Laval Rocket: 2023-24 Laval Rocket Thread

[Kobe Armstrong]

What's next for Smilanic? Do we release his rights?

 

[dcyhabs]

Davidson keeps pushing the pace. It will be hard not to include him on the roster if he keeps it up.

He got one from the point and one from the goal line, so he's mixing it up a bit.

I really didn't expect Davidson to make the jump from junior easily but that just shows that I don't know hockey. I saw some of his Mem Cup games.

I'd love to see something from Farrell...

 

[WeThreeKings]

What's next for Smilanic? Do we release his rights?

No, he just has to decide if he wants to stay on the radar in the ECHL or look overseas.

No point in relinquishing rights early in case his development path goes well.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

He has a good chance of making the TR team, if he feels like giving it a chance for a while. It might actually be the best course for him.

 

[Treb]

According to the logic of some folks here, Davidson needs to be on the top 2 lines in Laval, otherwise he needs to go to the ECHL to further hone his offensive skills and gain confidence.

The 3rd and 4th lines are unworthy roles for hockey players with aspirations of making a team to have. Better to play 40 minutes a game in Trois-Rivieres than 3 minutes on the third line in Laval

Who said that? I clearly said 4th line.

And I also said for a couple weeks (days?) until we get our first injury, at which point you plug him in the top 9.

 

[BaseballCoach]

Who said that? I clearly said 4th line.

And I also said for a couple weeks (days?) until we get our first injury, at which point you plug him in the top 9.

Wasn't talking about you. You did clearly state 4th line. Others are even more out there.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Houle said Davidson is like Simoneau from last year where they expected him in 3R but keeps forcing their hands. Said he's a true professional out there.

Tourigny said his camp last year was terrible and going to Slovakia was good for his game, both in defense and confidence.

Houle said Mesar and other young players will get another chance to play against Belleville to help their decision on which chair they will sit in for the upcoming season; and the other veterans like Maillet and Anderssson should dress.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Andersson and Maillet getting PP1 reps for Houle.

Leaving Davidson, Mesar, Roy, Kidney and Tourigny on PP2.

Only Mailloux, Trudeau and Farrell matter on PP1.

I have no quarrel with having Andersson and Maillet on PP1. 3 of the 5 on PP1 are prospects.

If it was Andersson, Maillet, Galipeau, Stephens and 1 prospect, then I'd be upset.

 

[Treb]

Houle said Davidson is like Simoneau from last year where they expected him in 3R but keeps forcing their hands. Said he's a true professional out there.

Tourigny said his camp last year was terrible and going to Slovakia was good for his game, both in defense and confidence.

Houle said Mesar and other young players will get another chance to play against Belleville to help their decision on which chair they will sit in for the upcoming season; and the other veterans like Maillet and Anderssson should dress.

There's a world where Davidson steals Mesar spot in the top 9 and Mesar go to TR or Europe. I think that's the only top 9 spot that is reasonably up for grabs.

I think the 3 Cs will be the vets (Maillet, Andersson and Stephens) and the rest is Heineman, Farrell, Roy, Condotta, Simoneau and one of Mesar/Kidney/Davidson.

McKay, JPJ, Mysak, Bourque and Gignac split time on the 4th.

 

[Steve Shutt]

Will TR's training camp be starting soon?
Must feel strange for guys like Smilanic to try out for the Habs, Rocket, and Lions

 

[MadMslm]

According to the logic of some folks here, Davidson needs to be on the top 2 lines in Laval, otherwise he needs to go to the ECHL to further hone his offensive skills and gain confidence.

The 3rd and 4th lines are unworthy roles for hockey players with aspirations of making a team to have. Better to play 40 minutes a game in Trois-Rivieres than 3 minutes on the third line in Laval

I mean he would probably get 10-14 min in Laval, which is enough. If he keeps playing the way he is, there’s no way he doesn’t go up the ladder.

So Tourigny looking good to make the team?

Norlinder - Barron
Trudeau - Mailloux
Struble - Tourigny
Beaudin, Wideman
Keeper, Galipeau, ....

That's a lot of offensive dmen in Laval!

Injuries will take care of that. There will definitely be some. Space will open quickly.

Not a fan of Beaudin, so I don’t really mind if isn’t playing. Same thing for Galipeau.

Keeper I could understand why they would keep him around.

