Searching For Silver Linings | Laval Week In Review

In plain terms, the first two months of the season have not been very fun for the Laval Rocket or their fans. Continually buried towards (or at) the bottom of the league standings, the Canadiens' AHL affiliate has struggled to put together any kind of positive momentum.

With only one win streak on the books so far, three games won just a couple of weeks ago, and riding a five-game losing streak, it would be easy to consider the season lost. But even though the wins have been hard to come by, there are actually quite a few bright spots emerging on the bench.

Veterans on the team might understandably feel frustrated with the team's 5-9-3-1 record, coupled with the fact that the roster is comprised of a ton of young talent still learning the pro game. But what the team in general lacks in experience, they make up for in hope and excitement with a group of prospects working together to soak up every aspect of the game in their new environment.

For some of them, things are really beginning to click. Defenseman Jayden Struble had a very strong start to the season, as marked by his recent recall to the Canadiens. In the games since his NHL debut, Struble has looked confident and right at home. 

Except for a four-game points drought recently, Joshua Roy has been tearing up the stat sheet, at one point leading the entire AHL's scoring race. More recently, he can still be found stalking the top of the rookie scoring charts. 

And while Sean Ferrell has also earned himself billing in the top six with some mature play, it's Riley Kidney who has become the most recent pleasant surprise on the team. After only putting up one point through the first 10 or so games, Kidney has been on a scoring streak in the past few games. Performances like that have not gone unnoticed and Kidney is slowly earning more ice time and promotions in the lineup.

You watched an excerpt of my latest episode of Rocket Hockey Report at the top of this article, so if you want to hear the details in the REST of my Laval Rocket weekly report analysis, simply click the following link to watch this week's episode on YouTube: Which Habs Prospects Stepped Up Last Week?

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.