Habs Prospects
Canadiens Prospect Playoff Report: Kapanen, Roy, And Beck
Even though the Laval Rocket’s playoff push came to a premature end, there were a few bright spots to discuss when evaluating some of the top Canadiens forward prospects in the mix.
There were a few veterans in Laval that played a key role during the regular-season, as well as the first few rounds of the AHL playoffs. Unfortunately, Alex Barre-Boulet’s offence dried up in the Eastern Conference Final, Rafael Harvey-Pinard failed to score a single playoff goal, Brandon Gignac missed several games, and Laurent Dauphin was forced to leave the series with a nagging injury.
The injuries to top-six forwards opened the door to the younger players in the lineup, such as Oliver Kapanen, Owen Beck, and Joshua Roy.
You’ll note we did not include Sean Farrell due to the fact that his contract situation is a little more complicated than other prospects, requiring a standalone article to discuss his future.
Montreal Canadiens Forward Prospects In The AHL Playoffs
It’s very difficult to get an overall read on complete lines, especially once the Rocket faced the Charlotte Checkers in the Eastern Conference Final.
By then, head coach Pascal Vincent was scrambling, putting together new lines in a desperate attempt to kickstart any semblance of consistent offence.
ON TOPIC: Evaluating The Play of Reinbacher, Engstrom, and Mailloux In The Playoffs
By Game 4, Farrell was playing with Kapanen and Barre-Boulet on the first line, while Beck was used alongside Roy and Brandon Gignac on the second line.
The changes did not work, evidenced by the fact that Laval only scored six goals as they were being swept by the Checkers, however, it’s worth noting most of those goals were scored by drafted players. Roy, Kapanen, Beck, David Reinbacher, Jared Davidson, and Noel Hoefenmayer were the only Rocket players who managed to find the back of the net.
It may not seem like a significant step forward, but for the most part, the drafted prospects lagged behind the rest of the lineup in the second round, connoting that they managed to find another gear once the intensity ramped up.
Kapanen, in particular, seemed very comfortable, a complete reversal compared to his time in the NHL.
It’s always difficult to make the trip across the Atlantic ocean, thus, it’s important to give European prospects a longer runway, but there was a clear lack of sustained offence any time Kapanen was on the ice for the Rocket or the Canadiens, the definition of a red flag.
By the time the Eastern Conference Final wrapped up, Kapanen was generating scoring chances with much more frequency, while also delving into the chaotic physical battles that are impossible to avoid in the AHL. He built solid chemistry alongside Roy, with the pair generating more chances together than any other duo against Charlotte.
Oliver Kapanen gets Laval on the board. More solid work from the newly minted Farrell – Kapanen – Roy line. #LavalRocket pic.twitter.com/QhvkzAWmlC
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) May 29, 2025
The experience Kapanen gained down the stretch should go a long way in ensuring he attends training camp with the utmost confidence. As for Roy, his play in the final two series was more than enough to remind us that he should not be written off due to a few bad shifts at last year’s camp.
He did not hesitate to skate into high-danger areas, demonstrating that he’s willing to get dirty if it will lead to scoring opportunities. His playmaking was also excellent, due to his penchant for controlled entries. Simply put, he created a lot of open ice in a situation where open ice is at a premium. Despite a slow start to the playoffs, Roy finished second in Rocket scoring, with four goals and six assists in 13 games.
Joshua Roy drives into traffic to score his first goal of the playoffs. 4-1 #LavalRocket pic.twitter.com/QHfKlRXV6Y
— Marc Dumont (@MarcPDumont) May 22, 2025
Owen Beck played up and down the lineup, though we should note that Vincent was quick to promote him off the fourth line whenever he needed to fill a gap in the top nine, while keeping Davidson and Florian Xhekaj in their original roles.
That’s not to say Vincent did not trust Davidson or Xhekaj, though the fourth line’s parade to the penalty box was certainly a thorn in Laval’s side. More than anything, he was relying on Beck’s versatility, a situation that should give the 21-year-old forward a step-up as he battles for a roster spot in the NHL next season.
All things considered, Beck still represents the best all-around Canadiens prospect in the system, the type of player you can trust to provide an honest effort during every shift in all three zones.
Becker fait 2-0 🚨
Becker makes it 2-0 🚀 pic.twitter.com/bCujGiyqqz— xyz – Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) June 4, 2025
It’s unfortunate the Rocket lost in the conference final, and four straight at that. But why is everyone critical of this team’s performance? Cripes, they finished first in league standings, they achieved more than anyone ever imagined, going to the conference finals.
The kids just ran our of gas. Can we all be honest? With veterans injured, the work load fell to 20 and 21 year olds — most of whom played more games this season than any year in their lives. Some sports columnists were particularly critical of Florian Xhekaj. He still hasn’t finished growing. And he, and his team-mates were playing against players years older than them. Not an excuse — hockey does not allow excuses. But that is the context of the Laval loss to the Checkers. I have no worries about the players in Laval or the Laval organization. The Habs prospects are in good hands there. And will continue to be, even if Vincent leaves.
Theres nothing tonbe excitednon offense in laval. Aside Xhekaj , they are all soft. Not the type of players i want on my team. But good trade chips.