Montreal Canadiens Roster Move
Following their match against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday night, the Montreal Canadiens made a roster move, assigning both Florian Xhekaj and Adam Engstrom back to the Laval Rocket. This decision came after the two players were not included in the game lineup, making it logical for them to return to the Rocket.
Upcoming Games and Player Performance
With Laval set to play back-to-back games against the Belleville Senators this Friday and Saturday, and with the Canadiens having a day off on Thursday, the timing allows them to practice with Pascal Vincent‘s squad before their upcoming games.
Xhekaj’s performance over the past five games saw him contributing one point, totaling four shots, and incurring seven minutes on penalties, along with a minus-one rating and nine hits. Engstrom, meanwhile, played two games without scoring, took two shots, and recorded a hit. As a result, his brief NHL stint saw him unable to make an impact on the scoresheet.
Meanwhile, Jarred Davidson, who competed in the recent match, remains with the Canadiens for at least the moment. The 23-year-old forward has yet to score in six games, accumulating 13 hits and a minus-two rating, along with six penalty minutes.
Development Opportunities
Although it may be disappointing for Xhekaj and Engstrom, returning to Laval enables them to gain vital playing time—an essential factor at this stage of their careers as they continue to develop.
The Canadiens’ recent trend of having numerous scouts present at their games raises speculation about potential player evaluations, particularly regarding their defense roster. With young defensemen like David Reinbacher and Engstrom on the verge of NHL readiness, significant decisions will soon need to be made regarding player placements when all team members are healthy.
Stay Updated
As the Canadiens navigate through these critical decisions, fans will be keenly observing the team’s strategy moving forward, especially with their defensive lineup being a potential point of contention.
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