Laval – When he had to identify a winger who would take Alex Barré-Boulet’s place alongside Brandon Gignac and Joshua Roy for the two games last weekend against the Providence Bruins, Pascal Vincent’s choice was It’s arrested on Riley Kidney.
It’s a position in which the former star of the Acadie-Bathurst Titan and the Gatineau Olympics had never found himself before at the professional level. As a rookie, the first line always remained out of his reach. Since the start of this season, he had mainly been paired with the rough Luke Tuch and Florian Xhekaj.
Why now?
“Things that you need to watch the video to understand,” explained the Rocket coach earlier this week. His stick, the way he moves in the defensive zone, I think he’s done enough good things. And then we wanted to put him in a position where he felt supported too, a position where he can help the team. But more than that, to give him a little confidence, a little love. »
Kidney effectively interpreted the promotion as a big pat on the back, a reward for the good game he felt he had played the previous Wednesday against Utica. In this meeting, he scored his first goal of the season on a superb breakaway maneuver.
With the assist he collected in the second part of the doubleheader against Providence, he now has three points in seven games.
Kidney will almost certainly lose his new offensive responsibilities with the return to play of Barré-Boulet, who was back in training on Wednesday according to Rocket in-house reporter Justin Vézina. But with injuries and call-ups a fact of life in the American League, opportunities to return to a similar role will return.
Without saying that he felt as comfortable as when he dominated the QMJHL, he believes he left a good impression.
“It’s just hockey. On the first line, it’s certain that you’re there for more faceoffs in the offensive zone, you have more opportunities to make a difference in attack. I had to get used to it a bit, but basically it doesn’t change that much. I tried not to make a big deal out of it and to stay true to what I know how to do. »
Generally speaking, Kidney feels like he’s more at home in his second season in Laval. Last year, he faced all the challenges that kids his age invariably talk about: the speed of the game, bigger opponents, etc. He had to deal with emotions he had literally never felt before. Like this one: “I was a little nervous in possession of the puck. »
Think about it for two seconds. You are a player who delivered seasons of 100 and 110 points in major junior and suddenly you feel stress in mundane situations where you had always excelled with your eyes closed.
“I realized pretty quickly that things were going to be different for me. I could no longer take my time, look around without pressure before making my decisions. It was a difficult adjustment, my confidence took a toll. This year the game started to slow down in my head. I’m starting to play games again. It helped me to score a goal in the first matches. I hope this is just the beginning. »
The template, again and again
Kidney’s size was always going to be an obstacle to his development in professional hockey. At 5-foot-11, he said he played part of last season at 175 pounds.
Last summer, he made his physical development his priority. He spent two full months in Brossard, commuting daily between his apartment and the arena with Lucas Condotta and Xavier Simoneau. At training camp, he rocked the scale at 190 pounds. On the ice, he immediately felt the difference.
“During 1-on-1 exercises, I was no longer being dragged from one side or the other, I was no longer falling, I could pin guys against the railing, I was no longer pressed down so easily,” he said.
“Last year, without saying that I knew I was going to lose my battles, let’s say that my expectations were not very high when I arrived in a duel. This year, I have a lot more confidence in myself, I know I have a chance to come out with the puck. I’m still not the biggest, but I’m stronger and I know more about the tricks of the trade. »
That confidence was on display with his first goal of the season last week. After receiving a long pass at the opposing blue line, Kidney first used his agility to get around defender Nick DeSimone, but then had to use his body well to get rid of his coverr and propel himself towards the goalie.
For Pascal Vincent, a game of this type represents the benchmark to aim for for Kidney, who still has a long way to go before such an action becomes an integral part of his repertoire.
“I see that he is trying to impose himself physically, to create these battles, but he is going to need to work. Physically, he’s going to need to get a little stronger, faster. He will have to work on his explosion,” notes the coach.
