Promising Progress Made for Key Prospects

Just four points were all that kept the Laval Rocket from qualifying for participation in this year's Calder Cup playoffs. When we think back to the rough first few months of the season, it's pretty impressive that, despite the hole Laval had dug themselves into early on, they were able to surge back in the second half of the year and come within four points of getting to the postseason.

The team really turned things around in late December and early January, and their competitiveness was palpable on most nights in recent weeks. But even though they didn't quite make the full comeback many of their fans were hoping for, the season wasn't anywhere close to being called a bust.

Part of the reason Laval had some struggles, particularly early on, was the sudden increase in young and/or rookie players on the team. But hey, that's to be expected in the AHL - a league dedicated to player development and getting young talent ready to play in the NHL.

Plenty of Montreal's prospects playing in the AHL this year took some serious steps forward. Logan Mailloux had a spectacular rookie campaign, and Jakub Dobes put up numbers in the second half of the year that looked very promising. Jayden Struble spent most of his season playing in the Bell Centre, and Joshua Roy split his time between the two leagues.

At the end of the season, plenty of prospects joined the team and got their feet wet in professional hockey: David Reinbacher, Florian Xhekaj, and Luke Tuch all show promise.

On the latest episode of Rocket Hockey Report, I review Laval's final two games of the season, then examine the performance of a number of key Montreal Canadiens prospects who played for the Rocket this year. To watch the video, simply click below, or follow this link to watch on YouTube: The Laval Rocket Laid Some SERIOUS Groundwork This Season!

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