The reality of the American League, for a head coach, is that he must not only deal with injuries and player transfers, but also rethink the composition of his lines when a good player takes the road to the great club. The Laval Rocket knows it all too well.
In the middle of a nine-day trip, the longest of the season, Jean-François Houle received a phone call from the Montreal Canadiens’ headquarters. Anthony Richard, the team’s – and the circuit’s – leading scorer, was recalled by the Habs.
In his first game once morest the Arizona Coyotes, the Trifluvien had a few good climbs in addition to sending two pucks to the net in nearly 11 minutes of playing time. He scored the first goal of his NHL career two days later, in Colorado, at the same time as the Laval subsidiary faced the Crunch, in Syracuse,
Houle watched the first two periods on Monday, in addition to viewing the highlights. He felt a certain pride in seeing his student have an impact in the formation of Martin St-Louis.
“Anthony did well using his speed,” he said in a phone interview with TVASports.ca from New York State. He has good speed at the NHL level too. We are very happy for him, that he had this reminder. For a young Quebecer, it’s super special. We hope he can stay in Montreal.”
Anthony Richard scores his 1st goal with the CH! –
The next reminder
Prior to this much-anticipated recall from several members of the press and fans, Richard’s expectation was also becoming a source of teasing in the locker room following a strong performance. Defender Nicolas Beaudin says:
“When he was recalled, we were really happy for him, he said during a telephone conversation from Syracuse. We had been fooling him for a while by asking him “what more do you have to do to be called back?”. But Tony understands the “game”. He knows how it works.”
Several Rocket players have already tasted NHL hockey with the Bleu-blanc-rouge, but Rem Pitllick was the only other elected before Richard. Kent Hughes hesitated between the versatile American forward and the Quebecer on December 1st.
Photo credit: MARTIN ALARIE / QMI AGENCY
If other injuries or transactions were to occur on the CH side, who are the next forward players in the running?
“I think it’s between Rafaël Harvey-Pinard and Jesse Ylonen, says Houle. These two players have been (in the AHL) two years and they produce. They have regular appearances and they have played very well for us.
“We have a tough start to the season, but they are producing for us. They are always ready to work.”
The cases of Barron and Norlinder
Meanwhile, two defenders are experiencing contrasting progress since the start of the season: Justin Barron took his game up a notch before struggling with lower body pain, while Mattias Norlinder appears neutral following also healed a wound.
It should be remembered that the first presented himself to the camp of the Rocket with the morale in the heels following being cut off by Hughes. The Nova Scotian took his troubles patiently and showed off his talent.
“At the beginning of the year, it was not easy for him. He thought he would stay on top, then he was cut off, he notes. He has since taken off. He has a very good attitude and he wants to improve. He is a good player who is capable of being good offensively. He needs to improve defensively, but I really like his attitude. He is loved in the bedroom.
Houle is convinced that Barron’s work ethic, coupled with his 16 points in 25 games, will earn him consideration to reunite with his teammates from the Canadiens, who faced his former team in Colorado on Wednesday.
“He too will surely have his chance. If he can continue to play well, he will have it. I think he will probably get an encore this year. It all depends on what will happen with the defenders at the top.
“I think he will get his chance, but he has to keep playing well. When he reviews the matches, he knows what his shortcomings are and that he must improve them.
Justin Barron wants to be the next recalled by the CH –
In the case of the Swede, whom the Marc Bergevin era touted as one of the organization’s next jewels in the trunk, one wonders where he is in his development following three years of waiting.
Houle didn’t offer the same degree of optimism, but said he’s happy with how he’s doing on the ice. The 2019 third-round pick has just five points in 25 outings.
“Right now he plays a regular role. We have several injuries, so he has ice time. It was not easy for him either at the start of the year. He is more aggressive and more responsible defensively. He, too, took a little tick.
“I’m not sure how the Canadian sees him, but he’s still a young defender who can mature. He needs to develop and have ice time to correct his shortcomings. He is still an important prospect for the Canadians.
“Jaw-tooth Season”
Just following the mid-season point, the Rocket is slow to take off in the standings. Last in the North section, it is nevertheless among the two clubs that score the most goals in the Eastern Association.
However, the Montreal Canadiens farm club also allowed the most goals before facing the Crunch in Syracuse on Wednesday night. How to analyze these two poles? Houle has to scratch his head to unravel this data.
“It’s hard to explain. We are having a rocky season. We have to play better defensively. We are not a team that will win 6-5 or 7-5. When you win, you play well defensively.
“We must not give too many shots to the opposing team. Since our last five or six games, we are better. We don’t give the other team too much possession time and that’s what we have to pursue.”
Photo credit: MARTIN ALARIE / JOURNAL DE MONTREAL
After reaching the Eastern final last season with a team that relied on several veterans, the Rocket seems to be in the middle of a transition and new hopefuls will no doubt be added to the herd following the next round of the draft.
Then goaltender Cayden Primeau is still on the sidelines with an upper-body injury he’s been nursing since November.
“In the American League, all seasons are transitions. You deal with that. Last year, we had six older defenders. There they are younger, analyzes Houle.
“It’s not a league where it’s easy to win. Players are here to improve and be developed. We try to give everything so that they go up one day.
In Syracuse, the Rocket wrapped up a nine-day trip overseas, its longest trip of the season. He will find his supporters
