Montreal Canadiens Top Recall Options From Laval Rocket

The last time we discussed the AHL options available to the Montreal Canadiens, three players were listed as the best-performing players with the Laval Rocket.

Two of the players mentioned, Justin Barron and Anthony Richard, earned a promotion to the NHL shortly thereafter.

With the Canadiens’ injury luck and the upcoming trade deadline, it’s worth keeping an eye on the next batch of players that will likely receive a call-up once the Canadiens need reinforcements.

In all likelihood, Rem Pitlick would be the first player to hear from the Canadiens, but there are a few other options that could fit the bill if the team feels Pitlick needs more time in the AHL.

All three of the players listed are 23 years old and in the last year of their current contracts, which means the Canadiens are running out of time to evaluate their potential impact in the NHL, and should probably take a closer look at their overall progress.

Jesse Ylönen

With Richard playing in the NHL, Rocket head coach Jean-Francois Houle turned to Ylönen as the main catalyst for the offence, and the 23-year-old rose to the challenge, earning two goals and four assists in that time frame.

He’s currently second in scoring on the team, with eight goals and 19 assists in 32 games, and will have a legitimate chance to pass Richard in the next few games if the Canadiens keep the speedy forward in their lineup.

Five of his eight goals this season have come on the power play, which could be beneficial for the Canadiens, who have struggled to maintain consistency with the man advantage all season long.

As it stands, Ylönen is scoring on a little less than 10 percent of his shots, well below his career average, which indicates they he’s probably owed a few more goals from the hockey gods. He can also connect on one-timer setups, unlike many of the Canadiens forwards currently in the lineup.

POWER PLAY GOAL 🚀#GoRocket https://t.co/bluwLmcaQj pic.twitter.com/FestzuwejV

— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) January 5, 2023

Rafael Harvey-Pinard

Fresh off a four-point performance against the Manitoba Moose on Wednesday, Harvey-Pinard has finally found his rhythm and should be considered for the next promotion in the NHL.

Not only did he score a hat trick against the Moose, but he’s also scored five goals and two assists in his last six games.

Like the vast majority of hockey players, Harvey-Pinard has struggled to find consistency this season, though you’d be hard-pressed to argue it’s due to a lack of effort.

By giving Harvey-Pinard another opportunity to play in the NHL, not only would the Canadiens be rewarding his strong work ethic, but they’d also have an opportunity to evaluate the progress the 23-year-old has made since his last stint in the NHL.

Petit mercredi soir tranquille pour H-P
Casual Wednesday night for H-P#GoRocket https://t.co/ZBWpRxlav3 pic.twitter.com/4UAv1tSAUb

— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) January 5, 2023

Nicolas Beaudin

Beaudin started his season relatively slowly, with just one assist in his first six games with the Rocket, but the 2018 first-round pick did not let the lack of production distract him from his goal: earning a permanent job in the NHL.

He went on to score two goals and 10 assists in the following 9 games, one of the most impressive scoring paces from a defenceman currently playing in the American Hockey League.

Now that he’s back with the Rocket after spending the holidays with Team Canada at the Spengler Cup, Beaudin is clearly the best option if the Canadiens need defensive reinforcements, which should be a very encouraging sign for the 23-year-old defenceman.

It’s also a good reminder to defencemen such as Otto Leskinen and Corey Schuneman that making it back to the NHL requires a consistent effort on any given night.

Teasdale fait dévier le tir de Nicolas Beaudin et ouvre la marque à Cleveland.

Teaser deflects Beaudin’s shot and score the Rocket first goal! #GoRocket https://t.co/YjFrYXATAZ pic.twitter.com/Cd0zXDGAin

— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) December 18, 2022