Is there a magic combination for AHL teams to succeed? Plus, the Laval Rocket have unveiled new community initiatives for the 2023-24 season!
Balancing prospect development while increasing the tally in the win column can be a tricky task for American Hockey League (AHL) teams. Over the past 10+ years, it's become widely established that the primary purpose of the American Hockey League (AHL) is developing prospects to prepare them for an eventual transition to the NHL. Teams and organizations have started putting a bigger emphasis on player development, teaching future stars how to become professionals.
Much of that development takes place in the AHL, where players can learn a club's systems, get to know the development staff, and be available for NHL callups to test their progress. A vital part of any AHL coach's role is making sure players are prepared to make that jump when called up to the "show."
In the midst of all that development, however, each AHL team also needs to put a winning product on the ice. But at what cost? Different teams and coaches take different approaches to the balance of development and winning, and one AHL franchise has pretty much scrapped the development side of the coin completely for this upcoming season.
This week, Rick Stephens (Editor, The Hockey News-Montreal) and Patrick Williams (AHL writer, NHL.com) join The Press Zone podcast to examine this hot topic and provide valuable insight on the importance of proper prospect development in the AHL while maintaining a winning record.
Plus, the Laval Rocket recently announced their themed and promotional events for the upcoming 2023-24 season, including the annual Hockey Fights Cancer and Teddy Bear Toss nights which are two fan favorites. Those nights also serve to help the organization give back to their community through financial and toy donations.
But the Rocket's presence in Laval can be felt beyond the rink, through a variety of community relations programs. 'Read For Fun' has been a popular event in local elementary schools as players go on location and read a story to eager young students. The 'Rocket Hockey Tour' has become a popular event where players visit local arenas to practice with young hockey players.
This year, Laval has added a few new community-based events to the calendar. The team has launched a partnership with Hockey Laval, with four AAA teams slated to wear jerseys representing the Rocket this season. Hosting Place Bell's first blood drive is on the schedule as well, plus the team's reading and youth hockey programs.
To explore these topics further, we invite you to listen to the latest edition of The Press Zone podcast, hosted by Amy Johnson. This weekly show provides Habs fans with the latest news, analysis, and commentary regarding the Laval Rocket, Canadiens prospects, and American Hockey League news.
This Week’s Show: TPZ ep 320 | Finding the Balance Between Winning and Developing
Segment 1 | Laval Rocket Update
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Segment 2 | AHL Update
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Listen to the Episode
You can listen to this episode of The Press Zone podcast here: Finding the Balance Between Winning and Developing