Laval Rocket: Laval @ Syracuse November 15 7PM EST

Tyson

Registered User
Mar 1, 2007
49,949
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Texas
I'm one of his biggest fans and think he's got the skill and IQ to be a 60-70 point player in the league. I just don't think the Habs will have the patience to deal with his inconsistent effort and subpar skating.
They will keep him in Laval all year which is the best thing for him. A solid year in the AHL will do wonders for him
 

The Real Timo

Registered User
Jun 18, 2019
16,811
20,794
They are like the anti Habs. Who here remembers what it's like to have a winning record? :D

Sigh... too bad I missed the game. Hope to find some highlights.
 
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MarkovsKnee

Global Moderator
Nov 21, 2007
55,181
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Toronto
That was a fantastic backckeck on Sheary by Roy in OT. He shouldn't have passed to Mailloux on the ensuing 3 on 2, though. He was so slow completing the pass, Halverson was already out & set for Mailloux's shot. Roy should have shot. He had the better angle & was on his strong side.

Good to see Davidson having success in AHL. I was extremely happy when he was drafted. I loved his game in Seattle. He has grit to his game. I think he can make it as a 4th liner with some skill. A Brent Gilchrest type.

This Laval team has some really good young players. Davidson, Roy, Tuch, Xhekaj, Engstrom, Mailloux, Dobes, and Mesar when he gets back have been a huge help to this Laval.

It's been so long since we've had legitimate prospects leading the team in the AHL. You'd have to go back to Gainey days when Pacioretty, Plekanec, Subban, Gallagher, Kostitsyn bros, Grabovski, etc all began their careers down there.

Talented team.
 

Tyson

Registered User
Mar 1, 2007
49,949
72,410
Texas
That was a fantastic backckeck on Sheary by Roy in OT. He shouldn't have passed to Mailloux on the ensuing 3 on 2, though. He was so slow completing the pass, Halverson was already out & set for Mailloux's shot. Roy should have shot. He had the better angle & was on his strong side.

Good to see Davidson having success in AHL. I was extremely happy when he was drafted. I loved his game in Seattle. He has grit to his game. I think he can make it as a 4th liner with some skill. A Brent Gilchrest type.

This Laval team has some really good young players. Davidson, Roy, Tuch, Xhekaj, Engstrom, Mailloux, Dobes, and Mesar when he gets back have been a huge help to this Laval.

It's been so long since we've had legitimate prospects leading the team in the AHL. You'd have to go back to Gainey days when Pacioretty, Plekanec, Subban, Gallagher, Kostitsyn bros, Grabovski, etc all began their careers down there.

Talented team.
Kudos to Sedgewick for bringing in some exceptional AHL Vets.
 

The Real Timo

Registered User
Jun 18, 2019
16,811
20,794
I think Adam Engstrom would be very good replacement for Mike Matheson...better defensively...uses his stick well...great offensive skills...also has some grit...better instincts than Logan Mailloux.
an honest question... who isn't better defensively? I honestly can't remember Engstrom from the pre-season though. Did he get any games?

Yeah, he surrounded the young guys well. He's doing a good job. His appointment was criticized heavily by some people. He knows what he's doing.
Hmm...
 

The Great Weal

Phil's Pizza
Jan 15, 2015
55,124
70,784
That was a fantastic backckeck on Sheary by Roy in OT. He shouldn't have passed to Mailloux on the ensuing 3 on 2, though. He was so slow completing the pass, Halverson was already out & set for Mailloux's shot. Roy should have shot. He had the better angle & was on his strong side.

Good to see Davidson having success in AHL. I was extremely happy when he was drafted. I loved his game in Seattle. He has grit to his game. I think he can make it as a 4th liner with some skill. A Brent Gilchrest type.

This Laval team has some really good young players. Davidson, Roy, Tuch, Xhekaj, Engstrom, Mailloux, Dobes, and Mesar when he gets back have been a huge help to this Laval.

It's been so long since we've had legitimate prospects leading the team in the AHL. You'd have to go back to Gainey days when Pacioretty, Plekanec, Subban, Gallagher, Kostitsyn bros, Grabovski, etc all began their careers down there.

Talented team.
Can’t even imagine Reinbacher to this team
 

ChesterNimitz

governed by the principle of calculated risk
Jul 4, 2002
5,835
12,678
Despite the shootout win, I didn't think this was one of Laval's better games. Maybe it was the disruptive effect of losing ABB to injury early in the first period. Some of our prospects played well and others less so. The team had a good first period, stalled in the second, pressed the play a bit in the third period and dominated the overtime. One of their best facets in their was the penalty kill, including killing off a lengthy 5 on 3. They even managed to score a shorthanded goal that was called back.

I have to again comment on the production quality of AHL games. I don't understand the penchant for showing the fans in the stands at every stoppage of play. It's at best annoying but it becomes maddening when they repeatedly miss the start of play because they are showing a 12 year old eating a hot dog.

