Laval Rocket sign Jared Davidson to one-year AHL contract

The Laval Rocket have signed forward Jared Davidson to a one-year AHL contract for the 2023-24 season.

Davidson was drafted by the Montreal Canadiens in the fifth round (130th overall) of the 2022 NHL Draft. His NHL rights are with the Canadiens until June of 2024 but the 20-year-old has already played his overage season in the WHL and will start his professional career.

This is a similar path to Rafaël Harvey-Pinard and Xavier Simoneau, who both signed AHL contracts for one season before signing their NHL entry-level contracts before the draft rights expired.

Davidson has been one of the leaders of the Seattle Thunderbirds, one of the best teams in the WHL. He was undrafted by the WHL and in the NHL twice before hearing his name called in the NHL Draft last year. He had 80 goals and 91 assists over 124 regular season games the last two seasons and 24 goals and 28 assists in 44 playoff games.

Davidson’s signing was in a flurry of moves for the Rocket. They also signed forward Jakov Novak, defenceman Tobie Paquette-Bisson and goaltender Strauss Mann.