2023 Laval Rocket Offseason Player Tracker

SEASON SYNOPSIS

The Laval Rocket finished the 2022-23 season with a record of 33-29-7-3 and 76 points. Their 8-2-0-0 record in the last 10 games of the season propelled them over the Cleveland Monsters into the final playoff spot of the North Division. Despite the strong end of season push, the Rocket were swept in the first round of the playoffs by the Utica Comets, 4-0 and 2-1. 

Anthony Richard was hands down the MVP of the Rocket as he led the team in goals (30), assists (37), points (67), and shorthanded goals (4). Richard was also named a member of the 2023 All-Star Classic in Laval back in February. He scored two goals in three games played, participating in the Fastest Skater and Pass & Shoot competitions.

(List accurate as of Sept. 20th, 4:35pm ET)

UNDER CONTRACT AND RE-SIGNINGS

Forwards

• Brandon Gignac – Last year of AHL contract
• Emil Heineman – Second-to-last year of entry-level contract
• Jan Mysak – Second-to-last year of entry-level contract
• Xavier Simoneau – Signed a two-year, entry-level NHL contract on March 1
• Riley McKay – Signed a one-year, one-way AHL contract on June 13
• John Parker-Jones – Signed a one-year, one-way AHL contract on June 13
• Rafaël Harvey-Pinard – Signed a two-year NHL contract extension on July 3
• Mitchell Stephens – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 4
• Gabriel Bourque – Signed a one-year, one-way AHL contract on July 12
• Lucas Condotta – Signed a two-year, two-way NHL contract extension on July 13
• Jesse Ylönen – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 31
• Nolan Yaremko – Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract on August 3 (played for Laval on a PTO and for Mount Royal Univ. [USports] in 2022-23)

Defensemen

• Mattias Norlinder – Last year of entry-level contract
• William Trudeau – Second-to-last year of entry-level contract
• Jayden Struble – Signed a two-year, entry-level NHL contract on March 15 (played for Laval on a PTO and Northeastern Univ. [NCAA] in 2022-23)
• Olivier Galipeau – Signed a one-year, one-way AHL contract extension on June 9
• Nicolas Beaudin – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 13

Goaltenders

• Cayden Primeau – Second-to-last year of one-way NHL contract

NEW ADDITIONS

Forwards

• Sean Farrell – Second-to-last year of entry-level contract (played for Montreal and Harvard Univ. [NCAA] in 2022-23)
• Riley Kidney – First year of entry-level contract (entry-level slide; played for Acadie-Bathurst Titan and Gatineau Olympiques of the QMJHL in 2022-23)
• Joshua Roy – First year of entry-level contract (entry-level slide; played for the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the QMJHL in 2022-23)
• Philippe Maillet – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 1 (played for Magnitogorsk Metallurg [KHL] in 2022-23) 
• Lias Andersson – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 2 (played for the Ontario Reign in 2022-23)
• Jared Davidson – Signed a one-year, one-way AHL contract on July 3 (played for the Seattle Thunderbirds [WHL] in 2022-23)
• Alex-Olivier Voyer – Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract on July 6 (played for the Providence Bruins and Maine Mariners [ECHL] in 2022-23)
• Nathan Légaré – Acquired via the Erik Karlsson trade on August 6 (played for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins in 2022-23)
• Jakov Novak – NHL rights acquired via trade from Ottawa on September 14; signed a one-year, one-way AHL contract on July 3 (played for Northeastern University [NCAA] and the Allen Americans [ECHL] in 2022-23)

Defensemen

• Logan Mailloux – First year of entry-level contract (entry-level slide; played for the London Knights of the OHL in 2022-23)
• Miguël Tourigny – Signed a one-year, one-way AHL contract on April 17 (played for HK Dukla Trencin of the Slovakian Tipos Extraliga in 2022-23)
• Brady Keeper – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract on July 1 (played with Abbotsford Canucks in 2022-23)
• Tobie Paquette-Bisson – Signed a one-year, one-way AHL contract on July 3 (played for the Ontario Reign in 2022-23)
• Noah Laaouan – Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract on July 5 (played for the Tucson Roadrunners and the Atlanta Gladiators [ECHL] in 2022-23)
• Christopher Merisier-Ortiz – Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract on July 17 (played for the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Penguins in 2022-23)

