Rocket defenseman Jayden Struble spoke to the media today about his start of the season, following Laval's morning skate.
After completing a four-year stint with Northeastern University, Jayden Struble signed a two-year entry-level contract with the Montreal Canadiens on March 15, 2023. The 22-year old joined the Laval Rocket immediately and dressed for nine of their remaining regular season games, as well as two playoff games.
Should his name be mentioned more often when discussing the future of the Canadiens defensive unit? This year, despite the rotation that head coach Jean-Francois Houle has implemented on defense, Struble has been in uniform in all four games in October, and has arguably been the team's most consistent defenseman. He has recorded two assists and is plus-5 to start this young season.
"We got a good defensive core with a lot of good, ready guys. It's competing every day and try to make the next lineup," Struble said about his daily mentality.
"Coming from the NCAA, I wasn't too sure last year what he could bring to us but he shows this year that he can bring a lot of physicality," said Houle, evaluating the defenseman's progress following Friday's practice at Place Bell. "He makes the simple pass, simple plays and that's what we're looking for from Jayden. So far in the first three games, he's been pretty good."
The Canadiens' second-round pick in 2019's draft feels that he benefitted from his brief stint in Laval at the end of the last season, stating, "It's the comfortability with being here cause I've played before it's nothing new. Just being able to come in knowing that I've done it before is big."
Laval's roster has drastically changed since last season, but the six-foot, 205-pound blueliner likes this year's group so far. "I think it's great," said Struble. "We have a lot of young guys and I like all of them. We all get along really well so I think that's big, coming in as a group and developing as a group of young guys will be good for us."
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