Which Laval Rocket players can join the Canadian next season? – Hockey Writer – Montreal Canadian

After a few departures this offseason, including Joel Armia, Christian Dvorak and Emil Heineman, the Montreal Canadiens suddenly had some question marks in their next six forward groups and headed into the next season. These departures not only mark a new direction for the Canadians’ offensive side, but also open the door to internal competition, especially for players who want to jump from the American Hockey League (AHL) Laval Rocket.

While general manager Kent Hughes has added a famous addition by trading Zachary Bolduc and signing Sammy Blais, the Canadians still seem to have a roster or two that even a young player can grab his own path and return from Oliver Kapanen even with the return of Kirby Dach. These are the best chances to win an NHL role.

Owen Baker

Owen Beck’s game is based on reliability, responsibility and maturity – the exact qualities the team looks for in-depth centers. In many ways, Baker feels like Dvorak’s natural successor, who signed with Philadelphia Flyer in terms of skills and style. Baker had a small taste of the NHL action last season, working with the Canadians for 12 games. He didn’t put the score on the fire, but his balance and positioning stood out.

Dach’s role in the lineup complicates the central depth map slightly. If he is healthy, he can take back the second-tier central role, which will likely push Alex Newhook to the third line and squeeze Baker out. However, it’s a big “if”. Dudge has been working to stay healthy over the past few seasons and Montreal may have a contingency plan. Beck’s profile is a solid, low-risk player with NHL experience, which makes him an ideal candidate for the fourth line. If an injury occurs, he may slip into the lineup seamlessly without looking inappropriate.

Joshua Roy

Joshua Roy is perhaps the most talented person in Laval’s prospects, perhaps the most talented person. He will need to work hard to maintain his consistency and defensive turnovers to win a full-time seat in the NHL. The question is whether Roy is ready to adjust the game. There are many times saying: To get a skilled offensive player to enter the NHL through the six at the bottom, he has to develop his style.

Roy will have to add more pace and become more involved in defense, and if he wants to get the team out of training camp, he can play responsible North and South games. But he can do it. After all, he did this with a world junior when he reinvented himself as a reliable two-way winger and helped the Canadian team win two gold medals in 2022 and 2023.

Related: Joshua Roy

Through summer training, perhaps a new mindset, Roy might be surprised at training camp. His offensive intuition is still high-end, and if he pairs with the right winger, he could be a bottom six-pointer scorer and if injured, he could go up. His ceiling remains high, but he needs to prove that he can get trust in every turn, not just the puck on the stick.

Florian Xhekaj

Florian Xhekaj is probably the most “NHL-ready” in terms of character clarity. He knows exactly what kind of player he is: a high energy, body, six wingers at the bottom, bringing courage, pre-censorship and willingness to stick with it for his teammates. In his AHL rookie season, Xhekaj scored a considerable 24 goals and 11 assists in 69 games, considering his physical style and strong performance on the ice.

Now Michael Pezzetta is the Maple Leaf of Toronto, which can stir up the vacancies for spark plug players on the fourth line. Xhekaj is a natural candidate for the role, even more offensive upside than Pezzetta. He is bigger and faster, and the Rockets showed more finishes last season.

However, proper usage is important. If the Canadian plans to call Xhekaj and just sit him in a healthy scratch or play him once every two weeks, it might be more beneficial to have him play in Laval. He is still only 21 years old and has a lot of room for development. That said, if the Canadian is committed to giving him a consistent fourth-line minute, then Xhekaj can open a solid rookie season and establish himself as a valuable identity as Montreal.

Canadians have a choice

While the program planned to play in Montreal in 2025-26 is interesting, the fact is that opening night is guaranteed that no Laval option can be incorporated into the NHL. Even Kapanin, who played a few games last season, may take more time to become a regular. Habs has shown that if they improve their game, they are not afraid to let young players pickle in the AHL, and that this approach has logic.

This opens the door to other possibilities. Shocks at the camp happen every year. More likely, however, Hughes will keep an eye on the free agent market or consider post-summer trade options to introduce more veteran depth. To be sure: Canadians improve their core by building a playoff contender’s desire, so there will be no handouts. If the Rockets player wants to be on the NHL roster, he will have to win it.

Armia, Dvorak and Heineman’s departures have opened the door, but there is no guarantee that these guarantees will be filled inside. Baker’s reliable style, Roy’s offensive upside, Xhekaj’s body all bring something. Each of them has a path to the NHL, but it’s not easy. Any of them depends on the performance of the training camp, the injury and the Canadians’ motivation in further increasing. But with a younger, more competitive team, the opportunity is there.