2020-2021 Laval Rocket

[montreal]

GM: Marc Bergevin
Head Coach: Joël Bouchard
Assistant Coaches: Alex Burrows & Daniel Jacob
Goalie & Video Coach: Marco Marciano
Arena: Place Bell


ROSTER
(Note that some of these players may make the Habs out of camp or be traded)


- FORWARDS -

Brandon Baddock
Alex Belzile
Jospeh Blandisi
Laurent Dauphin
Rafael Harvery-Pinard (AHL)
Cam Hillis (ELC)
Liam Hawel (AHL)
Arsen Khisamutdinov (ELC)
Jake Lucchini
Jan Mysak (unsigned)
Michael Pezzetta (ELC)
Ryan Poehling (ELC)
Joël Teasdale (ELC)
Yannick Veilleux (AHL)
Lukas Vejdemo
Hayden Verbeek (ELC)
Jordan Weal
Jesse Ylonen (ELC)


- DEFENSEMEN -

Josh Brook (ELC)
Cale Fleury (ELC)
Nathanael Halbert (AHL)
Jacob LeGuerrier (unsigned)
Otto Leskinen (ELC)
Gustav Olofsson
Xavier Ouellet
Corey Schueneman (AHL)
Tobie Bisson (AHL)


- GOALTENDERS -

Cayden Primeau (ELC)
Michael McNiven
Vasili Demchenko ​

​

Click to read more...

 

[Adam Michaels]

More ECHL depth.

Bisson is a LD (6'3" & 194 lbs). He played this last season entirely in the ECHL for the Cincinnati Cyclones. He had 22 pts (8G, 14A) in 62 GP.

He also played for Blainville in the QMJHL, so there is the Bouchard connection there.

Aquin is a LW (6'2" & 201 lbs). He played mostly ECHL last year, also for the Cincinnati Cyclones. He had 26 pts (8G, 18A) in 43 GP.

But Aquin also played AHL for the Rochester Americans, where he had 5 pts (3G, 2A) in 16 GP.

 

[Archijerej]

More ECHL depth.

Bisson is a LD (6'3" & 194 lbs). He played this last season entirely in the ECHL for the Cincinnati Cyclones. He had 22 pts (8G, 14A) in 62 GP.

He also played for Blainville in the QMJHL, so there is the Bouchard connection there.

Aquin is a LW (6'2" & 201 lbs). He played mostly ECHL last year, also for the Cincinnati Cyclones. He had 26 pts (8G, 18A) in 43 GP.

But Aquin also played AHL for the Rochester Americans, where he had 5 pts (3G, 2A) in 16 GP.

Surprised they signed another forward. What are they going to do with them?

 

[Adam Michaels]

Surprised they signed another forward. What are they going to do with them?

ECHL.

With NHL and AHL deals, the forwards are:

- Vejdemo
- Dauphin
- Veilleux
- Poehling
- Ylonen
- Khisamutdinov
- Hillis
- Vigneault
- Aquin
- Lynch
- Pezzetta
- Verbeek
- Alain
- Teasdale
- Hawel
- RHP

I don't include Belzile or Evans as they may end up starting in Montreal.

So there will be more than a few that will be in the ECHL.

 

[Archijerej]

ECHL.

Sure, but:

- we still don't have a team next season, do we?

- assuming there will be 2 more veteran offensive forwards (or maybe Caufield) there are currently about nine extra forwards in Laval.

 

[Treb]

Sure, but:

- we still don't have a team next season, do we?

- assuming there will be 2 more veteran offensive forwards (or maybe Caufield) there are currently about nine extra forwards in Laval.

AHL needs a lot of depth because they lose some every time someone on the Rocket or the Habs gets injured.

In 2017-2018, 48 skaters played a game for the Rocket. In 2018-2019, 42 skaters. In 2019-2020, 42 players again.

 

[Archijerej]

ECHL.

With NHL and AHL deals, the forwards are:

- Vejdemo
- Dauphin
- Veilleux
- Poehling
- Ylonen
- Khisamutdinov
- Hillis
- Vigneault
- Aquin
- Lynch
- Pezzetta
- Verbeek
- Alain
- Teasdale
- Hawel
- RHP

I don't include Belzile or Evans as they may end up starting in Montreal.

So there will be more than a few that will be in the ECHL.