Goaltenders

• Jakub Dobes – Signed a two-year, entry-level NHL contract on March 31 (played for Ohio State Univ. [NCAA] in 2022-23)
• Strauss Mann  – Signed a one-year, one-way AHL contract on July 3 (played for the San Jose Barracuda in 2022-23)
• Zachary Émond – Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract on July 4 (played with the Wichita Thunder [ECHL] in 2022-23)

DEPARTURES

Forwards

• Alex Belzile – Signed a two-year NHL contract with the New York Rangers on July 1
• Anthony Richard – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract with the Boston Bruins on July 1 
• Pierrick Dubé – Signed a two-year, two-way entry level contract with the Washington Capitals on July 2
• Anthony Beauregard – Signed a one-year contract with ECHL Trois-Rivières on July 9 (played majority of 2022-23 with Trois-Rivières)
• Peter Abbandonato – Signed a one-year AHL contract with the Chicago Wolves on July 10
• Danick Martel – Signed a one-year contract with HPK of Liiga on July 31
• Brett Stapley – Signed a one-year, two-way AHL contract with the Colorado Eagles on August 3 (played all of 2022-23 season with ECHL Trois-Rivières)
• Joël Teasdale – Signed a one-year, one-way AHL contract with Iowa on August 7 (was not extended qualifying offer on June 30)
• Ryan Francis – Signed a PTO with Los Angeles on September 20 (played majority of 2022-23 season with ECHL Trois-Rivières)

Defensemen

• Frédéric Allard – Signed a two-year contract with Luleå HF of the SHL on May 9
• Otto Leskinen – Signed a two-year contract with Tappara of Liiga on May 10
• Gianni Fairbrother – Rights traded to the Colorado Avalanche on June 27
• Corey Schueneman – Signed a one-year, two-way NHL contract with the Colorado Avalanche on July 1
• Tory Dello – Signed a  one-year AHL contract with the Chicago Wolves on July 10
• Santino Centorame – Signed a one-year contract with ECHL Indy on July 30
• Madison Bowey – Signed a one-year, one-way contract with Dinamo Minsk of the KHL on August 31

Goaltenders

• Philippe Desrosiers – Signed a one-year contract with the Sorel-Tracy Éperviers of the LNAH on August 21 (played majority of 2022-23 with ECHL Trois-Rivières)
• Kevin Poulin – Announced retirement on September 6

FREE AGENTS

Goaltenders

• Joe Vrbetic – UFA (AHL); played majority of 2022-23 with ECHL Trois-Rivières

(Special thanks to CapFriendly and Elite Prospects for all the contract terms and definitions for this offseason player tracker!)

* – Contract includes European Assignment Clause, detailed in Article 11 – 11.19 of the NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement — “The SPC of any Player may contain a clause that provides that, in the event his NHL Club Loans the Player to a club outside the NHL, during the period of such Loan, the Player shall have the option to be Loaned to a club of his choice outside North America.”

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Other 2023 AHL Off Season Trackers :

Links will be updated as articles are released.

Central

• Chicago Wolves
• Grand Rapids Griffins
• Iowa Wild
• Manitoba Moose
• Milwaukee Admirals
• Rockford IceHogs
• Texas Stars

Pacific

• Abbotsford Canucks
• Bakersfield Condors
• Calgary Wranglers
• Coachella Valley Firebirds
• Colorado Eagles
• Henderson Silver Knights
• Ontario Reign
• San Diego Gulls
• San Jose Barracuda
• Tucson Roadrunners

Atlantic

• Bridgeport Islanders
• Charlotte Checkers
• Hartford Wolf Pack
• Hershey Bears
• Lehigh Valley Phantoms
• Providence Bruins
• Springfield Thunderbirds 
• Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins

North

• Belleville Senators
• Cleveland Monsters
• Laval Rocket
• Rochester Americans
• Syracuse Crunch
• Toronto Marlies
• Utica Comets