Laval Rocket’s Head Coach Selection Matters For Canadiens’ Plan – Hockey Writers – Laval Rocket

The Montreal Canadiens’ American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate will play a key role in the franchise’s current rebuilding plans. The 2024-25 season sees more opportunities to graduate overseas, junior hockey levels and integrated leagues. Prior to this, Laval general manager (GM) John Sedgewick worked to secure the return of head coach Jean-Francois Houle by signing him to a three-year contract.

Related: Canadiens Need to Make Room on NHL Roster for Prospects

Montreal thought they had their man in place. However, in an unexpected move, Houle left the organization to become the head coach at his alma mater, Clarkson University. Now, the Canadiens are at square one in finding someone to fill the most important coaching job in the organization right now. They will need to find someone to mentor the next generation of Canadiens players. The question is, who is available at this late stage, and are there any good fits?

Laval is the Key to Canadian Programs

Over the past few seasons, the Laval Rocket have had a young and inexperienced roster. However, they have had two consecutive playoff appearances, including one in which they battled for a spot in the Eastern Conference finals in 2021-22. Unfortunately, this season they failed to enter the playoffs, finishing last in the North Division with a record of 33-31-8. This was due to the rash of NHL and AHL injuries, several call-ups, and the chaos that those issues created.

Beyond the standings and the playoffs, which are necessary – it’s high-level hockey – it’s not Laval’s main focus. The goal is to develop NHL players for the Canadiens. At that time, Houle was doing a great job. In his three seasons, he was able to prepare a number of AHL players for NHL call-ups, but again, he provided more than just emergency fill-ins. In 2022-23, Laval graduated former seventh rounder, Rafael Harvey Pinard. Then in 2023-24, Houle drafted Joshua Roy and Jayden Struble. He also gave Arber Xhekaj and Justin Barron a chance to improve their games. With Barron, each time he returned to the AHL, he did so with new confidence and focus.

In the 2024-25 season, it will be important to hire the right person. This season will see prospects seen as future pieces and key depth players. Basically, David Reinbacher is going to have an important season, getting used to the North American style of hockey, the system it wants, and his eventual role as the expected top defenseman. Then there’s Logan Mailloux, who had a stellar AHL rookie season, sitting at or near the top of the offensive stats for defensemen and earning an AHL All-Star nomination.

They can’t be chosen

Next season will see a huge roster turnover thanks to the integration of several promising prospects such as Owen Beck, Filip Mesar, Adam Engstrom, Luke Tuck, and a few others. The draft and rebuild plan is ongoing and in the development phase now. With the season in full swing, Sedgewick must return to work to find Laval’s next coach. Some requirements limit the search, but that does not mean that there are no qualified people who can do this job.

Pascal Vincent

The most obvious name might be Pascal Vincent. He was recently fired as the head coach of the Columbus Blue Jackets. He has many years of experience as an assistant coach in the NHL and AHL, but also has significant time as an AHL head coach, leading the Manitoba Moose, Winnipeg Jets affiliate, for five years that included a record of 155-139-31 in 325 AHL games. games. That experience can help guide a young team to a playoff spot, which will help accelerate the development of other young players.

Stéphane Julien

The current assistant coach of the Grand Rapids Griffins, Stéphane Julien is another coach who can give the Canadiens exactly what is needed at this level. He recently completed one season in the AHL as an assistant, but before that, he spent 12 seasons with the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the Quebec Maritime Junior Hockey League (QMJHL), eight of those as head coach. He also spent time in the pipeline for Team Canada, winning gold with the 2023 World Junior Championship (WJC) team in Halifax. Julien’s coaching was a key factor for several NHL players and prospects, including Columbus’ Mathieu Olivier and Canadiens prospect, Joshua Roy.

Sylvain Favreau

Last but not least is Sylvain Favreau. He is a rising star in the QMJHL coaching circles, including the Canada Program of Excellence where he won gold with the WJC under-18 team this past season. His time with the Halifax Mooseheads showed dramatic growth for himself and the team, eventually leading them to the 2022-23 QMJHL final where they lost to the Memorial Cup champion Quebec Remparts. He then moved on to the bench for the Drummondville Voltigeurs, and in his first season he led them to the League Championship game and the Memorial Cup. If there is any question about his impact on the team, and the improvement of the young players, one has to look at the incredible turnaround in Drummondville in just one season, with the same roster. But again, looking at Halifax’s performance in the playoffs from last appearance to being swept in the first round.

More coaches could be interviewed or added to the roster, but these three have everything Laval could need. They all have experience developing prospects and know how to get the most out of the roster to help get playoff experience out of these young players. Regardless of who is selected, they will have a short period of time to acclimate to the club, develop a game plan and learn what the players need to help them reach their NHL potential.