The Montreal Canadiens have decided in the past few days to move a pair of young NHL players to the Laval Rocket. Jesperi Kotkaniemi and Cale Fleury found themselves being healthy scratched at times. They 19 year old centre and 20 year old defenseman were both then demoted to the American Hockey League.
It makes sense to have a young player play a big role in the AHL rather than sit in the press box and watch veteran players suit up in the NHL. Kotkaniemi hadn’t played an AHL game in his career before this weekend and Fleury had avoided the minors all season.