Canadiens' Harvey-Pinard says he has confirmed he belongs within the NHL

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Rafaël Harvey-Pinard has stated his days of delivering pizza at his father’s restaurant, his job throughout the early days of COVID-19, are over. Now he says he believes he has performed his final recreation within the AHL for the Laval Rocket.

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The diminutive left-winger displayed the expertise to succeed on the NHL degree with the Canadiens this season, however Harvey-Pinard is aware of nothing will probably be assured at coaching camp in September when many gamers will return from damage and make the competitors harder.

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“Will probably be as much as me to reach prepared and to indicate that I deserve my place, whatever the different gamers,” Harvey-Pinard stated final Saturday, throughout the Rocket’s season-ending availability at Place Bell.

“I admit, with out accidents (in Montreal) I in all probability wouldn’t have had an opportunity. However as soon as there, you must take it, that likelihood,” added the 5-foot-9, 181-pounder from Saguenay.

Recalled by the Canadiens in mid-January, Harvey-Pinard seized the chance, his inventory rising because the season progressed. He scored in his third recreation, towards Toronto, earlier than producing a pair of two-goal efforts inside his first seven video games, towards Detroit and Ottawa.

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The spotlight of his season got here March 25 towards Columbus, when Harvey-Pinard produced the primary hat trick of his NHL profession in an 8-2 drubbing of the Blue Jackets, making him the darling of the Bell Centre spectators and Montreal media, all of whom gave the impression to be pulling for the 24-year-old, a seventh-round (201st total) Canadiens draft selection in 2019.

Harvey-Pinard, a possible restricted free agent this summer season, hopes to signal a one-way NHL contract and stay with the group. With 14 targets and 20 factors in 34 video games, solely Cole Caufield and Nick Suzuki, each with 26 targets, and Josh Anderson (21) scored extra typically for the Canadiens.

“My life modified lots with the eye I acquired,” he stated. “I discovered lots. Simply being with these guys — how they act off the ice, on the bench, on the ice. Speaking to them and the coaches I discovered lots. It was a giant expertise. I do know what I must get higher (at) and have my spot there.

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“I can nonetheless enhance my skating,” Harvey-Pinard added. “The pace of the sport is increased within the NHL. I’ve to work on that to be extra environment friendly across the web.”

With the Canadiens lengthy since eradicated, Harvey-Pinard was returned to the Rocket for the ultimate week of the common season — one closing push to make sure Laval certified for the playoffs. Harvey-Pinard performed three video games over 5 days, all victories, scoring a objective towards Wilkes-Barre/Scranton earlier than including 5 assists towards Toronto. He accomplished his AHL season with 16 targets and 31 factors in 40 video games.

Rocket head coach Jean-François Houle stated he noticed no distinction within the perspective of the participant who left in January upon his April return.

“He’s a really down-to-earth man,” Houle stated. “He’s not going to alter simply because he performed within the NHL.”

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Nonetheless, following his five-point effort towards the Marlies in Laval’s 6-3 victory, Harvey-Pinard failed to supply one other level. Like a lot of his different offensive-minded teammates, he was a non-factor in Utica’s two-game playoff collection sweep of the Rocket, Laval held to at least one objective, scored by defenceman Frédéric Allard.

Harvey-Pinard was held to 4 pictures over the 2 video games and wasn’t alone in his incapacity to get into prime scoring positions towards the disciplined and defensive-minded Comets, the New Jersey Devils’ affiliate. However he denied his dimension labored towards him within the playoffs, when the checking turns into tighter.

“I’m used to taking part in with my dimension,” Harvey-Pinard stated. “I’m used to working with my dimension, too. Perhaps mentally I used to be somewhat bit drained. There have been numerous feelings the final couple of months. However I used to be right here to work and I gave my 100 per cent.”

Houle stated he wasn’t disillusioned with the participant. “Coming down from the NHL, there’s numerous feelings that come into that.”

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