That should be music to the ears of Laval Rocket coach Joel Bouchard, who said on a conference call Monday that this extensive pause represents a unique opportunity for his players and Canadiens prospects alike.
“I know this is a time where we feel on standstill a little bit and for an athlete, more than anybody else, you feel when you cannot do your craft that you’re stuck, you’re done, you’re not going to be able to do anything,” Bouchard said. “I disagree… If I was a young 18, 19-year-old guy, there’s no reason I wouldn’t have a six-pack. That’s what I talk to the guys about all the time. Why can you not be a better athlete coming out of this? It’s beyond me. And it all comes down to attitude, will. And I always say this, when I talk about scouting or I talk about evaluating a certain player, the No. 1 skill is passion for the game, it’s passion to get better. And we’ve seen it again this year with guys that defeat the odds, that find a way to play a game in the NHL or get themselves up by doing a little extra. So I just see it as: What are you going to do when your competition is on the couch? And I think that’s what the guys should be thinking also.”
