4 Rocket Players Head to Montreal After Tough Ending in Laval

The Laval Rocket season came to a frustrating end much earlier than many expected, but for a few young players in the organization, the season is not over yet. Following Laval’s elimination against the Toronto Marlies, the Montreal Canadiens added four Rocket players to their playoff group as black aces: Owen Beck, Florian Xhekaj, Adam Engstrom, and David Reinbacher.

For the players, it is another important step in their development. For the organization, it is also a reminder that while Laval’s playoff run ended in disappointment, the future of the Canadiens remains very promising.

Four Players Joining the Canadiens

The Canadiens announced that Beck, Xhekaj, Engstrom, and Reinbacher would join the team following Laval’s elimination. The four prospects will now practice with Montreal during the playoff run and gain valuable experience around NHL playoff hockey.

While they are not expected to play a role immediately, simply being around the team at this time of the year matters a lot. Young players get to see the preparation, the intensity, and the details needed to succeed in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. For prospects expected to become important pieces in Montreal over the next few seasons, this experience can be extremely valuable.

What makes the situation even more interesting is that all four players already played at least one game with the Canadiens this season. 

Disappointing Playoffs in Laval

Even with the excitement surrounding the black aces, there is no denying that the ending in Laval was disappointing. The Rocket finished the regular season with an excellent 41-23-8 record, good enough for first place in the North Division. Expectations were high entering the playoffs, and many believed Laval had the depth and talent to make a long postseason run. Instead, the season ended in the divisional semi-final round with a 3-2 series loss against the Marlies.

Considering the quality Laval showed during the regular season, it is difficult not to see this as a missed opportunity. The Rocket had strong goaltending at times, solid veteran leadership, and one of the better young groups in the American Hockey League (AHL). Players like Beck, Xhekaj, Engstrom, and others all contributed throughout the season. The team often found ways to win games despite injuries and roster changes.

But in the playoffs, consistency became an issue. The Marlies capitalized on mistakes, controlled momentum at key moments, and simply looked more composed during important stretches of the series. Laval showed flashes of being the better team but could never fully take control. For a team that finished first in the division, expectations were much higher than a second-round exit.

A Season of Chaos

At the same time, context matters when evaluating Laval’s season. The Rocket dealt with constant roster movement throughout the season. Players were regularly called up to Montreal, sent back down, recalled again, and moved around depending on injuries with the Canadiens.

Jacob Fowler’s situation alone perfectly summarized the chaos. The young goalie was called up, sent back to Laval, and then recalled again as Montreal managed injuries and playoff positioning. For a young team trying to build chemistry and stability, those changes are not always easy to manage.

Laval also lost important players at different moments during the season because of Montreal’s needs. While that is part of being an AHL affiliate, it still creates challenges, especially entering the playoffs when consistency becomes critical. Despite all of that, the Rockets still finished first in their division, which says a lot about the depth of the organization and the work done by the coaching staff.

The playoff ending may feel disappointing today, but the bigger picture remains positive for the Canadiens. The organization continues to develop young players capable of contributing both in Laval and eventually in Montreal. Now, four of those players will get another opportunity to learn directly from the Canadiens during the most important hockey of the year.