Canadiens Forward Prospects In The Laval Rocket Playoff Lineup

By now most Montreal Canadiens fans are aware the Laval Rocket are on a quest to capture the Calder Cup, however, there are still a few questions that tend to arise anytime we discuss the lineup.

In that vein, we’ll take a look at the Rocket’s current lineup to give fans a better idea of what to expect in the remaining playoff games, as well as what has transpired in the AHL this season.

Today we will evaluate the forwards, with the next article focusing on defencemen and goaltenders.

Canadiens Farm Team Playoff Update

Laval is currently preparing to face the Rochester Americans in the third round of the AHL playoffs. It should be an intense series, as the Americans finished second in the North Division, nine points behind the Rocket.

The first two games of the series will take place in Rochester, which may seem odd, but it’s important to note Laval had the option to choose whether to start at home or on the road. They made the same decision when they faced the Cleveland Monsters in the second round, which is why they closed out the series at Place Bell.

There are a few other quirks associated with AHL playoffs, including the fact that the first-round is a best-of-three series, while the second and third round series are best-of-five. The Conference Semifinal, as well as the Calder Cup Final, will be a best-of-seven series.

If anyone is in the area and happens to have access to tickets, I strongly suggest taking the opportunity to visit the best arena in the AHL. The atmosphere is fantastic, often times rivalling, if not surpassing what we’re used to seeing in Montreal. The prices are reasonable, both for tickets and at the concessions, they provide a family-friendly ambience, and the team tends to put on a great show.

Laval Rocket vs. Rochester Americans Series Schedule

• Game 1 – @Rochester. Wednesday, May 14, 2025 – 7 PM ET
• Game 2 – @Rochester. Friday, May 16, 2025 – 7 PM ET.
• Game 3 – @Laval. Wednesday, May 21, 2025 – 7 PM ET.
• Game 4 – @Laval. Friday, May 23, 2025 – 7 PM ET.*
• Game 5 – @Laval. Sunday, May 25, 2025 – 4:30 PM ET.*

Laval Rocket Forwards

First Line: Sean  Farrell – Laurent Dauphin- Alex Barre-Boulet

The team’s top line came together due to injuries, and while Sean Farrell may have been considered a temporary fix at the time, the promotion quickly led to a significant uptick in scoring for the 23-year-old playmaker. It’s particularly important, because Farrell was at risk of being surpassed by several other prospects on the depth ladder.

Farrell finished the year with 20 goals and 24 assists, most of which came in the second half of the season once head coach Pascal Vincent promoted him to the top line.

There’s no doubt we have to give Farrell and Vincent credit for the resurgence, but we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention how well both Laurent Dauphin and Alex Barre-Boulet have performed as part of the team’s leadership group. Barre-Boulet led the team in scoring during the regular season, with Dauphin following close behind.

Farrell again! Laval leads 2-1 👀@RocketLaval | @CanadiensMTL#AHL #CalderCup #GoRocket #GoHabsGo pic.twitter.com/6rxS181LvG

— FloHockey (@FloHockey) May 1, 2025

Second Line: Brandon Gignac – Oliver Kapanen – Joshua Roy

This combination has the least experience playing together, and not just because Oliver Kapanen was recently loaned to the Rocket. Brandon Gignac missed a long stretch of the season, returning to the lineup for Game 2 versus the Monsters.

Gignac scored in Game 4, and Roy offered an assist, but Kapanen is yet to register his name on the scoresheet during his time in the AHL. At the risk of drawing the ire of some fans, I’m not convinced Kapanen is ready to play in the NHL, at least not in the role in which he was used. His underlying numbers with the Canadiens were bad, verging on awful. It’s not that surprising when we consider his production in Sweden was paired with first-line usage, as well as a healthy amount of time on the first powerplay unit.

With that in mind, it will be important to see Kapanen rise to the challenge now that he has two AHL playoff games under his belt. No one expects him to produce as much as he did for Kalpa in 2023-24, but he’s yet to prove he can score with any semblance of regularity when there’s limited open ice available, and that’s almost always the case in the playoffs.

A few points will go a long way in ensuring Kapanen approaches next season’s training with a little more confidence.

Third Line: Rafael Harvey-Pinard – Lucas Condotta – Xavier Simoneau

It was a very frustrating season for Harvey-Pinard, an issue that went beyond his unfortunate lower-body injury that kept him out of the lineup for several months. He finished the year with five goals and 14 assists in 40 games, a lower production rate than the 14 goals and six assists he provided the Canadiens in just 34 games back in 2022-23.

In terms of impact, I’d argue this line isn’t as valuable as the team’s fourth line, especially since all three players are getting a little too old to be considered legitimate prospects with NHL potential.

That being said, having Harvey-Pinard on your third line in the AHL should be seen as quite the boon, especially since he’s playing with the Rocket’s captain, Condotta, as well as one of the premiere pests in league history, Simoneau.

Fourth Line: Jared Davison – Florian Xhekaj – Owen Beck

Don’t be fooled by the fact that Davidson, Xhekaj, and Beck are listed as fourth-line players.

Based on their production, they should probably be called the second line.

Davidson finished the season third in Rocket scoring, with 24 goals and 21 assists to his credit. Beck finished fifth in team scoring, scoring 15 goals and 29 assists during his rookie season. Xhekaj also enjoyed a phenomenal freshman campaign, to the tune of 24 goals and 11 assists.

On top of doing a lot with limited opportunities, the trio of Canadiens draft picks have also established an affinity for driving opposing players up a wall, a situation that they complement with their underrated offensive talent.

Given that they have thrived in a bottom-six role, it’s a little easier to project them as prospects who may end up making a lot of noise once camp opens next season. Their versatility and penchant for hard work will be difficult to ignore.

ON TOPIC: Canadiens Prospects On Cusp Of Knocking On NHL Door

Jared Davidson finds the back of the net and captures the @RocketLaval goal-scoring lead. pic.twitter.com/La3GX1vZjL

— American Hockey League (@TheAHL) December 12, 2024

Extras: Riley Kidney, Filip Mesar, Luke Tuch

Not every player has what it takes to evolve in an intense professional setting. It’s a little too early to write-off Kidney, Mesar, and Tuch, but there’s no denying they’ve failed to take the next step in their development, a concerning situation when we consider all three were picked several years ago in the first or second rounds of the NHL Entry Draft.

Mesar was the most productive player who is currently watching games from the press box, with 4 goals and 14 assists in 42 games. Many will consider that to be disappointing for the 26th overall pick in 2022, but we also have to keep in mind Mesar dealt with a few injuries, limiting his opportunity to create momentum throughout the year.

Consider 2024-25 as a write-off for Mesar, with 2025-26 setting up as the most important season of his young career. You could say the same about Kidney and Tuch. They’re still a little too young to dismiss, but time is quickly running out for them to prove they can provide the Rocket with semiregular offence while offering acceptable performances in the defensive zone, not to mention better results from an effort-level standpoint.

Stay tuned for the next Laval Rocket article, which will cover the defencemen and goaltenders in the lineup, with a focus on players who will one day fight for a roster spot with the Montreal Canadiens.