Here is what I have:

xxx - xxx (Blandisi?) - Belzile
Dauphin - Poehling - Ylonen
Vejdemo - Vigneault - Veilleux
Khisamutdinov - Hillis - Lynch

Extras/ECHL: Teasdale, Alain, Harvey-Pinard, Hawel, Verbeek, Aquin, Pezzetta

I miscalutated. There are 7 spare forwards assuming two top liners are signed/relegated from Montreal. That's a lot, but Treb's comment provides some context.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Sure, but:

- we still don't have a team next season, do we?

- assuming there will be 2 more veteran offensive forwards (or maybe Caufield) there are currently about nine extra forwards in Laval.

They can assign players to different teams. Until they get their own ECHL team (which will be in Trois-Rivieres), they will have to send they ECHL players around the league. Most will end up in Maine. They're the Rangers' official ECHL affiliate, but they do have a working relationship with the Habs, too.

 

[ahmedou]

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

will be some fun B/High end B prospect watching this coming year.

Brook, Fleury, Primeau, Poehling, Hillis, Ylonen, Teasdale, Khisamutdinov, RHP (too bad he seemed to fizzle out in the 2nd half). The last two are on the longer shot side but still nice to see 6 or 7 guys who have legit NHL potential. Been awhile we've had that quantity and even quality really.

 

[Le Barron de HF]

I like this, as mentioned in the other thread, kind of like Belzile he's exempt from the vet rule in the AHL. Who are our vets right now anyway?

 

[montreal]

I like this, as mentioned in the other thread, kind of like Belzile he's exempt from the vet rule in the AHL. Who are our vets right now anyway?

depending on the roster but from guys current under contract for next season,

Alzner - if not bought out
Blandisi - 289 games
Dauphin - 312 games
Veilleux - 329 games
Vejdemo - 270 games

guys like Belzile, Olofsson just miss the cutoff. Belzile is 21 games and Olofsson is 22 games short.

 

[Le Barron de HF]

Lucchini was just re-signed.

 

[Adam Michaels]

Laval next year so far would look like:

(F) Poehling, Vejdemo, Belzile, Dauphin, Ylonen, Hillis, Khisamutdinov, Veilleux, Lynch, Vigneault, Teasdale, Alain, Verbeek, Pezzetta, Blandisi, Lucchini, Hawel, Harvey-Pinard, Aquin, Gates.

(D) Brook, Fleury, Olofsson, Leskinen, Schueneman, Halbert, Bisson.

(G) Primeau, Demchenko, Lindgren

(?)
Evans: Will he make the NHL club to start? Or will he start in Laval? He is waiver exempt for this year.
Juulsen: Will he be kept in Montreal or sent to Laval? He needs to go through waivers.
Alzner: Will he be bought out or remain a Hab for at least another year and is brought down to Laval?
McNiven: Will he be qualified or even signed earlier?
Ouellet: Captain the last two years, will they re-sign him to help solidify the defense?
Hudon: Is he done as a Hab? Or do they bring him back and sent down to Laval for firepower?

 

[DAChampion]

Laval next year so far would look like:

(F) Poehling, Vejdemo, Belzile, Dauphin, Ylonen, Hillis, Khisamutdinov, Veilleux, Lynch, Vigneault, Teasdale, Alain, Verbeek, Pezzetta, Blandisi, Lucchini, Hawel, Harvey-Pinard, Aquin, Gates.

(D) Brook, Fleury, Olofsson, Leskinen, Schueneman, Halbert, Bisson.

(G) Primeau, Demchenko, Lindgren

(?)
Evans: Will he make the NHL club to start? Or will he start in Laval? He is waiver exempt for this year.
Juulsen: Will he be kept in Montreal or sent to Laval? He needs to go through waivers.
Alzner: Will he be bought out or remain a Hab for at least another year and is brought down to Laval?
McNiven: Will he be qualified or even signed earlier?
Ouellet: Captain the last two years, will they re-sign him to help solidify the defense?
Hudon: Is he done as a Hab? Or do they bring him back and sent down to Laval for firepower?

Situation even more complex if the NCAA season is cancelled.

 

[Adam Michaels]

 

[Legionnaire11]

Looking for info on some players who made their NHL debut last season...

F - Jake Evans
F - Lukas Vejdemo
D - Cale Fleury
D - Otto Leskinen
G - Cayden Primeau

What kind of players are they and what is their future NHL projection?

