ROCKET'S PLAYOFF RUN A TEST FOR HABS' DEFENCE PROSPECTS

Laval coach Houle says strong performance in semifinal bodes well for organization

Laval Rocket head coach Jeanfrançois Houle is excited about the Canadiens' defence prospects he could be working with in the future.

Corey Schueneman, Mattias Norlinder, Justin Barron and Jordan Harris all made their NHL debuts this season with the Canadiens. Schueneman and Norlinder are playing for the Rocket in their AHL North Division semifinal playoff series against the Syracuse Crunch.

“I think it bodes well for the future looking at those young guys,” Houle said after the Rocket practised Wednesday at Place Bell. “And then you've got guys like (Kaiden) Guhle coming in and (Arber) Xhekaj as well that's a pro signee.”

The Canadiens selected Guhle in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft and signed Xhekaj as a free agent in October.

Guhle is playing in the WHL playoffs with the Edmonton Oil Kings, who swept their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Red Deer Rebels. In eight playoff games, Guhle has 3-6-9 totals. Xhekaj is playing in the OHL playoffs with the Hamilton Bulldogs, who have a 3-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Mississauga Steelheads. In six playoff games, Xhekaj has 2-2-4 totals.

Guhle, Norlinder (third round, 2019) and Harris (third round, 2018) are among the 12 defencemen the Canadiens selected in the last four NHL drafts. That list includes Logan Mailloux (first round, 2021), Jayden Struble (second round, 2019) and Alexander Romanov (second round, 2018), who already has two seasons of NHL experience under his belt.

“They're young,” Houle said about the group of defencemen. “It's going to be up to us to probably have a lot of those young guys and develop them the right way. We're going to try and develop in a winning environment and a lot of these guys have skill and potential to play in the NHL. So the next few years on defence it's going to be fun to watch.”

Norlinder started this season with the Canadiens, playing six games before being sent down to Laval.

After playing six games with the Rocket, Norlinder decided to go back home to Sweden to complete the final season of his twoyear contract with Frolunda HC. After Frolunda lost in the SHL semifinals, Norlinder decided to return to Laval last week.

In 21 regular-season games with Frolunda, Norlinder had 0-2-2 totals. He had 0-6-6 totals in nine playoff games.

“When we lost during the semifinals, it was kind of tough,” Norlinder said after rejoining the Rocket. “But I talked to my agent about going over again and had the chance to (play) for something and to win something, so I'm looking forward for that.

“I'm excited to be here and hopefully we can win some games.”

Norlinder made his AHL playoff debut last Saturday in Syracuse as the Rocket beat the Crunch 3-2 to even the best-offive series at one game apiece. Houle believes Norlinder has a lot of tools that can make him a good defenceman, adding he wants him to play with intensity during the playoffs, win his battles and move the puck quickly.

“But we have other good defencemen as well,” Houle added. “So you can't think you're going to come in and take all the ice time. It's just not going to happen and not realistic. But he's an important part of the organization. In practice, he's doing well. He did well in the game the other night, I thought, for his first playoff game. He brought up his level of intensity and that's what we need.”

Houle guided the Rocket to their first playoff berth since the Canadiens moved their top farm team from St. John's, N.L., to Laval to start the 2017-18 AHL season.

Joël Bouchard, the man Houle replaced behind the Rocket bench this season, was fired Wednesday by the AHL'S San Diego Gulls after they were eliminated by the Ontario Reign in the first round of the playoffs.

“This was a tough year for everyone and we feel a clean slate is needed in San Diego,” Anaheim Ducks GM Pat Verbeek said after deciding to fire Bouchard and his assistant coaches Daniel Jacob and Max Talbot. “These are extremely difficult decisions, but we are committed to returning to our winning ways in San Diego for our great fans. We wish Joel, Daniel and Max the best of luck in the future.”

Bouchard had coached the Rocket for three seasons before leaving for San Diego. The Gulls finished the regular season with a 28-33-7 record, the first losing record during their seven seasons in the AHL.

Houle signed a three-year contract with the Rocket last summer.

Rocket defenceman Sami Niku, who played 13 games with the Canadiens this season, has been impressed with Houle as a coach.

“He's been really good,” Niku said. “He helps a lot. We have a really good system and if everyone is playing with the system, we are doing well.”

It looks like Houle could play a key role in the future success of the Canadiens.