Are Belzile/Richard the right type of players to do so? No. Even in Laval, we don't really have anyone that could fill his role. Simoneau would be the best fit, but I don't see him being ready for a tryout yet (if ever). Even in the unsigned prospects, you pretty much only have Tuch, F. Xhekaj and S. Harris that would fit.

As for Richard, by 1 time you mean 13 games? Before that, he had 2 games in 6 years. Even in Boston, he got passed by Boqvist, Merkulov and Brown for a chance to play in the NHL.

Belzile was a dime a dozen player. I'd be more inclined to think that you have selective memory. This year, Belzile has been passed by Blidh, Othmann, Edstrom and Brodzinski for a chance to play in the NHL. He's a great story, I remember arguing for him to be kkept back in 2013 when he played for Hamilton, but ultimately he's unlikely to have a permanent spot on an NHL roster.

 

[Kimota]

What does Richard/Belzile bring to the group that Ylonen doesn't? They're also 3/8 years older respectively, so there's a lot less room for improvement.

Not sure what you mean by Pezzetta being past his expiration date. Could we upgrade on him? Sure. Are Belzile/Richard the right type of players to do so? No. Even in Laval, we don't really have anyone that could fill his role. Simoneau would be the best fit, but I don't see him being ready for a tryout yet (if ever). Even in the unsigned prospects, you pretty much only have Tuch, F. Xhekaj and S. Harris that would fit.

As for Richard, by 1 time you mean 13 games? Before that, he had 2 games in 6 years. Even in Boston, he got passed by Boqvist, Merkulov and Brown for a chance to play in the NHL.

Belzile was a dime a dozen player. I'd be more inclined to think that you have selective memory. This year, Belzile has been passed by Blidh, Othmann, Edstrom and Brodzinski for a chance to play in the NHL. He's a great story, I remember arguing for him to be kkept back in 2013 when he played for Hamilton, but ultimately he's unlikely to have a permanent spot on an NHL roster.

Pezzeta has basically given everything he will give us, which is nothing much. We saw everything we needed of him. And Ylonen literally brings nothing.

As for Belzille, we just didn't see the same thing. No big deal. I thought he was amazing with us when he last played. I remember a time when guys in these very boards were praying that we would lose but Bezillie always kept bringing us back in the game with a timeley play or goal that it had become basically a running joke. Like "keep him on the bench!". He was a real old school spark plug and so far this season, I've not seen anybody do that for us. A sort of a cross between Darche and Weise.

Richard was really good the few times I've seen him. He didn't get much ice time but he was a really good skater. I liked him a lot in Laval and he didn't seem lost in Montreal. But he didn't get enough icetime to prove himself.

 

[Kimota]

I said it before the season and a few disagreed with me, local players need to be recruited on guaranteed AHL contracts for the same money they would get on an NHL deal so they could avoid waivers, but still be in a position like Gignac to get an NHL deal midseason if injuries cripple the big team.

I understand a player who is under 25 believing he can still be an NHLer and not being interested, but if I was 28 years old I would be more interested in financial security for my family, playing at home in a major city, having my kids educated in French, than pursuing the dream in some place like Springfield Mass.

Signing elsewhere hasn't worked out for guys like Ouellette, Richard and Belzile, when if Montreal would spend the required money, could be bringing stability to Laval and helping develop the young players, and perhaps open coaching opportunities when their playing days are done. Guys like them on NHL deals are a dime a dozen to find, ones ready to commit to Laval and the organization should be rewarded financially and be given priority in signings.

That's an interesting idea. Although maybe they would choose to leave as well. There has been a strange vibe in my opinion with the Quebec guys in the minors and the new direction, I feel. Just after some of them praise the Quebec identity some of them are traded or shown no interests so they go elsewhere, etc...Not sure what it was about. The way Belzille and Richard left so suddenly was unusual as well. Belzille thought he would have more chance cracking a better Rangers line-up?