The Laval Rocket have added another piece for next season, and it’s a familiar name for Montreal Canadiens fans following the organization’s depth chart.
Israel Mianscum has signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate, a move that keeps the 23-year-old left winger in the American Hockey League for the 2026-27 season. The signing gives him a direct path with Laval, rather than Trois-Rivières, and it marks another step in a career that has been steadily climbing.
Mianscum’s route to this point has been anything but ordinary. The 6-foot-2 forward first turned heads in the QMJHL, and his best junior season came with the Sherbrooke Phoenix, where he piled up 87 points in 61 games. Last season, he followed that up with 32 points in 58 ECHL games for the Trois-Rivières Lions.
He also got a brief look with Laval, appearing in three games with the Rocket last season. Now, this new deal gives him a real chance to carve out a more permanent spot at the AHL level.
There’s also a local angle to the story. Mianscum, who is from Mistissini, has carried that background with him as he’s worked his way through the ranks. And he’s never been shy about the bigger goal: one day wearing a Montreal Canadiens jersey.
His size adds another layer of intrigue. A winger with his frame and scoring touch is always going to draw attention in a development system, especially one looking for players who can bring something a little different.
Still, nothing will come easy. The AHL is packed with young players fighting for the same few openings, and Mianscum will have to earn every inch of ice he gets. Training camp will be his chance to show he belongs.
For now, the next chapter is set. Mianscum has a new contract, a clearer runway, and another shot to keep pushing toward Montreal.
In Other News...
John Marinos 8-Year Utah Deal Just Fueled Canadiens Blue Line Debate
John Marinos new eight-year extension in Utah adds another data point to the ongoing blue-line salary conversation around Montreal. At $6.75 million per season, the deal sits in the same neighborhood as several Canadiens defensemen and helps frame how different teams are valuing role, production and upside on the back end. Marinos contract also removes one more notable name from next summers unrestricted free agent market, narrowing the pool for clubs still looking for help on defense.
For Montreal, the comparison is especially useful because Kent Hughes has assembled a defense corps with a wide range of price points and responsibilities. Kaiden Guhle, Mike Matheson, Lane Hutson and Noah Dobson all occupy different tiers, and Marinos number only sharpens the debate over where the sweet spot really is for roster construction. It is the kind of contract that can make a teams own blue line look either disciplined or expensive, depending on how much value it gets from each role. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens May Finally Have A Real Answer At Center
The Canadiens have spent plenty of time looking for help down the middle, and the search keeps circling back to the same basic need: a center who can stabilize the second line without forcing the front office into a reckless overpay. Morgan Frost has emerged as an intriguing name in that conversation, with his contract viewed as manageable and the acquisition price expected to stay within reason, which matters for a team trying to improve without emptying the cupboard.
Frosts profile also fits the kind of move Montreal has been exploring, since he brings recent production and enough offensive touch to at least make the idea worth serious discussion. The question now is whether the Canadiens can turn interest into something more concrete while they keep sorting out the long-term picture at center, including the possibility of waiting on Michael Hage as part of the bigger plan. [Read more 🡒]