Laval Rocket 2021

[NWTHabsFan]

Time for a new thread given today’s BoG meeting that confirmed which teams will be participating in the 2021 season that starts on February 5th. If you thought that the Habs might get tired playing the same six teams, the AHL’s Canadian division of four teams means the Rocket will play just three opponents (to be confirmed, but almost a certainty given current border rules).

Of note for other NHL clubs, three teams opted out. The Blues announced that they will be sharing Utica with the Canucks. The other two (Florida, Nashville) will have to find homes for their NHL prospects playing in the AHL.

[Willie Dog]

3 teams have opted out of the season, they must not have NHL affiliates...

The scheduling for the Canadian and Atlantic will be interesting...

The league is sooo out of balance with this config.

[NWTHabsFan]

From a logistical perspective, I would imagine it is easier to maintain safety protocols at one single facility.

[NWTHabsFan]

Looks like Guhle will be at the Rocket camp. Despite Arpon’s comment about Habs’ camp, his participation would not be possible as the Habs have already maxed out at the 36 allowable skaters (they can have an unlimited amount of goalies though).

[Cranky]

Great news.

I always preffer to push rather then expect. Now Guhle will face men in the second toughest hockey league.

Add ingridients and bake. In a year or so we'll get a better picture and see if we got another Tinordi or a Weber Lite

[Disgruntled70sHab]

[NWTHabsFan]

Another step closer to the Habs having a three tiered system by next season.

[NWTHabsFan]

Seems like a plan while there are no firm plans for the OHL start up yet. Not sure this kid gets an NHL deal after this season though, as the Habs are tight on contracts and he has likely not done enough so far. Also, with guys like Harris and Caufield also likely thinking about turning pro soon, they will get the priority for sure.

[NWTHabsFan]

Arena built. Check.
Management group established, Check.
Lease with city signed. Check.
ECHL franchise awarded. Check.
NHL affiliation with Habs. Check.
New franchise name. TBA.

[NWTHabsFan]

[NWTHabsFan]

Here is information on and the list of invitees to the Rocket camp that starts tomorrow. Pretty thin on defence for sure, so not sure if Berg does not some depth there before the season gets underway. If the 3 junior guys go back to their respective WHL/OHL teams, the team only has 7 defenders not including Fleury who is in limbo right now with the taxi squad.

I saw on Freidman’s latest 31 thoughts that there might be some non-Habs players assigned to Laval. It likely has to do with the Canadian NHL clubs that have farm teams in the US. They may want to have players this side of the border to avoid callup quarantine delays. Only the Habs (Laval), Leafs (Marlies), Sens (Belleville), and Jets (Moose) have teams this side of the border. Three of them are within the same greater metropolitan area.

[NWTHabsFan]

Some possible new opponents for Laval in their Canadian Division. Hopefully Edmonton does the same.

[NWTHabsFan]

Some good coverage of the Rocket camp, including some interviews with players and Joel Bouchard each day.

[NWTHabsFan]

More the merrier in the Canadian Division. Now if only the Province of ONT can green light the play of Belleville and the Marlins, we might actually see a schedule for this division (the schedule for the rest of the league is out).

[NWTHabsFan]

Some cautionary fallout from Anderson being sent home with flu like symptoms. Hopefully it is nothing more.

[NWTHabsFan]

Bouchard has been mentioning the last few days that he expects the delayed start of the Canadian Division to be days, rather than weeks.

In other Rocket news, the Habs swapped up two goalies quietly yesterday. Lindgren was sent to the Rocket, and Primeau was sent to the taxi squad. The simple answer may be that the Rocket are playing a scrimmage today (on right now) and Lindgren needs some simulated game action rather than just practice. Primeau will get plenty of starts once the AHL season starts up for the Canadian teams. Something to keep an eye on.

Edit: Looks like Primeau was in the scrimmage, and no Lindgren. Oh well. They may just want Primeau to practice against NHLers until the Canadian Division starts.

[NWTHabsFan]

A nice effort on a penalty shot in scrimmage today by Guhle. He looks good in those colours.

[NWTHabsFan]

This is like watching paint dry. Come on Ontario. Giddy up.

[NWTHabsFan]

And just for giggles, here is another angle of that Guhle goal. The big man showing some nice hands.

[NWTHabsFan]

Lots of chatter in the Twitterverse that the AHL is close to releasing its Canadian Division schedule. They could be playing next weekend. That will be great news for the Rocket whose training camp just keeps going and going and going!

[franko]

With possibility that Belleville and the Marloes play out of Laval to begin with if Ontario doesn't open up

[NWTHabsFan]

Fleury and Poehling both sent from the taxi squad to Laval. A sign that the Rocket could be playing soon and these two need some games in. The twitterverse continues to speculate a first game on Friday in Laval.

[Disgruntled70sHab]

[NWTHabsFan]

To counter those moves, the Habs have sent Perry and a rotation of players (KK for yesterday, Suzuki for today) to maintain their minimum of four players on the taxi squad. Lindgren and Frolik are the other two already on the squad.

[NWTHabsFan]

I have been listening to Bouchard’s press conference after each day of training camp, and one thing is keeping him up at night. He has lots of guys in camp (32+) and they all want to play. A lot of them have not played in a long time, and this is their livelihood. This is their chance to get a call up or a new contract. The number will go down by up to four if and when the junior leagues start up, but he is going to have to sit a lot of guys. I guess an ECHL affiliation this year would have helped, but there would have been cross border issues if the team had been US based. Keeping the young guys (Poehling, Fleury) on the taxi squad playing too further compounds it. You will have to replace them if they are assigned to Laval and keep your minimum on the taxi squad. They can do it on paper when the Habs are not playing, but it will require some moves when both play on the same night.

The inevitable injuries will move some dominoes later in the season and open up some more opportunities, but right now he has too many healthy bodies and a bigger roster than he would normally have to kick off a new season.

Will he now focus on the actual prospects to make sure they play over vets and/or AHL contracted guys? Will he rotate everyone to ensure they all get a chance? Lots to watch for and see how this unfolds.

[Cranky]

Don't the Rockets have overagers that are nothing but AHL journeyman? I would jettison them and keep all the prospects that actually have a chance of a future.

It's about teaching them the right way to play and any "wins" are a bonus.

[NWTHabsFan]

We now know when the Rocket will play this month. Starts on Friday, and a lot of home games this month.

[NWTHabsFan]

With Evans and Perry back with the main roster due to game night, the Rocket have had two guys fill their spots on the taxi squad: Verbeek and Hillis. That means they cannot practice with the Rocket, so I expect they are not going to be part of the lineup on Friday night.

It sounds like Bouchard has broken his 34 guys into two groups. A 24 person roster group and a 10 person taxi squad. I expect a fair bit of movement as he will likely try and get some rotations going to keep folks playing.

For those with RDS, they will broadcast all Rocket home games. That will apply to all 8 games this month as they are all home games.

[NWTHabsFan]

Tidbits from Bouchard’s presser today. I will listen to the audio later once it is posted. He is fun to listen to.

[NWTHabsFan]

Hopefully this is not behind a paywall for you as it gives some insights into Bouchard’s views on Fairbrother at camp. Joel Bouchard has been doing this for over two weeks now after each day of camp, and he is a real treat. I will post a link later today once the audio is up on the AllHabs site, as they also have the audio from all the previous days of camp. It just has the English questions though, so it is missing the French Qs and As.

Grant’s question from today.