2025-26 Laval Rocket discussion thread

[dlbalr]

Tobie Paquette-Bisson is back, signing a one-year, one-way contract with Laval: https://www.rocketlaval.com/en/press-release/tobie-paquette-bisson-back-rocket/

[dlbalr]

Laval has also signed Wyatte Wylie (another blueliner) to a one-year, one-way contract.  https://www.rocketlaval.com/en/press-release/rocket-contract-wyatte-wylie/

 

Surprisingly, nothing for Wotherspoon yet who wanted to be back.

[dlbalr]

Laval's site has a player tracker showing who's signed, who is a free agent, and who has left already.  A decent summary so far of the state of the team: https://www.rocketlaval.com/en/press-release/portrait-of-the-rocket-lineup-2025-26/

[alfredoh2009]

That’s a pretty good summary

[titanfan]

Is this the year Vincent Arseneau gets a cup of coffee?  With a lot of d ahead of Arber on the depth chart, do the Habs decide to add some toughness to the 4th line?  Even if only for a stretch?

 

 

[dlbalr]

1 hour ago, titanfan said:

Is this the year Vincent Arseneau gets a cup of coffee?  With a lot of d ahead of Arber on the depth chart, do the Habs decide to add some toughness to the 4th line?  Even if only for a stretch?

 

I hope not.  He's a mediocre fourth liner at best in Laval so I'm not sure why they would want to sign him to an NHL contract.  Taking up a veteran spot, I don't see him being an every-game player for the Rocket either.  If you want toughness in Montreal, there are better players than Arseneau to fill that role.

 

[alfredoh2009]

I think he meant Pascal Vincent 

[GHT120]

6 minutes ago, alfredoh2009 said:

I think he meant Pascal Vincent 

Vincent gets a "cup of coffee" filling in as a coach?

[Commandant]

Just now, GHT120 said:

Vincent gets a "cup of coffee" filling in as a coach?

 

Bhahahahahaha

[dlbalr]

Luke Cavallin won't be back as he got an entry-level deal with Boston.  Good for him; I didn't think he'd get an NHL pact.

[Commandant]

 

[dlbalr]

Del Gaizo is a nice pickup and it wouldn't be shocking to see him get some NHL time.

 

Laval has also signed Ryan O'Rourke as they continue to completely overhaul their back end: https://www.rocketlaval.com/en/press-release/rocket-contract-ryan-orourke-2025-26/

 

Meanwhile, Zack Hayes has signed with Milwaukee.

[Commandant]

I thonk del gaizo's biggest issue is the depth chart in front of him for NHL time

[dlbalr]

5 minutes ago, Commandant said:

I thonk del gaizo's biggest issue is the depth chart in front of him for NHL time

 

As it stands now, probably.  But he'd still work as an NHL recall when injuries strike.  Or, if they wind up dealing someone like Struble over the summer, Del Gaizo would make sense as a 7th D.

[DON]

Habs re-sign Sean Farrell, sign Marc Del Gaizo – HabsWorld.net

 

...Overall, Farrell had 20 goals and 24 assists in 67 games in 2024-25 while adding 10 points in 13 playoff contests, doing enough to get a qualifying offer earlier this week.

 

As for Del Gaizo, he split last season between Nashville and their AHL affiliate in Milwaukee, spending more time with the former.  The 25-year-old got into 46 games with the Preds, picking up two goals and seven assists along with 53 blocks and 71 hits in over 16 minutes a night of ice time.  Meanwhile, he had eight goals and four helpers in 30 games with the Admirals.

[tomh009]

18 forwards signed now, so some of them will surely be playing in Trois-Rivieres. Only seven defencemen, though.

[Commandant]

 

[dlbalr]

10 hours ago, tomh009 said:

18 forwards signed now, so some of them will surely be playing in Trois-Rivieres. Only seven defencemen, though.

 

Make it 19 as Mark Estapa has signed a one-year, two-way AHL deal.

 

https://www.rocketlaval.com/en/press-release/mark-estapa-contract-2025-26/

 

In reality, several of these forwards are clearly ECHL-bound - Estapa, Mianscum, Goriunov, probably Dunlap and maybe Dineen.  Frankly, they need another impactful forward or two as this group has taken a pretty hard hit in terms of departures with not a lot done to offset them beyond bringing back Belzile.

 

[DON]

Seems buried on LH-d depth chart.

 

Habs re-sign William Trudeau – HabsWorld.net

 

Trudeau will be waiver-eligible for the first time next season and with demand for blueliners typically being high, it’s not a guarantee that he’s able to pass through unclaimed.  If he does, he’ll be a key piece of a Rocket blueline that has undergone quite the overhaul with five new defencemen added in recent days, two on NHL deals and three signed directly to Laval.

[GHT120]

1 hour ago, DON said:

Seems buried on LH-d depth chart.

 

Habs re-sign William Trudeau – HabsWorld.net

 

Trudeau will be waiver-eligible for the first time next season and with demand for blueliners typically being high, it’s not a guarantee that he’s able to pass through unclaimed.  If he does, he’ll be a key piece of a Rocket blueline that has undergone quite the overhaul with five new defencemen added in recent days, two on NHL deals and three signed directly to Laval.

Which is perhaps a reason to keep him as the 7D if Matheson, Struble or Xhekaj get moved.

[Commandant]

39 minutes ago, GHT120 said:

Which is perhaps a reason to keep him as the 7D if Matheson, Struble or Xhekaj get moved.

 

I think its more likely that Del Gaizo gets claimed than Trudeau. 

 

He's played 55 NHL games, including 46 last season. 

 

Guys like Trudeau, 4th rounders or later, with 0 NHL games, dozens clear waivers every year in training camp.   I wouldn't worry at all about him.

[Prime Minister Koivu]

43 minutes ago, GHT120 said:

Which is perhaps a reason to keep him as the 7D if Matheson, Struble or Xhekaj get moved.

I bet Struble gets traded for depth forward - maybe in a package for a third line centre. 
 

Having Trudeau as #7 makes sense to me. He isn’t fighting for a spot and never  will and if he does need to play then he is a stable presence that wont hurt us defensively. 

[alfredoh2009]

30 minutes ago, Prime Minister Koivu said:

I bet Struble gets traded for depth forward - maybe in a package for a third line centre. 
 

Having Trudeau as #7 makes sense to me. He isn’t fighting for a spot and never  will and if he does need to play then he is a stable presence that wont hurt us defensively. 

he is a bulldog in défense but seems less quick and agile on skates than Arber. 7D should be ok

[alfredoh2009]

 

The Laval Rocket are filling up their veteran quota for the 2025-26 season.
Laurent Dauphin (565 pro games), Alex Belzile (490), Vincent Arseneau (297), Marc Del Gaizo (292), and Tobie Paquette-Bisson (273) all qualify for veteran status.
That's five of six allowable slots…

— Andrew Zadarnowski (@AZadarski) July 2, 2025

 

[dlbalr]

Laval signs winger Xavier Simoneau, defencemen Josh Jacobs and Darick Louis-Jean, and goalie Hunter Jones to AHL deals.  One-way for Simoneau/Jacobs, two-way for the other two who are probably ECHL-bound.  Jacobs is interesting as that's the last veteran slot unless the plan is to have Arseneau primarily as a reserve/scratch.