The Canadiens are staring at a stretch that could get uncomfortable fast, and the easiest place to look for help is Laval. Montreal has already been forced to dip into its American Hockey League affiliate once or twice, and with injuries piling up - especially the alarming Nick Suzuki news - the Rocket suddenly matter a whole lot more.
That’s not a bad thing for the Canadiens, because Laval is rolling. Through seven games and heading into this weekend, the Rocket sit first in the North Division at 6-1-0-0.
They’ve scored 30 goals already, are one of only four AHL teams to hit that mark as of Oct. 22, and have allowed no more than 12, good for a plus-18 goal differential. Only the Toronto Marlies are close in that category at plus-16.
The recent results have been lopsided, too. Laval’s last four games produced one one-goal decision - a 5-4 win over Belleville - and then a run of one-sided work: 5-2 over Springfield, 5-2 against Hartford, a 4-0 shutout of Utica, and a 5-1 win over Syracuse on Oct. 21.
Under head coach Daniel Jacob, the Rocket have picked up right where they left off in a broader sense. Jacob took over this season after serving as an assistant over the previous two campaigns, replacing Pascal Vincent, whose club posted Laval’s second-best season ever in 2025-26.
That team finished with 90 points and a 43-23-3-5 record before falling in the first round to the Toronto Marlies in a best-of-5 series. Toronto went on to win the Calder Cup.
This season also carries some franchise history. Laval is celebrating its 10th anniversary during the 2026-27 AHL campaign.
The team’s path runs from the Hamilton Bulldogs to the St. John’s IceCaps and then, in the autumn of 2016, to Laval, where the club took on the Rocket name in honor of Maurice “Rocket” Richard.
The setup has also made life easier for fans and players alike, with the subway line connecting the Bell Centre and Place Bell helping tie the two organizations together.
As for the roster, Laval has a few names Montreal fans need to know. Luke Mittelstadt is leading the way offensively with 14 points, including four goals and 10 assists, while also sitting second on the team in plus/minus at plus-6, behind Laurent Dauphin. The 23-year-old defenseman from Eden Prairie, Minnesota, was chosen 197th overall in the 2023 NHL Draft, and his name has surfaced whenever talk turns to possible reinforcements for the Habs.
Owen Beck and David Reinbacher are also in the mix as players with NHL time already on their resumes, even if that experience has been limited. Beck has appeared in a couple of games on Montreal’s fourth line this season, while Reinbacher has played in one NHL game.
Xavier Simoneau brings a different edge. The 2021 draft pick leads the Rocket in penalty minutes with 16, but he remains plus-4 and has been one of the club’s dependable assist generators since 2022-23. He has yet to dress for the Canadiens.
Then there’s Sasha Pastujov, a less familiar name to some, but one producing quickly in Laval. The 23-year-old left winger from Bradenton, Florida, came off a 57-point 2025-26 with the San Diego Gulls and already has nine points for the Rocket, with five goals and four assists.
In net, Laval also gives Montreal a fallback option if things get even messier. Kaapo Kahkonen, 30, is there, and his name should ring a bell for anyone who followed the San Jose Sharks from 2021-22 through 2023-24, when he played 79 games. He’s in Laval because Montreal has been dealing with a tripartite goalie dilemma for nearly two seasons, and if the Canadiens need an NHL-ready goaltender in a hurry, he’s sitting right there.
None of this means Laval can replace a player like Nick Suzuki. The gap between the AHL and NHL is still massive, and Cayden Primeau’s recent experience is a reminder of how harsh that jump can be when the opposition is elite. But the Rocket are giving Montreal something valuable right now: confidence, depth, and a group of players who can at least help steady the ship if the Canadiens’ problems keep piling up.
In Other News...
Canadiens Found An Encouraging Response In Their First Game Without Suzuki
The Canadiens opened their four-game road trip with a 4-1 win over the Blackhawks at the United Center, and the response was exactly the sort of one they needed after losing captain Nick Suzuki to injury. Montreal did not just get by without its top center, it found a useful spark from the bottom of the lineup, where Jake Evans stepped into a bigger role and helped steady the group in a game that could have gone sideways.
Lane Hutson also found himself in a new kind of spotlight, taking on ironman status for Montreal after Suzuki's long streak came to an end. The bigger-picture concern is obvious enough, because the Canadiens will have to keep answering questions about life without their captain while navigating the rest of the trip, and the early signs from this one were encouraging even if the lineup picture is still unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Face A Tough Zach Whitecloud Decision On Blue-Line Help
Montreals search for blue-line help has turned into a familiar midseason balancing act, with Zach Whitecloud among the names tied to the Canadiens as they weigh whether to add reinforcements or stay patient. The Calgary Flames are holding firm in those discussions, and Whiteclouds $2.75 million cap hit gives the price tag some bite for a player who has yet to record a point this season and sits at minus-5.
For the Canadiens, the real question is whether the upgrade is worth paying up for when other defensive options remain in play. Montreal has been linked to additional targets as well, which gives the front office some room to compare fit, cost and urgency while Calgary shows no sign of moving Whitecloud at a discount. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Prospect Is Suddenly Looking Like A Real Draft Steal
Brayden Klimpkes rise with the Saskatoon Blades is starting to make Montreals long-term hold on his rights look a lot more intriguing. The 19-year-old Canadiens prospect has piled up 15 points in 10 WHL games, a sharp burst for a player who has become the Blades captain and now looks much more comfortable driving play from the back end after a major physical growth spurt.
At 6 feet, Klimpke has clearly changed the look of his game as much as his frame, and his next step only adds to the interest around him. He is committed to the University of North Dakota, while Montreal will keep his NHL rights through 2031, giving the Canadiens plenty of time to see whether this early offensive jump is the start of something bigger. [Read more 🡒]