The Laval Rocket have stacked up wins against their division rivals, with three more North Division contests coming up this week. But their roster will look a little different!
What a whirlwind the last few days have been for fans of the Montreal Canadiens and the Laval Rocket. Last weekend, the Habs' AHL affiliate put together a pair of wins in a home-and-home series against the Belleville Senators. It took eight goals and about six fights to get there, but they've solidified themselves in the middle of the North Division points race...for now.
This week brings an entirely new set of challenges, and I'm not just referring to Laval's three-game slate against three different divisional opponents. It's time to test how stable Jean-Francois Houle's roster can be with a roster shakeup from up top.
Defenseman Arber Xhekaj has been recalled to the NHL, while fellow blueliner Justin Barron finds himself back in Laval for the first time in about 13 months. Add to that Mitchell Stephens clearing waivers and returning to the Rocket, and you've got the makings of some tough decisions and potential disruption.
Can Logan Mailloux continue his upward trajectory without his new mentor Xhekaj by his side on the top pairing? Who will be displaced from the forwards with the return of Stephens? Will the chemistry built over the past 10 or so games be sustainable with the latest arrivals and departures?
Also, it was an easier week to pick out Canadiens prospects to highlight in terms of impressive play, but you might be a bit surprised to find out who I selected as my spotlight prospect for the week!
On my latest episode of Rocket Hockey Report, you can hear more details and analysis of these topics, plus a preview of Laval's week ahead. Simply click to watch the video below, or follow this link to watch on YouTube: Xhekaj Called Up, Barron Sent Down...What's Next?
[embed]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_iU69UZUik[/embed]
Be sure to bookmark THN.com/Montreal for year-round coverage of the Montreal Canadiens, Laval Rocket, and Habs prospects playing in leagues around the world.
