With the Calder Cup Playoffs around the corner, Mike Fink takes a closer look at the top teams in the American Hockey League.
Pascal Vincent has taken the Montreal Canadiens American Hockey League affiliate to another level. The Laval Rocket won the North Division in Vincent's first season behind the bench and looks to do the same again with a team that checks off all the boxes for a Calder Cup run.
The Rocket provided the Canadiens with plenty of elite prospects this season, including their starting goaltender, Jacob Fowler. Yet, they’ve remained unfazed largely because of the culture and systems Vincent has in place.
The Rocket Recipe for Success
The word that comes to mind with the Rocket is balance. It applies to their style of play, to their roster structure, and to the ways they can win games. The Rocket play a technical game and are sound with the puck, valuing possession and keeping it out of the dangerous ice but they can also play fast to run up the score on teams.
Their offense stands out particularly because of the depth of scoring. Alex Belzile leads the team with 28 goals and has been a valued veteran who leads the way on and off the ice, while six forwards in total have 15 goals or more. It allows Vincent to roll out multiple lines and not worry about the offense dropping off.
On the other end, the Rocket play with structure to defend well and have the goaltending to lead them on a run. Even with the Fowler call-up, the Rocket have Kappo Kahkonen, who helped the Charlotte Checkers reach the Calder Cup Final last season, and Hunter Shepard, a two-time Calder Cup winner, as their tandem.
The Prospects to Watch
Adam Engström - The 22-year-old defenseman was recently called up by the Canadiens but will presumably return to Laval for the playoffs. And he’s the player who can take the Rocket to the next level. Adam Engström has stepped up all season on the defensive end and is the scoring threat at the point with 10 goals and 24 assists. It’s easy to see why he was the defenseman the Canadiens added as a reinforcement down the stretch.
Owen Beck - While the Rocket have a strong veteran presence in their forward group, Owen Beck is the prospect who has been a steady producer all season, with 11 goals and 18 assists in 54 games. Eventually, the Canadiens will want to know whether the 22-year-old forward can be a part of their NHL roster, and a strong playoff run can prove to the front office that he can carve out a role in the middle six.
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Florian Xhekaj - He’s not the typical prospect but he’s become a fascinating part of the Canadiens future. Florian Xhekaj, who is the younger brother of Arber Xhekaj, is a power forward known for his hard-hitting physical play and has added a scoring touch this season with 16 goals. Maybe the 21-year-old power forward can end up in the NHL in a fourth-line or checking role after all?
What Can Be The Rocket Downfall?
The big issue for the Rocket are the penalties. While they play with structure and are disciplined with the puck, they are undisciplined without it. Their 1098 penalties in minutes (PIM) are the most in the Eastern Conference and third-most in the AHL. In the playoffs, penalties can be a team’s undoing, and the Rocket can struggle in a short series if they can’t stay out of the box.
The Rocket can also play against a team that controls the pace and dictates the series. Specifically, the Syracuse Crunch, who have the second-best record in the division, can slow things down and make the series a grind-it-out defensive battle. While the Rocket can win that type of series, it would put them at a disadvantage against a top team like the Crunch.
It’s not just the Crunch either. The North Division is a top-heavy division with teams like the Cleveland Monsters and Rochester Americans being more than capable of pulling off an upset. It’s still the Rocket’s division to win, and they’ll be on the shortlist of Calder Cup contenders but it’s far from an easy path for them.