Laval Rocket: 2023-24 Laval Rocket Thread

[BaseballCoach]

I wish there were a couple of decent players to send down to Laval and get them over the hump. Alas Roy is hurt. Not sure who else we could send.

Dvorak conditioning or
if they think he is ready, then Colin White

 

[Adam Michaels]

Andersson heading to Sweden next year and Maillet to the KHL. Means there will be turnover in Laval again regarding some vets.

 

[morhilane]

Andersson heading to Sweden next year and Maillet to the KHL. Means there will be turnover in Laval again regarding some vets.

Habs will have another batch of prospects starting their pro career next year. This year rookies are going to be the vets next season and Maillet/Andersson will get replaced by Beck and Mesar (and maybe others depending what happens with Kapanen and Tuch).

 

[Adam Michaels]

Habs will have another batch of prospects starting their pro career next year. This year rookies are going to be the vets next season and Maillet/Andersson will get replaced by Beck and Mesar (and maybe others depending what happens with Kapanen and Tuch).

You need actual vets around. You can't only have the young guys left to their own devices.

I'm expecting Gignac to be back. Most probably Bourque. But at forward, they need another 1 or 2 more guys who can help the young guys learn the pro game.

Players in their second or third year aren't considered vets even if they know more of what to expect.

 

[BaseballCoach]

You need actual vets around. You can't only have the young guys left to their own devices.

I'm expecting Gignac to be back. Most probably Bourque. But at forward, they need another 1 or 2 more guys who can help the young guys learn the pro game.

Players in their second or third year aren't considered vets even if they know more of what to expect.

Condotta is a mature 26-27 yo next year.

 

[teamfirst]

Condotta is a mature 26-27 yo next year.

They need guy's who can produce, that was their biggest problem this year, dont know why they let go guy's like Dubé, Belzile, Richard and Teasdale but it clearly was a mistake

 

[morhilane]

You need actual vets around. You can't only have the young guys left to their own devices.

I'm expecting Gignac to be back. Most probably Bourque. But at forward, they need another 1 or 2 more guys who can help the young guys learn the pro game.

Players in their second or third year aren't considered vets even if they know more of what to expect.

They have Condotta/Gignac already signed for next season. They will probably try to resign Stephens again and maybe Bourque (or replaced them). If the team needs more than 4 vets at forwards when most of the prospects are in their 2nd or 3rd season in the AHL, Habs are in big shit for the future because their prospects are useless.

 

[BaseballCoach]

They have Condotta/Gignac already signed for next season. They will probably try to resign Stephens again and maybe Bourque (or replaced them). If the team needs more than 4 vets at forwards when most of the prospects are in their 2nd or 3rd season in the AHL, Habs are in big shit for the future because their prospects are useless.

They may also inherit RHP or Pezzetta if the Habs upgrade their talent.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Condotta is a mature 26-27 yo next year.

True. So maybe sign one more.

 

[overlords]

Condotta is a mature 26-27 yo next year.

he's also not very good

 

[Adam Michaels]

They have Condotta/Gignac already signed for next season. They will probably try to resign Stephens again and maybe Bourque (or replaced them). If the team needs more than 4 vets at forwards when most of the prospects are in their 2nd or 3rd season in the AHL, Habs are in big shit for the future because their prospects are useless.

If they bring back Stephens, then I'm good with Gignac, Bourque, and Condotta for some vet experience up front.

 

[BaseballCoach]

he's also not very good

True, but it's not only about scorers.

Habs are currently at 45 contracts.

Assuming no trades to reduce net NHL roster players.

Losing 6 guys to UFA: Pearson, White, Wideman, Stephens, Maillet, Keeper.
Down to 39.

Three Juniors graduate: Mesar, Beck and Reinbacher (late birthday, counts as 20)
Up to 42.

Do not qualify: Andersson, Cederqvist, Norlinder, Durandeau
Now at 38.

Sign: Hutson, Tuch, Engstrom, Kapanen, Davidson, F. Xhekaj (maybe)
Up to 43/44.

Add two new UFAs for Habs and 2 more AHL/NHL vets for Laval
Finish with 47/48 contracts

Can also add 2 AHL vet contracts

 

[Treb]

They need guy's who can produce, that was their biggest problem this year, dont know why they let go guy's like Dubé, Belzile, Richard and Teasdale but it clearly was a mistake

What? Laval are currently 5th in goals for, goalscoring is not an issue.

