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The pre-season is a clumsy time for followers.
The video games do not imply a lot on the floor, and it simply will get you wishing that the common season may come sooner.
Nonetheless, for gamers on the bubble of being an NHL participant, it may be an especially tantalizing time.
We see established NHL vets fall out of favour for younger, up-and-comers and generally even, grizzled AHL veterans.
Despite the fact that the QMJHL’s expertise pool has thinned over the previous couple of years, producing much less NHL draft expertise, there’s nonetheless greater than a handful of men who may make the soar to the NHL full time for the 2024-25 season.
Under is a handful of gamers who simply may.
RW Raphael Lavoie (Edmonton Oilers)
© Perry Nelson-Imagn Pictures
This seems like a ‘make it or break it’ yr for former Mooseheads and Saguenéens star Raphael Lavoie.
The previous 2019 second rounder has improved each season, however has but to really break in to the NHL.
Final season, he registered his first 50-point (28+22) AHL season, and even sniffed 7 NHL video games the place he went point-less.
The hope is that the quite a few depth departures may imply a spot may open up for Lavoie, though it will not be a free-ride.
So far, The Hockey News has Lavoie listed as an NHL extra.
Related: Oilers Trade Former QMJHL Forward Xavier Bourgault to Senators
G Olivier Rodrigue (Edmonton Oilers)
There is a notion in hockey that goalies are likely to take longer to develop, and that feels just like the case for Rodrigue.
A former second rounder in 2018, ‘O-Rod’ solely emerged in 2022-23 after amassing a .912 save proportion over 29 video games within the AHL’s Bakersfield Condors. His stats would soar this yr to a .916 save proportion over 37 video games.
The 24-year previous netminder would want to bypass Calvin Pickard, who emerged because the Oilers backup goaltender final season after Jack Campbell‘s play declined sharply.
Earlier than final season, Pickard hasn’t been an NHL common because the 2016-17 season, and contemplating that the Oilers did not signal a critical potential NHL rotation-level goaltender, it simply reveals that they’ve belief in what they’ve now.
Whether or not that’s Calvin Pickard, or Olivier Rodrigue.
It’s of notice that ought to the previous star netminder of the Voltigeurs and Wildcats not make the Oilers, he might be waiver eligible for the primary time in his profession. So even when the Oilers do not find yourself making him an NHL goaltender, one other crew may.
Related: Alumni: Oilers Goalie Prospect at the NHLPA Rookie Showcase
RW Jordan Dumais (Columbus)
Jordan Dumais is perhaps the one participant who performed solely within the QMJHL final season, who may probably make the soar on to the NHL.
Though there are some things that might maintain the Halifax Mooseheads’ all-time nice again.
Firstly, is his measurement as he stands at simply 5-foot-7. It is attainable that the Blue Jackets may need to guarantee he can deal with the AHL earlier than even testing if he can deal with the NHL common season.
Secondly, he was restricted to only 21 video games final season on account of a decrease belly harm. Nonetheless, he did rating 47 factors within the 21 video games, together with 16 objectives and 31 assists.
For those who stretched his totals out for a whole 68 sport season, he would have registered 152 factors, and his pro-rated 100 assists alone would have landed him second within the league in scoring — simply behind Antonin Verrault’s 107 factors.
Even with all of the asterisks weighing in opposition to him, it isn’t typically {that a} 150 level main junior participant — pro-rated or in any other case — would not find yourself getting not less than a shot on the NHL the next season.
The Hockey News has him listed outside the NHL, as of right now.
Related: Only Six Former QMJHL Players in The Athletic’s Top 100 Prospect List
D Samuel Bolduc (New York Islanders)
© Dennis Schneidler-Imagn Pictures
If it weren’t for the shock re-emergence of Mike Reilly, former Armada defender Samuel Bolduc could be an NHL common.
The 6-foot-4, 24-year previous blueliner amassed 34 video games final season with the Islanders, the place he notched 5 factors (2+3).
Now, Bolduc coult nonetheless be on the skin wanting in, with Alexander Romanov, Adam Pelech and the aforementioned Reilly clogging up the left level.
Though, a giant pre-season could swing issues in his favour. Particularly if he can carry a few of the offensive contact from his play within the AHL to the NHL as in 2022-23 Bolduc was coming off of a 35 level (10+25) AHL season with the Child Isles.
Related: Alumni: Flames Re-Sign Defensive Prospect
D Daniil Miromanov (Calgary Flames)
© Sergei Belski-Imagn Pictures
It is not typically {that a} participant may lastly break into the NHL full time at 27, however defenseman/winger Daniil Miromanov shouldn’t be a standard participant.
He is been all over, from Acadie-Bathurst and Moncton, to Czechia, the ECHL and the KHL.
After getting a contract with the Vegas Golden Knights, he was a dynamic offensive participant for the AHL’s Henderson Silver Knights.
Due to the power of the Golden Knights’ d-corps and an premature knee harm on the tail finish of the 2022-23 season, Miromanov would by no means actually get a lot of a chance.
Miromanov would pack his luggage to Calgary as the only real participant going again to the Flames within the Noah Hanifin commerce, who they instantly signed to a two-year NHL deal at $1.25 million.
“By all these years, I knew what I can do and I do know my potential, and I used to be simply by no means in a position to showcase that,” Miromanov stated to the Calgary Herald final season.
In his 20 sport stint with the Flames to finish the season, notching seven factors (3+4).
“I’m simply going to go off, principally.”
Going into this season, he’s currently slotted as the second pair right defenseman.
Related: Alumni: Veterans Who Will Look To Repeat or Improve on Strong Years
LW Jakob Pelletier (Calgary Flames)
© Sergei Belski-Imagn Pictures
Talking of the Flames, how about Jakob Pelletier?
The final couple of seasons, the timing simply hasn’t felt proper for the Calgary Flames’ 2019 1st rounder. He was by no means fairly in a position to stick within the NHL up to now, having performed in 37 video games, throughout two seasons, with 13 of them coming final season.
Though with the Flames seemingly rebuilding, it has opened up plenty of slots, together with probably one for the previous Wildcats and Foreurs star.
That stated, this all relies on the state of Pelletier’s contract negotiations as he is nonetheless a restricted free agent and each side are usually not shut, in response to a current report.
Small-ish information in gentle of this week, however some #Flames housekeeping:
it would not sound like a cope with restricted free agent Jakob Pelletier is shut in the mean time. Something can change with a telephone name and the perimeters stay in touch, however as of proper now, issues are quiet.
— Salim Nadim Valji (@salimvalji) September 5, 2024
If Pelletier misses camp, and even a part of the beginning of the season, a participant could take his place within the lineup.
Pelletier is currently projected as the Flames fourth line left winger.
Related: Former QMJHL Prospect Still Remains Unsigned as RFA with Flames
Related: The CHL Announces New Streaming Packages for 2024-25 Season
Related: THN: Desnoyers, Huang Highlighted as Top North American Prospects to Watch
Related: All Three Cape Breton Eagles Players Released From Hospital After Crash
Across the CHL
OHL preseason roster breakdown: Ottawa 67’s
Vancouver Giants Tyler Thorpe Ready To Become Next Draft Day Steal For The Montréal Canadiens
Round THN.com
Former Ottawa Senators Winger Alex Formenton Reportedly “Moves on From Hockey Career”
What Chris Tanev and Oliver Ekman-Larsson Will Bring to the Maple Leafs’ Blueline
Laine’s Arrival in Montreal Has Fans Stoked to See His Fit in Habs’ Big Picture