I doubt Wideman goes on waivers, he’ll probably spend the season on LTIR chilling with the boys.

Tourigny could start in 3R or just be on rotation with Beaudin/Keeper.

There's a world where Davidson steals Mesar spot in the top 9 and Mesar go to TR or Europe. I think that's the only top 9 spot that is reasonably up for grabs.

I think the 3 Cs will be the vets (Maillet, Andersson and Stephens) and the rest is Heineman, Farrell, Roy, Condotta, Simoneau and one of Mesar/Kidney/Davidson.

McKay, JPJ, Mysak, Bourque and Gignac split time on the 4th.

McKay and JPJ deserve a spot. They had a great main camp, there has to be a way to fit them in.

I just really hope they give Mysak a chance, even though potential isn’t the highest he had a great camp.

There will be some tough decisions to make.

 

[dcyhabs]

I meant to mock the Marlies for having a fanless game, but I forgot and now it's too late. Seems they didn't expect to get enough fans to make it worthwhile to open concessions and worry about tickets.

 

[Treb]

I mean he would probably get 10-14 min in Laval, which is enough. If he keeps playing the way he is, there’s no way he doesn’t go up the ladder.


Injuries will take care of that. There will definitely be some. Space will open quickly.

Not a fan of Beaudin, so I don’t really mind if isn’t playing. Same thing for Galipeau.

Keeper I could understand why they would keep him around.

I doubt Wideman goes on waivers, he’ll probably spend the season on LTIR chilling with the boys.

Tourigny could start in 3R or just be on rotation with Beaudin/Keeper.



McKay and JPJ deserve a spot. They had a great main camp, there has to be a way to fit them in.

I just really hope they give Mysak a chance, even though potential isn’t the highest he had a great camp.

There will be some tough decisions to make.

McKay will play when they face tough teams as he is pretty much the only guy they have for that.

Injuries will happen at the NHL/AHL level, so players will draw in.

That's the thing with AHL/ECHL teams, you need to overload them because of the affiliation dominoe effect with injuries/trades.

If everyone starts at the best spot for them, any injuries/trade screw things up.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

Will TR's training camp be starting soon?
Must feel strange for guys like Smilanic to try out for the Habs, Rocket, and Lions

He played so few games last season, he might be happy for the reps, especially as a pro rookie.

 

[26Mats]

There's a world where Davidson steals Mesar spot in the top 9 and Mesar go to TR or Europe. I think that's the only top 9 spot that is reasonably up for grabs.

I think the 3 Cs will be the vets (Maillet, Andersson and Stephens) and the rest is Heineman, Farrell, Roy, Condotta, Simoneau and one of Mesar/Kidney/Davidson.

McKay, JPJ, Mysak, Bourque and Gignac split time on the 4th.

Couldn't Mesar bump Maillet to 4c? Maillet has skating and puck handling issues.

Couldn't he also bump out condotta?

And couldn't he start on the 4th line?

 

[Treb]

Couldn't Mesar bump Maillet to 4c? Maillet has skating and puck handling issues.

Couldn't he also bump out condotta?

And couldn't he start on the 4th line?

Mesar is not going to bump Maillet off of C.

Condotta belongs in the top 9 more than Mesar.

As I argued before, I prefer Davidson/Mesar/Kidney in the ECHL rather than 4th line to start the year. They will move in the top9 after a few days/weeks when the first injuries happen.

 

[DAChampion]

I get that, but some posters ............. do they think third liners play no minutes and are expected to score no goals?

It's the AHL. There shouldn't be as much of a difference between the lines.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Laval plays their second of two preseason games tomorrow.

Players left at Laval's camp: 17F, 8D, 4G are left.

F: Roy, Farrell, Mesar, Davidson, Kidney, Simoneau, Condotta, Mysak, Legare, Andersson, Maillet, Stephens, Bourque, Gignac, McKay, Parker-Jones & Novak.

D: Mailloux, Struble, Trudeau, Touigny, Beaudin, Galipeau, Bisson & Keeper.

G: Dobes, Mann, Emond & Vrbetic.

 

[Adam Michaels]

According to the logic of some folks here, Davidson needs to be on the top 2 lines in Laval, otherwise he needs to go to the ECHL to further hone his offensive skills and gain confidence.

