Rocket Weekly: A Split to Start
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Following a summer that featured plenty of turnover both on and off the ice, Laval got their 2021-22 season underway last week as they split a home-and-home series with Belleville.
Following a summer that featured plenty of turnover both on and off the ice, Laval got their 2021-22 season underway last week as they split a home-and-home series with Belleville.
With Mike Hoffman expected to make his Canadiens debut on Tuesday, the Habs needed to create a roster spot for him. That was done on Monday as they placed Alex Belzile on waivers.
The first week of the season for the Habs was not one to remember as their offence was basically non-existent in all three games, resulting in three straight regulation losses to kick off the 2021-22 campaign.
The Habs weren’t able to muster up much offensively in their home opener on Saturday night. While they were able to even it up in the third, that tie was short-lived as they ultimately fell 3-1 to the Rangers.
Laval’s fifth season is set to get underway on Friday night as they return to the North Division and a normal travel schedule after winning a pandemic-formed Canadian Division last season. That’s just one of many changes heading into the 2021-22 season.
The Habs wasted little time getting Nick Suzuki locked up. Instead of waiting until next summer to work out a deal, they got one done earlier this week by signing him to an eight-year, $63 million deal. Our writers break down the signing.
Over the first two games of the season, the Habs have failed to pay the price to win puck battles. The results are therefore not surprising as they lost their second consecutive game on Thursday, this time by a 5-1 score against a team expected to float at the bottom of the league standings, the Buffalo Sabres.
After a very short summer, the Habs officially kicked off their 2021-22 season with a stop in Toronto on Wednesday. They started strong but couldn’t get much going offensively – particularly on the power play – as they fell 2-1.
After a wild 2020-21 season and an offseason that had many twists and turns, the 2021-22 season is upon us. Will the Habs make it back to the playoffs? Our writers make their predictions.
Topics in the latest HW Podcast include Nick Suzuki’s contract extension, Carey Price entering the Player Assistance program for an unknown amount of time, the Jesperi Kotkaniemi offer sheet saga, and much more.