I thought Beck had one of his more quieter games. He still displayed his excellent skating, had a few scoring chances , particularly in the overtime period, made a few nice passes, but he failed to drive the play on a consistent basis as he has been doing in the last half dozen games. He was, however, excellent in the overtime period as his speed caused Syracuse trouble. Beck had a miserable night in the face-off circle.

Roy started the game slowly and then started to show off his silky hands and offensive vision. Roy had multiple scoring chances and displayed good speed on several rushes and on the backcheck including, catching Conor Sheary on a break-a-way in overtime. One has to ask why Roy doesn't show that level of speed every game.

Farrell had a few good rushes and a wrap around chance where he showed some quickness. He was mostly ineffective as he was pushed off the puck easily and lost most puck battles. Farrell tries hard but just doesn't have the on-ice strength to provide any consistent offensive contribution.

I thought Tuch had a strong game. Tuch plays with speed, power and physicality and used his NHL level skating to create several scoring chances off the rush and to intimidate opposing defencemen on the forecheck. While Tuch has limited offensive potential, he remains Laval's most NHL ready forward.

Kidney remains the most surprising player. He showed good speed, strength along the boards and good play making ability where he made nice passes that created scoring chances including a pass that led up to Laval's third goal. The more I watch, the more I believe that if Kidney gets a bit stronger and get's a half step quicker, he'll play in the NHL and play well.

Davison continued to display his heavy, pro-style game, acceptable straight-forward speed and his good shot that resulted in two goals off one-timers and the only goal scored by either team in the shoot-out. Most importantly, Davidson never takes a shift off. Like Kidney, Davidson needs to get faster. If he does, Davidson will make the NHL either with Montreal or some other team.

Florian Xhekaj had a poor game. He didn't generate any offensive push and was again horrible on face-offs. Laval didn't use him much on the penalty killing unit. Xhekaj is young and still has lots of time to develop the skills that he needs to make and succeed at the next level.

Mailloux was not as fluid in his skating as he was in the last game. He again was unable to beat the first forechecker to create time and options to get the puck out the defensive zone. I didn't see Mailloux transport the puck once from his zone, through the neutral ice zone and gain control of the puck in the offensive zone. In this game Mailloux made few major errors but he wasn't able to control opposing forwards along the boards and there were several times that Laval remained pinned in their zone for extended periods when Mailloux was on the ice. His passing skills remain elite, he was an effective quarterback on Laval's powerplay and he had multiple scoring chances including ringing one shot off the crossbar. If this kid can somehow gain that extra half step, he' going to be a star. But that is a big if.

To this writer, Engstrom was Laval's best defenceman. Engstrom broke up multiple Syracuse rushes, transported the puck with good mobility and made several excellent offensive plays in the offensive zone including a great play/pass to Gignac, who scored a disputed short handed goal. Engstrom plays a high-risk game and that approach resulted in several turnovers. He was also beaten wide in a 4 on 4 situation that required Mailloux to take a penalty to prevent a good scoring chance against. Nevertheless, Engstrom is one of the top NHL level ready players on the Rocket.

Finally, Trudeau had one of his better games. Trudeau was much stronger in his own zone, he made few gaffs, he again displayed the mobility to effectively transport the puck and he made several good moves in the offensive zone.
 
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Tyson

Registered User
Mar 1, 2007
49,949
72,410
Texas
Despite the shootout win, I didn't think this was one of Laval's better games. Maybe it was the disruptive effect of losing ABB to injury early in the first period. Some of our prospects played well and others less so. The team had a good first period, stalled in the second, pressed the play a bit in the third period and dominated the overtime. One of their best facets in their was the penalty kill, including killing off a lengthy 5 on 3. They even managed to score a shorthanded goal that was called back.

I have to again comment on the production of AHL games. I don't understand the penchant for showing the fans in the stand at every stoppage of play. It's at best annoying but it becomes maddening when they repeatedly miss the start of play because they are showing a 12 year old eating a hot dog.

I thought Beck had one of his more quieter games. He still displayed his excellent skating, had a few scoring chances , particularly in the overtime period, made a few nice passes, but he failed to drive the play on a consistent basis as he has been doing in the last half dozen games. He was, however, excellent in the overtime period as his speed caused Syracuse trouble. Beck had a miserable night in the face-off circle.

Roy started the game slowly and then started to show off his silky hands and offensive vision. Roy had multiple scoring chances and displayed good speed on several rushes and on the backcheck including, catching Conor Sheary on a break-a-way in overtime. One has to ask why Roy doesn't show that speed every game.

Farrell had a few good rushes and a wrap around chance where he showed some quickness. He was mostly ineffective as he was pushed off the puck easily and lost most puck battles. Farrell tries hard but just doesn't have the on-ice strength to provide any offensive contribution.

