Although he left a favorable impression during the Montreal Canadiens’ training camp, defenseman Logan Mailloux will begin the season with the Laval Rocket.
The management of the Habs announced this decision in the middle of the afternoon on Tuesday.
Mailloux had time to participate in three preparatory matches with the Canadian, and even if he did not collect any points, he showed good offensive skills.
The arrival of Mailloux brings the number of players at the Rocket camp to 38. Of this number, the Rocket has 13 defenders.
The list includes Jayden Struble, who did not participate in the team’s practices Monday and Tuesday because of a lower-body injury.
The Rocket is scheduled to hold a training session focusing on special teams Wednesday morning at Place Bell before taking the bus to Toronto for a preseason game against the Marlies on Thursday afternoon.
It remains to be seen whether Mailloux will train with his new teammates on Wednesday, and whether he will be on the trip to the Queen City.
The Rocket will play a second and final preseason game on Sunday, October 8 at Place Bell, against the Belleville Senators.
Five days later, the Rocket will begin their season at home against the Abbotsford Canucks. This will be the first of two matches in as many days between the two clubs.
In order to properly prepare his players for the launch of the season, but also to discover them a little more, Houle will probably end the week with all the players present in Laval.
“We’re going to keep pretty much everyone until the end. I think it’s important to see what certain players can do, especially for mid-year call-ups. We are going to give young players an opportunity to showcase themselves in Toronto and against Belleville,” said Houle.
Uncertainty in front of the net
Of all the battles expected to take place over the next week at Rocket camp, the most intriguing is the one brewing in front of the net. Especially since, for the moment, it involves… someone who is absent.
Four goalies are currently at the Rocket camp, including Jakub Dobes, a lanky six-foot-four goaltender who is only 22 years old.
Among the other three, we still cannot find Cayden Primeau, who remains present at the Canadian’s camp. However, if the Habs ever want to return him to Laval, he will have to submit his name to waivers.
While waiting for the situation surrounding Primeau to clear up, Dobes hopes to have the opportunity to play as many matches as possible.
“I just want to play hockey games. It is the objective. We talked about it. No matter where I am, I want to play the most hockey games, win hockey games and gain experience,” Dobes said.
Houle said he liked what he saw from the Czech goalkeeper so far in training.
“I find him a little bit ahead of where I thought he was going to be. It’s a good thing,” noted Houle.