:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/65363381/McNiven_4.0.png)
The Laval Rocket had a very deep roster, and some of that logjam has been alleviated as the team announced it has sent five players to the ECHL.
Laval Rocket today announced that forwards Morgan Adams-Moisan (Maine), Hayden Verbeek (Adirondack) and Antoine Waked (Adirondack), as well as goaltenders Connor LaCouvee (Maine) and Michael McNiven (Adirondack) have been re-assigned to the ECHL.
— Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) October 1, 2019
Morgan Adams-Moisan and Connor LaCouvee are on AHL contracts, and it is not surprising to see them as the first players to be sent down. They went to the Maine Mariners, the affiliate of the New York Rangers.
Antoine Waked, Hayden Verbeek, and Michael McNiven are under NHL entry-level contracts and were all sent to the Adirondack Thunder, the ECHL affiliate of the New Jersey Devils.
The biggest surprise was McNiven who was third in the Rocket goaltending order behind Charlie Lindgren and Cayden Primeau. This will allow McNiven to get playing time rather than struggling for playing time.
The team chose not to send down a defenceman at this time, likely because there are seven healthy defencemen in Laval including Ryan Culkin.
The Rocket open their season on Friday at Place Bell against the Cleveland Monsters.