I had an opportunity to watch the game and this is my brief assessment as to both Laval’s overall game and the performance of our prospects.
Despite missing a number of core players due to injury and call-up, the Rocket, after a slow, disjointed start, played a good, controlled road game. On the negative, Laval’s penalty killing efforts were ineffective and some of our main prospects had uneven games and largely failed to take an opportunity, with so many missing players, to step up and show their potential.
Easily the best player for Laval yesterday, Florian Xhekaj showed his considerable offensive potential by displaying his good straightaway speed, playmaking ability and overall offensive vision. Xhekaj used his speed ( and anticipation) to place himself in a position to be a passing option on multiple occasions, which allowed him to score a shorthanded goal (his third of the season) and have a number of grade “A” scoring chances. His excellent pass to Farrell on a 2 on 1 play that resulted in a goal again displayed the offensive skill/vision that made him an offensive threat when playing in Brantford last year. What impressed me most was Xhekaj’s acceleration, a feature of this young player’s game, that has greatly improved since the start of the season. If this kid’s skating continues to improve ( particularly his quickness), which I think it will, Xhekaj will become a core player for the Canadiens in a year or so, but not, as many assume, as a bottom 6 player, but as an offensive presence like he became in Branford and is emerging in the AHL. It would not surprise me if Xhekaj’s current level of play continues, he becomes the odds on favorite to win rookie of the year in the AHL.
In comparison to his recent string of games, Farrell had a lesser impactful game. While he still showed spurts of high end speed, Farrell didn’t drive the play nearly as often in this game. Nevertheless, Farrell made a number of high-skilled passes that created scoring chances , including a clever play that directly led to Laval’s second goal and he continued to attack the net fearlessly, which allowed him to score a goal on a 2 on 1 with Xhekaj. That goal, showed Farrell’s NHL level finishing ability. If this kid’s game continues to progress, Farrell will push for a roster spot next fall.
While Davidson had a relatively quiet game, he was still noticeable with his aggressive board work, his shoot first mentality and occasional busts of speed that allowed him to create a handful of scoring chances. Davidson played the point on Laval’s second power play unit and he used that opportunity to show off his NHL level shooting abiloity. Davidson will be among a number of young forwards who will be legitimate candidates to make the Canadiens next year.
Roy had an uneven game, where he was again largely invisible for long stretches and then showcased flashes of offensive brilliance. Those ‘flashes’ included his scoring a goal and positioning himself in a position to take high quality shots. While there is no player on Laval that has Roy’s finishing ability (Farrell is a close second) his lack of intensity, tempo and pace may well limit this player’s success at the next level where Roy will be playing against opposition that is as talented (even more so) than him.
Kidney, in his limited playing time, continued to show his growing game. He skated well, played physical, made a number of good offensive and defensive plays and scored Laval’s first goal by going into the danger area and using a quick release. This kid may well surprise a lot of readers here.
In his third game back from injury, Reinbacher provided the Laval defence with a measure of stability. While you can still see some rust in Reinbacher’s game, he is easily the defenceman with the most potential among Laval’s corps of young defencemen that also includes Mailloux, Engstrom and Trudeau. Reinbacher has efficient skating that allows him to neutralize opposing forwards and successfully escape forecheckers. He reads the play well (in all zones), is very calm if not confident in his defensive zone, can transport the puck when needed, play in all game situations, has superior playmaking ability, is surprisingly strong on his skates and effectively paired with Engstrom on Laval’s first power play unit. This kid, who is already Laval’s best all-round defenceman, will only get better with additional games under his belt.
Engstrom had a mixed game: looking defensively inept one minute and brilliant the next. Engstrom had a very slow start to the game: making bad reads and committing several inopportune turnovers and taking a penalty that led to a Toronto goal. But as the game progressed, Engstrom became steadier in the offensive zone and started to flash his great mobility and creativity particularly in a 4 on 4 situation and when playing the point with Reinbacher on the power play. If he can get more consistent and stronger, Engstrom’s mobility and vision may well allow to push for a spot on the Canadiens next year.
Trudeau, like Engstrom, had a brutal first half of the game, and similarly to Engstrom, he came on stronger as the game progressed. Trudeau made a number of ill-timed pinches that created odd man situations against Laval and he committed a number of turnovers that led to Toronto scoring chances. Though he started to show his excellent mobility, Trudeau was also beaten wide on a number of occasions and was bailed out by his goaltender. While clearly Laval’s most physical defenceman, Trudeau has to show more discipline in his physical aggression as a number of his hits were a couple of seconds too late and could (should) have been called as interference.
Mailloux, is a frustrating player to watch as he continues to show a lack of ability to evade opposing forecheck pressure and a complete lack of defensive awareness which allowed Toronto forwards to get behind him on a number of occasions and create scoring chances. On the positive, Mailloux showed off his elite passing skills, was more physical in the defensive zone and was largely able to stymie one on one rushes. Nothing that I saw in this game in any way changed my assessment that Mailloux lacks the ability/ positional awareness to play defence effectively at the NHL level.
