It isn’t easy making the transition from Junior hockey to the professional level, even for a coach. It most certainly isn’t when your veteran-laden roster suffers a rash of injuries and call-ups before you can even get your feet wet.
That was the reality of what Joël Bouchard faced this year in the AHL with the Laval Rocket. He originally had a roster with a multitude of established players, mixed with some brand new rookie prospects, and it seemed like the perfect mix to get the Montreal Canadiens’ AHL club back on its feet.
Before long, Bouchard was without Michael Chaput, Brett Kulak, Kenny Agostino, Michael McCarron, Hunter Shinkaruk, and Charlie Lindgren for various reasons.