The issue has been goals against which Laval is 31st in.

With an average level defensive play, they are comfortably in the playoffs.

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

They need guy's who can produce, that was their biggest problem this year, dont know why they let go guy's like Dubé, Belzile, Richard and Teasdale but it clearly was a mistake

I am sure they wanted to bring back some of Belzile, Dube and Richard, however they probably felt it was best for their careers to go elsewhere as Montreal is trying to get younger.

Maillet/Andersson were brought in to help replace them, plus they wanted to rely on younger offensive guys like Roy, Heineman and Farrell as well.

If Kaskisuo was brought in at the start of the year they are probably in the playoffs.

 

[montreal]

last year Condotta was one of our best players, plus his biggest problem this year was slumping after his NHL callups as he played 18 games after being sent down and had 2 pts, the rest of the season he had 15 pts in 40 games. Houle moves him up and down the lineup but he's mainly a 3rd/4th liner so it's not like he is in the way as you need players like him for a say 4th line role next year.

 

[teamfirst]

What? Laval are currently 5th in goals for, goalscoring is not an issue.

The issue has been goals against which Laval is 31st in.

With an average level defensive play, they are comfortably in the playoffs.

Since February it's the contrary, the only reason they're still in it is defense more so Dobes.

GF from Feb 1st 2.88 per games before Feb 1st 3.49
GA from Feb 1st 2.84 per games before Feb 1st 3.70

Maybe you should watch the games before posting, just saying

 

[1909]

What was the point trading Mysak and Légaré and acquiring Perreault and Durandeau ?

Of course their lack of productivity (for the four players) is noticable.

 

[teamfirst]

I am sure they wanted to bring back some of Belzile, Dube and Richard, however they probably felt it was best for their careers to go elsewhere as Montreal is trying to get younger.

Maillet/Andersson were brought in to help replace them, plus they wanted to rely on younger offensive guys like Roy, Heineman and Farrell as well.

If Kaskisuo was brought in at the start of the year they are probably in the playoffs.

I know they probably tried to keep some of them but they failed, it's ok to count on the young guy's comin in for offensive production but you need to have some good vets to take the pressure off a little bit not just good 4th liners

 

[Treb]

Since February it's the contrary, the only reason they're still in it is defense more so Dobes.

GF from Feb 1st 2.88 per games before Feb 1st 3.49
GA from Feb 1st 2.84 per games before Feb 1st 3.70

Maybe you should watch the games before posting, just saying

Scoring goes down as games get tighter, news at 11.

We've been around 5th all most of the year for GF, so our scoring compared to the rest of the league hasn't changed much. If offence was an issue, we would be dropping down the ranking, not be 5 goals of being 3rd in the league.

We have also been at the bottom for GA all year, so this hasn't changed much either.

Laval's December/January streak was carried by Xhekaj and crumbled when he got called back up.

You can watch all the games you want, but if you're hyper-focused on your perception, you're missing the big picture.

Changing Norlinder for a good defensive D would have a lot bigger impact than changing Maillet for Dube or Richard.

 

[Addik04]

They need guy's who can produce, that was their biggest problem this year, dont know why they let go guy's like Dubé, Belzile, Richard and Teasdale but it clearly was a mistake

So the fifth best offense in the AHL lacked offense? This is the biggest problem this year?

 

[teamfirst]

So the fifth best offense in the AHL lacked offense? This is the biggest problem this year?

Yep, right now it is

 

[Treb]

Yep, right now it is

But somehow they keep getting closer to 3rd overall in goals for in the AHL.

If Norlinder was Struble/Xhekaj/random defensive D, Laval is most likely ahead of Rochester right now.

In the first part of the year, both Mailloux and Norlinder were bottom 5 skaters in the AHL for +/-, that is not normal or representative of their abilities.

 

[Leon Lucius Black]

How has Kidney been this year? I know he's spent a lot of time in the bottom six which hasn't helped his stats, but wondering if he's shown any signs of improvement as the year has gone on.

 

[montreal]

How has Kidney been this year? I know he's spent a lot of time in the bottom six which hasn't helped his stats, but wondering if he's shown any signs of improvement as the year has gone on.

not very good, way overmatched physically, lacks lower body strength, speed, skating, overall strength, mass.

 

[Steve Shutt]

Some OHL prospects might be available after this weekend:

Florian Xhekaj
Daniil Sobolev
Filip Mešár
Cédrick Guindon (OHL season finished April 3rd)