Discomfort at the Laval Rocket: from hope to disillusionment…we sense the smell of a big housecleaning that is being prepared…
Once again, Montreal Canadiens fans got carried away by the exuberance of training camp.
The Laval Rocket was seen as a hotbed full of young talent, ready to make the jump to the NHL and propel the organization towards glorious days.
But four months later, reality hits full force: Laval is not the pool of prodigies that we thought, but rather a team made up of support players, plumbers who, at best, will fill the holes at Montreal in the short term.
And the supposed prodigies…broke their teeth…
Logan Mailloux, who was supposed to be a pillar of the Canadian’s defense in the near future, continues to disappoint.
His season, both on and off the ice, was a disaster. After a hot start with 12 points in 7 games, his game collapsed.
Only 6 points in the next 26 games and a record of -8. The problem is clear: Mailloux does not know how to defend.
His defensive shortcomings are so glaring that Pascal Vincent, exasperated, demoted him from the first wave of the numerical advantage.
Worse still, Mailloux’s behavior off the ice began to seriously annoy the organization. The young defenseman walks around with a bodyguard during his nights out, already believing himself to be a star, even though he is still far from proving that he belongs in the NHL.
His flamboyant attitude, his self-perception disconnected from reality and his inability to adapt to the defensive demands of the American League make him an ideal candidate… for a transaction.
It is therefore no surprise that his name circulates extensively on the transaction market. The Canadian needs a second center, and Nashville is desperate for a right-handed defenseman.
The question must be asked if it is worth sacrificing Mailloux for an older veteran like Ryan O’Reilly.
Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton must ask themselves whether it’s worth continuing to invest time and resources into Mailloux, or whether it’s time to move on before its value completely collapses.
Joshua Roy, one of the Rocket’s rare Quebec prospects, is also starting to spark transaction rumors.
Although he has had some strong moments this season, several observers notice a blatant lack of confidence in him from the organization.
Roy, although an intelligent and productive player, seems stuck in an uncertain role in Laval.
Teams elsewhere in the NHL see him as a potential future “middle-six” forward capable of contributing consistently, but in Montreal, there is hesitation to give him that opportunity.
Rumor has it that the Canadian is ready to include him in a package to get a top center.
With names like Ryan O’Reilly circulating, we wonder if Roy, who does not seem to have the confidence of the Montreal staff, will be the price to pay.
The Laval Rocket is not the team full of future stars that many hoped for. We were talking about a club where Joshua Roy, Owen Beck and Logan Mailloux would dominate and establish themselves as the next key players of CH.
But the reality is very different. Emil Heineman is injured, Owen Beck failed to convince during his short time in Montreal, and players like Raphaël Harvey-Pinard, once seen as revelations, are now relegated to the role of simple support players who will probably not be never recalled.
We believed that Laval would produce a wave of talent ready to jump into the NHL, but in the end, we realized that the real stars, like Ivan Demidov and Michael Hage, would not even make it through the American League.
These two players, considered true prodigies, will probably make the jump directly to the big club.
Meanwhile, Laval remains a competitive team in the AHL, but one that mainly develops depth players, and not future leaders.
The question burning on the fans’ lips is simple: if the Canadian is ready to sacrifice Mailloux and Roy to improve his center line, who will come to Montreal? R
Ryan O’Reilly seems to be the obvious choice, but persistent rumors suggest that Trevor Zegras could be back on Montreal’s radar.
-But the Ducks seem to want to keep him. We would have to sacrifice the moon for Caufield’s best friend and never, ever will Roy or Mailloux seduce the Ducks.
The Anaheim Ducks are in the process of restructuring and could be tempted by a promising right-handed defenseman like Mailloux, in addition to a forward like Roy to solidify their offense.
With the imminent arrival of Demidov and Hage, Kent Hughes could afford to offer these two young players in an exchange that would make CH fans jump with enthusiasm.
The fact remains that to have Zegras, it will be necessary to offer a 1st round pick with Roy and Mailloux, at least, and even there, the Ducks will demand more.
The dream of a Laval Rocket filled with future top players is gradually collapsing. What was supposed to be a machine for churning out NHL-ready talent turned out to be a factory for supporting players.
Mailloux and Roy, once seen as cornerstones of the future of the CH, are now at the heart of transaction discussions, their future in Montreal being increasingly uncertain.
For now, Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton must decide if they still believe in their potential, or if they prefer to use these pieces to accelerate the Canadian’s return to competitive NHL teams.
The trade deadline is approaching, and the futures of these two young players could well be decided in the coming weeks.
Despite the disappointment surrounding the situation of the Laval Rocket, a glimmer of hope remains: the Trevor Zegras dream is still possible.
It’s always there, within reach. Kent Hughes just has to find the right way to maneuver, balance salaries and convince the Anaheim Ducks to make a move.
Zegras, with his contract of $5.75 million per season, represents a major acquisition, but also a financial challenge.
Montreal will have to be ingenious in its salary management to absorb this contract while respecting the current structure of the team.
A trade involving Logan Mailloux and Joshua Roy, combined with a first-round pick, could be an attractive offer for Anaheim, especially if the CH includes a veteran on an established salary to balance the payroll.
The Ducks are also looking for a tough forward. We wonder if Josh Anderson could be that veteran who can balance salaries.
The Ducks are in the midst of an identity crisis. The climate between Zegras and coach Greg Cronin is far from ideal, and tensions in the locker room are felt.
Rumors of internal disagreements are circulating, and the team’s glaring lack of robustness makes a player like Mailloux particularly interesting for Anaheim.
Added to this is the fact that Zegras, despite his undeniable talent, struggles to meet the defensive expectations imposed by the Ducks management.
It is therefore the ideal time for Kent Hughes to approach Pat Verbeek and propose a trade beneficial to both teams.
The situation in Laval no longer leaves room for illusions. Several young players, seen as top prospects, are stagnating or regressing.
Logan Mailloux has become more of a liability than an asset, and Joshua Roy, despite his potential, does not seem to benefit from the full confidence of the organization.
This is why rumors of “cleaning” are circulating more and more. Kent Hughes won’t feel bad about shedding some pieces to improve the team up top. The CH is at a turning point where inaction could harm the club’s progress.
Cleaning up the Rocket’s roster and moving Mailloux and Roy in a trade for Zegras or another impact center is a logical and necessary decision.
If the Zegras dream is still possible, it’s because Kent Hughes is willing to sacrifice hopes to improve now. The question is now simple: is he ready to give everything to finally obtain the coveted second center?
After all, Zegras continues to assert that he is a center at heart and that he is tired of playing left wing.
Interesting…and tempting…
