HabsWorld.net --
The Habs have decided to get Cole Caufield out of the spotlight for a little bit as they announced on Monday that they’ve sent the rookie to Laval. Taking his place on the roster is Michael Pezzetta who was recalled from the Rocket.
Caufield’s first professional season hasn’t gone as well as anyone would have hoped as he has been limited to just a single assist in 10 games this season and has been dropped from the top line to the third line in the process. He played just 11:06 on Sunday in Anaheim, his lowest ice time of the season and second lowest of his career.
The hope is that a stint with the Rocket against lower competition will give him some momentum and confidence as he works to rediscover his scoring touch.
As for Pezzetta, he has been one of the more pleasant surprises for Laval this season, notching three goals and three assists in eight games. For context, he had just two tallies in each of the last two seasons. He won’t provide the offensive upside that Caufield does but as an energy player, he’ll give the fourth line a different dimension. That said, he has a penchant for ill-timed unnecessary penalties and with Montreal’s penalty kill struggling mightily at the moment, that’s one area he will need to be careful in if he wants to get into the lineup.
The Habs also placed Mathieu Perreault on injured reserve, freeing up another roster spot. At first glance, it seemed like a spot that could be earmarked for Joel Edmundson if he’s able to return but he wasn’t at practice today while Mattias Norlinder was. It also may depend on Cedric Paquette’s status. Paquette has a hearing with the Department of Player Safety today and if he’s suspended, another forward may need to be added to the roster especially with Brendan Gallagher banged up as well having missed Sunday’s loss to the Ducks.
