Rookie Trudeau has blossomed into Laval Rocket's most efficient defenceman

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When he arrived at coaching camp final fall, William Trudeau wasn’t sure whether or not he’d stay with the Laval Rocket or return to Charlottetown, as an overage 20-year-old junior.

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And though he remained with the Rocket, between being a wholesome scratch in two of the opening six video games mixed with an early-season harm that sidelined him for 9 video games, Trudeau didn’t produce his first skilled objective till late December.

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So how is all of it these months later the 6-foot, 197-pound defenceman now performs on the highest pairing with Corey Schueneman and led all Rocket blue-liners, with seven objectives and 27 factors in 60 video games?

“I had a reasonably robust camp with the Canadiens,” Trudeau mentioned previous to Wednesday evening’s best-of-three North Division playoff opener towards the Utica Comets at Place Bell. “After I obtained right here, I simply saved doing what I used to be doing. All through the season I believe my confidence, I at all times felt I used to be getting higher and higher. The coach had confidence in me they usually gave me plenty of ice time after we had accidents on the again finish. It labored out fairly good.”

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Certainly.

If little was recognized about Trudeau, the Canadiens’ fourth-round (113th total) draft selection in 2021, the Rocket’s best-kept secret this season now not can stay within the shadows. Trudeau has developed right into a sound, two-way defenceman who has impressed head coach Jean-François Houle along with his mobility and powerful positional play.

Trudeau, a Varennes native, spent final summer time coaching in Brossard on the Canadiens’ observe facility below Adam Nicholas, the workforce’s director of hockey growth, engaged on his explosiveness, amongst different issues, together with Rocket teammates Anthony Richard and Xavier Simoneau.

It was Richard who really helpful Trudeau obtain power-play time following the recall to Montreal of Justin Barron. And now, regardless of the group’s depth alongside the left aspect of its blue line, Trudeau has emerged as a prospect who have to be thought of in that blend of potential NHL gamers.

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Houle has known as him Laval’s most-improved participant.

“He has taken some big steps,” the coach mentioned. “He has discovered the sport, discovered to be a professional, discovered to play many video games in lots of nights. I believe he’s taking good care of his physique … is available in early, works out and eats correctly. There’s plenty of issues that go into changing into an expert, and he’s embraced it. It made him a greater participant and, most likely, a greater individual for it.

“He can eat minutes for a younger man. He will get on the market and is put in plenty of totally different conditions. I like his stamina. There’s room to enhance much more. That’s good to see in a younger participant. There’s an enormous hole between the place he’s now and the place you suppose he could be.”

Trudeau, who’s not afraid to leap into the offensive combine when he sees a gap, scored three power-play and two game-winning objectives this season whereas having a plus/minus ranking of plus-8. He has displayed a artistic aspect whereas not being nervous with the puck.

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“I had a reasonably strong 12 months,” he mentioned.

Laval enters this sequence among the many AHL’s hottest groups. The Rocket needed to win eight of its last 9 video games to qualify because the fifth and last playoff workforce within the division, ending with a 33-29-10 file, whereas the Comets (35-27-10) have been fourth. The groups met six instances this season, with Laval dropping solely as soon as, though two of the victories got here in extra time. Three of the six video games have been determined by one objective.

Houle known as the Comets a well-balanced, bodily and harmful membership with loads of expert gamers.

“I believe it’s good for us that we had a great end,” Houle mentioned. “You deliver some momentum into the playoffs. It’s a brand new season, however we’ve momentum and consider in ourselves. Hopefully we will comply with via with that momentum to get some wins.”

The second recreation goes Friday evening in Utica the place the third recreation, if needed, will likely be performed on Saturday.

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