Thursday afternoon was a busy one for the Habs. They announced that Martin Reway will miss training camp due to a virus, they’ve hired Sean Burke as a pro scout, and they unveiled the name for the Laval AHL franchise.
Reway has been hospitalized with a virus in his native Slovakia, one significant enough that the team has already ruled him out of both rookie and training camp. The team didn’t provide any further information short of adding that Dr. Mulder is in contact with Reway’s doctors in Slovakia. Reway is beginning the first year of his entry-level deal this season.
Burke will be a Western scout but given his prior background, it’s likely that the team will rely on him for input in other areas. He spent six years with the Coyotes previously, working as a goalie coach, their Director of Player Development, and Assistant General Manager. He also has spent time as part of the management group for Hockey Canada’s men’s Program of Excellence.
An opening in the pro scouting ranks opened up earlier this offseason when Vaughn Karpan left to become the Director of Player Personnel for the expansion Las Vegas franchise.
As for Laval, their AHL team beginning play in 2017-18 will be called the Rocket. In the final fan vote, it received 51% of the votes, followed by Rapides with 25% and Patriots at 24%. The Habs will once again have their farm team in St. John’s this season, year two of their two year agreement after being forced to leave Hamilton to make room for their OHL franchise.