On Wednesday night, the Laval Rocket improved to 10-2-0-0, the top record in the North Division, thanks to a 3-2 overtime win over the Rochester Americans.
The Rocket is now just one of three teams in the AHL to have ten wins, joining the Hershey Bears (10-3-1-0) and Calgary Wranglers (11-3-0-0).
Former Canadiens first-round pick Logan Mailloux was the overtime hero on Wednesday, tallying his fourth goal of the season and 12th point, which ranks third in team scoring behind Joshua Roy (13 points) and Alex Barre-Boulet (13 points).
The only other Laval skater in double digits is Owen Beck, who has 11 points. While Mailloux, Roy, and Barre-Boulet have already played a game in the NHL this season, Beck is the odd man out amongst the Rocket’s top scorers.
After just 12 games, Laval is a top-three team in the AHL, a resurgence up the standings after the club finished 22nd overall with a 33-31-6-2 record.
Part of their early success is thanks to Connor Hughes and Jakub Dobes, who both rank within the top 15 in goals-against average, with Hughes ranking ninth in save percentage.
Together, the duo has surrendered the third-fewest goals in the league with just 27, trailing the Milwaukee Admirals (24) and Chicago Wolves (26) while tying the Grand Rapid Griffins and Colorado Eagles.
In Montreal, the Canadiens may be struggling to keep the puck in their own net and clawing their way out of the basement of the Atlantic Division. However, 14 players 25 and under have played at least five games this year, so these early-season mishaps are all part of the growing pains.
Related: Should Canadiens Give AHL Goalies A Shot?
Defenseman Lane Hutson is already in the Calder Trophy conversation, and Cole Caufield could become the Canadiens’ first Maurice Richard Trophy winner. Roy, Mailloux, and Barre-Boulet will eventually join these young guns, among other prospects finding their games in the minors.
Unfortunately, the time for the Canadiens to contend may not be in 2024-25 or even 2025-26, but if the successes in Laval transition to the NHL level, by the end of the decade, Montreal could be contending for division titles and Stanley Cups instead of more top draft picks.
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