The summer season is a crucial time for the Laval Rocket and AHL teams to build and fill in their rosters around the young prospects developing their game.
While most hockey fans keep their eyes locked on big names in the NHL and their movement around the league once free agency opens, there's also plenty of activity happening which directly affects AHL teams as well. For the Montreal Canadiens, all of Kent Hughes' free agency signings have, so far, been additions for depth and help in Laval.
The Rocket have also made additions of their own, signing five new players to AHL contracts. With the stage set for prospects like Jakub Dobes, Emil Heineman, Riley Kidney, Logan Mailloux, and Joshua Roy to make up a significant portion of the Habs' AHL roster, there won't be as much wiggle room for AHL veteran signings.
One advantage for head coach Jean Francois-Houle, however, is that, unlike the NHL, the American League does not impose roster size limitations. That means we're likely to see a rash of free agent signings throughout the summer and early preseason to provide support and mentorship for the prospect pool, and round out the roster.
Plenty of those players will also available to help fill out the ECHL roster in Trois-Rivieres, but could find themselves in the AHL to bolster Laval's bench when the inevitable injuries and/or callups easily deplete the Rocket's roster.
To explore this week's free agency signings 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 313 | New Season, New Faces
Segment 1 | Free Agency Update
- RFAs: who received a qualifying offer?
- Rafael Harvey-Pinard contract extension
- Free Agency signings: NHL two-way contracts
- Free Agency signings: AHL contracts
Segment 2 | Around the AHL
- Patrick Williams (@pwilliamsAHL) joins the show to discuss the flurry of activity around the AHL in the first few days of free agency. Where did some familiar names find a new home?
- Amy and Patrick also discuss some of the Laval Rocket's newest additions, with the latter providing excellent background scouting on how players like goaltender Strauss Mann, forward Lias Andersson, and defenseman Brady Keeper performed last year on their former AHL teams.
Listen to the Episode
You can listen to this episode of The Press Zone podcast here: New Season, New Faces | Press Zone ep 313