The Canadiens organization has not committed to the return of their AHL head coach for next season.
With the Laval Rocket's 2023-24 season in the books, the organization will now focus on next season. The biggest decision related to the AHL affiliate is to identify the next head coach.
Jean-Francois Houle's contract expires on June 30th and no decision has been made on whether he will return behind Laval's bench for a fourth season.
“It’s not decided yet. We’re going to take a step back. We will have discussions with the organization and we will see in the upcoming weeks. I’m happy to be here. We will see what happens,” Houle said during Sunday's end of season media availability.
In an ideal world, Houle would have preferred signing a contract extension before the end of the regular season. Instead, Houle will need to be patient until his discussions proceed with management.
"Absolutely, I want to come back to Laval. I love it here, I love the organization. I love the people I work with. I want to be part of the organization,” emphatically stated Houle.
"I been here for three years and I like being here. I think our staff has done a good job at having good relationships with the players. We did really well with with the players, the players like being here. We made the playoffs the last two years. We didn't this year but I feel like we made some headway with our team and players like to be here."
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Player's Coach
One thing evident from Sunday's media availability is that players respect Houle.
“J.F. is a great coach. The one thing I appreciate is that everyone has a good attitude coming to the rink because we know that we're going to work hard and everyone's going to have their role on this team and I think J-F does a great job at keeping everything light and makes everyone enjoy come to the rink," noted Mitchell Stephens.
"I've played for coaches where it's been tough to come to the rink at some points, so through a long season, you have to find that balance of when to push and when to let some of the older guys take over and I think J-F does a great job with that.”
Since being named Laval's coach, this year's squad had the biggest contingent of prospects. Houle and his staff had to adapt their coaching to the reality that winning was nice but not as critical as development.
"I think the whole coaching staff honestly has been good. Everyone has been great. I didn't have the best start and I was still getting opportunities and chances and they trusted in me and helped me out," said Logan Mailloux.
From an organization's point of view, trusting and helping their 2021 first round pick is more valuable than a loss in October due to an error in the AHL.
Time with Family
Houle felt that this season he improved on dealing with people and tailoring to the needs of each individual. He also dealt with losses better and shifted the focus to looking forward. With the amount of changes in the AHL, the staff took things one day at time and did not concentrate on the past.
In the summer, Houle will catch up with his family. He plans to drive his seven-year-old daughter to school and spend time with his older daughter as she graduates from a university in California and with his son currently in university in the state of New York.
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