I thought Tuch had a strong game. Tuch plays with speed, power and physicality and used his NHL level skating to create several scoring chances off the rush and to intimidate opposing defenceman on the forecheck. While Tuch has limited offensive potential, he remains Laval's most NHL ready forward.

Kidney remains the most surprising player. He showed good speed, strength along the boards and good play making ability where he made nice passes that created scoring chances including a pass that led up to Laval's third goal. The more I watch, the more believe that if Kidney gets a bit stronger and get's a half step quicker, he'll play in the NHL and play well.

Davison continued to display his heavy, pro-style game, acceptable straight-forward speed and his good shot that resulted in two goals off one-timers and the only goal scored by either team in the shoot-out. Most importantly, Davidson never takes a shift off. Like Kidney, Davidson needs to get faster. If he does, Davidson will make the NHL either with Montreal or some other team.

Florian Xhekaj had a poor game. He didn't generate any offensive push and was again horrible on face-offs. Laval didn't use him much on the penalty killing unit. Xhekaj is young and still has lots of time to develop the skills that he needs to make and succeed at the next level.

Mailloux was not as fluid in his skating as he was in the last game. He again was unable to beat the first forechecker to create time and options to get the puck out the defensive zone. I didn't see Mailloux transport the puck once from his zone, through the neutral ice zone and gain control of the puck in the offensive zone. In this game Mailloux made few major errors but he wasn't able to control opposing forwards along the boards and there were several times that Laval remained pinned in their zone for extended periods when Mailloux was on the ice. His passing skills remain elite, he was an effective quarterback on Laval's powerplay and he had multiple scoring chances including ringing one shot off the crossbar. If this kid can somehow gain that extra half step, he' going to be a star. But that is a big if.

To this writer, Engstrom was Laval's best defenceman. Engstrom broke up multiple Syracuse rushes, transported the puck with good mobility and made several excellent offensive plays in the offensive zone including a great play/pass to Gignac, who scored a disputed short handed goal. Engstrom plays a high-risk game and that approach resulted in several turnovers. He was also beaten wide in a 4 on 4 situation that required Mailloux to take a penalty to prevent a good scoring chance against. Nevertheless, Engstrom is one of the top NHL level ready players on the Rocket.

Finally, Trudeau had one of his better games. Trudeau was much stronger in his own zone, he made few gaffs, he again displayed the mobility to effectively transport the puck and he made several good moves in the offensive zone.
Agreed 💯 👍
 

Rapala

Registered User
Mar 29, 2013
42,605
39,825
Montreal
Logan Brown owned Beck on the dot and I think the same can be said in their previous match ups.
Roy seems like one of those players who has to be constantly reminded to move his feet.
His play on Sheary was a gem his best of the year and the type of play a leader makes.
It's exactly what Pascal Vincent told him he needs to improve on to make the bigs.
As far as Adam Engstrom goes I think I've liked the growth he's shown in a short time here.
It seemed to come to the fore last evening and while still making mistakes it's clear to me he has the ability to play mistake free hockey.
I loved Tuch's game and I think he needs to play higher up the roster he's a force when you get him the puck in space.
 
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ChesterNimitz

governed by the principle of calculated risk
Jul 4, 2002
5,835
12,678
Logan Brown owned Beck on the dot and I think the same can be said in their previous match ups.
Roy seems like one of those players who has to be constantly reminded to move his feet.
His play on Sheary was a gem his best of the year and the type of play a leader makes.
It's exactly what Pascal Vincent told him he needs to improve on to make the bigs.
As far as Adam Engstrom goes I think I've liked the growth he's shown in a short time here.
It seemed to come to the fore last evening and while still making mistakes it's clear to me he has the ability to play mistake free hockey.
I loved Tuch's game and I think he needs to play higher up the roster he's a force when you get him the puck in space.
Tuch and Beck are the only two of our forward prospects in Laval who can create space for themselves. And of the two, only Beck has the skills to consistently take advantage of that space. Both, however, will be core players for the Canadiens going forward.
 
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rickthegoon

Registered User
Feb 25, 2012
1,231
1,856
I think Adam Engstrom would be very good replacement for Mike Matheson...better defensively...uses his stick well...great offensive skills...also has some grit...better instincts than Logan Mailloux.
From the games I saw in person, Engstrom is not as talented offensively as Matheson, and Even more of a liability defensively.
I don’t know if he will eventualy get accustomed to North American hockey; but right now he’s very underwelming.
He should start playing a simpler game and cut down on the cutsie flashes.
 

LaP

Registered User
Jun 27, 2012
26,216
20,474
Quebec City, Canada
I love how our AHL team is winning and most of our prospects have pretty decent stats and yet according to some of our fans they all don' have the skills to play at the NHL level like at all and they are all already bust who wont improve at all. I think this will age pretty badly.
 

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