The 3rd and 4th lines are unworthy roles for hockey players with aspirations of making a team to have. Better to play 40 minutes a game in Trois-Rivieres than 3 minutes on the third line in Laval

I agree with you. Starting in the Bottom-6 doesn't mean you stay there.

Evans started his pro career as Laval's 4C. By the end of that year, he was their 1C. RHP and Ylonen started in the Bottom-6. By the end, they moved up to the Top-6, even the top line and became among Laval's top scorers.

At practice, Davidson was part of the 2nd PP unit. So if he plays on the 3rd or 4th line, but he gets PP time and maybe time on the PK, then he's being developed.

 

[26Mats]

There's a world where Davidson steals Mesar spot in the top 9 and Mesar go to TR or Europe. I think that's the only top 9 spot that is reasonably up for grabs.

I think the 3 Cs will be the vets (Maillet, Andersson and Stephens) and the rest is Heineman, Farrell, Roy, Condotta, Simoneau and one of Mesar/Kidney/Davidson.

McKay, JPJ, Mysak, Bourque and Gignac split time on the 4th.

And there's also Legare, no?

 

[morhilane]

Laval plays their second of two preseason games tomorrow.

Players left at Laval's camp: 17F, 8D, 4G are left.

F: Roy, Farrell, Mesar, Davidson, Kidney, Simoneau, Condotta, Mysak, Legare, Andersson, Maillet, Stephens, Bourque, Gignac, McKay, Parker-Jones & Novak.

D: Mailloux, Struble, Trudeau, Touigny, Beaudin, Galipeau, Bisson & Keeper.

G: Dobes, Mann, Emond & Vrbetic.

The 8Ds seems low considering how many bad injuries they AHL Ds got over the last decade, but Habs needs to cut more.

 

[BaseballCoach]

No, he just has to decide if he wants to stay on the radar in the ECHL or look overseas.

No point in relinquishing rights early in case his development path goes well.

Was he even invited to the Lions tryouts?

There's a world where Davidson steals Mesar spot in the top 9 and Mesar go to TR or Europe. I think that's the only top 9 spot that is reasonably up for grabs.

I think the 3 Cs will be the vets (Maillet, Andersson and Stephens) and the rest is Heineman, Farrell, Roy, Condotta, Simoneau and one of Mesar/Kidney/Davidson.

McKay, JPJ, Mysak, Bourque and Gignac split time on the 4th.

Mesar has a spot in the top 9?

Or did you mean 19?

 

[Treb]

And there's also Legare, no?

See that's even worse. put him in the 4th line pile.

Was he even invited to the Lions tryouts?


Mesar has a spot in the top 9?

Or did you mean 19?

Before the camp he had one, might have lost it to other players.

 

[1909]

Laval plays their second of two preseason games tomorrow.

Players left at Laval's camp: 17F, 8D, 4G are left.

F: Roy, Farrell, Mesar, Davidson, Kidney, Simoneau, Condotta, Mysak, Legare, Andersson, Maillet, Stephens, Bourque, Gignac, McKay, Parker-Jones & Novak.

D: Mailloux, Struble, Trudeau, Tourigny, Beaudin, Galipeau, Bisson & Keeper.

G: Dobes, Mann, Emond & Vrbetic.

Those won't start in Laval. I am not sure anout Kidney, either. Habs will send down Heineman, Norlinder ans maybe Barron. And they will try to send Primeau down too. Struble is still injured, right ?

 

[Adam Michaels]

Those won't start in Laval. I am not sure anout Kidney, either. Habs will send down Heineman, Norlinder ans maybe Barron. And they will try to send Primeau down too. Struble is still injured, right ?

According to photos posted by Laval's twitter, Struble has been practicing, and doesn't seem to wear non-contact jersey. So not sure if he's still injured or if they were just being cautious by keeping him out a little longer.

I agree about Novak & Emond most likely sent down to 3R.

I'd rather see Mesar get time in Laval before they decide what to do with him. I don't want them deciding right away. I keep thinking of Norlinder last year in Laval, not exactly living up to expectations, but a year later, he's pushing for a roster spot with the Habs. So a growing pains season could prove beneficial in the long run for Mesar.

As for Kidney and Tourigny, they both produced in their preseason game against the Marlies. Kidney picking up 3 assists and Tourigny picking up 2. But I wouldn't be surprised if they are victims of the numbers game, particularly with players eventually being cut from Habs camp and sent to Laval.