Thanks!

 

[Treb]

Looking for info on some players who made their NHL debut last season...

F - Jake Evans
F - Lukas Vejdemo
D - Cale Fleury
D - Otto Leskinen
G - Cayden Primeau

What kind of players are they and what is their future NHL projection?

Thanks!

Jake Evans = Good on FO. Intelligent player. Most likely 4th line but 3rd line upside.
Lukas Vejdemo = Good defensively and PK. Might be 4th line C/W.
Cale Fleury = Physical D with decent off and def tools. Needs more time to adjust to pro. #4 to 6 upside.
Otto Leskinen = Offensive D. Not sure he has NHL upside
Cayden Primeau = Carey Price -like goalie. Hard to predict goalies but most see a starter.

 

[1909]

There is strong possibilities Belzile will still be part of this team.

 

[Treb]

There is strong possibilities Belzile will still be part of this team.

Almost a given IMO. I don't see us carrying 14 fwd.

 

[Pompeius Magnus]

Belzile is 100% in Laval next year, unless he can somehow be a forth line center ( and he can't) . He'll be relied on quite a bit production wise too, he better be ready to carry the load.

 

[Number 57]

I am unsure why Berg isn't signing a depth scorer for Laval. I wanted at least 2 scorers signed this off-season and now with Hudon gone, maybe even 3

One of Weal/Evans will likely be there which helps but they'll be the first called up...

Poehling, Belzile, Blandisi, Vejdemo, Dauphin and Ylonen is a very weak top-6 if you ask me

We need at least one more guy who can produce points. Danick Martel, anyone?

 

[Treb]

I am unsure why Berg isn't signing a depth scorer for Laval. I wanted at least 2 scorers signed this off-season and now with Hudon gone, maybe even 3

One of Weal/Evans will likely be there which helps but they'll be the first called up...

Poehling, Belzile, Blandisi, Vejdemo, Dauphin and Ylonen is a very weak top-6 if you ask me

We need at least one more guy who can produce points. Danick Martel, anyone?

I expect both Evans and Weal with the Habs.

Right now, the line-up I expect is:
Veilleux - Blandisi - Belzile
Vejdemo - Dauphin - Ylonen
Poehling - Hillis - Alain
Teasdale - Vigneault - Lynch
Lucchini, Baddock, Khisamutdinov

ECHL: RHP, Hawel, Gates, Aquin, Verbeek

I would sign a 1st LW to drop every LW a spot. Martel would be a very underwhelming choice.

I'm hoping for Chris Terry or Matt Puempel.

 

[montreal]

I am unsure why Berg isn't signing a depth scorer for Laval. I wanted at least 2 scorers signed this off-season and now with Hudon gone, maybe even 3

One of Weal/Evans will likely be there which helps but they'll be the first called up...

Poehling, Belzile, Blandisi, Vejdemo, Dauphin and Ylonen is a very weak top-6 if you ask me

We need at least one more guy who can produce points. Danick Martel, anyone?

agreed though they could get Weal to give us a little cap space, put one of Dauphin, Blandisi, Belzile, in the NHL in place of Weal,

Weal Blandisi Ylonen
Poehling Hillis Belzile
Veilleux Vejdemo Alain
Lucchini Lynch/Vigneault Khisamutdinov/Baddock
Pezzetta Hawel

ECHL - Teadale, RHP, Aquin, Gates, Verbeek

Ouellet Brook
Olofsson Fleury
Leskinen Schueneman
Halbert

ECHL - Paquette-Bisson

Primeau
Lindgren
McNiven
Demchenko

 

[Treb]

agreed though they could get Weal to give us a little cap space, put one of Dauphin, Blandisi, Belzile, in the NHL in place of Weal,

Weal Blandisi Ylonen
Poehling Hillis Belzile
Veilleux Vejdemo Alain
Lucchini Lynch/Vigneault Khisamutdinov/Baddock
Pezzetta Hawel

ECHL - Teadale, RHP, Aquin, Gates, Verbeek

Ouellet Brook
Olofsson Fleury
Leskinen Schueneman
Halbert

ECHL - Paquette-Bisson

Primeau
Lindgren
McNiven
Demchenko

I feel like Weal would pull the Peca/Varone/Barber special though.