The Montreal Canadiens have signed forward Tyler Thorpe to a three-year entry-level contract, the team announced on Tuesday. The NHL contract will start next season (2025-26), while Thorpe has also signed an AHL professional tryout contract with the Laval Rocket for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign.
Thorpe was selected by the Canadiens in the fifth round (130th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft. In his draft plus-one season, the 6-foot-5, 210 lb right winger recorded 52 points in 68 games with the Vancouver Giants of the WHL. He further added a goal and two assists in five playoff matches as the Giants were defeated by the Spokane Chiefs. Thorpe ends his WHL career with 102 points in 167 games.
Thorpe’s signing echoes that of Florian Xhekaj in 2024, who also joined the Laval Rocket as a 19-year-old on an ATO after the conclusion of his CHL season. The younger Xhekaj suited up for three regular season games with Laval, who did not make the playoffs that season.
Thorpe joins the Rocket with five games left in the regular season, having just finished a western road-trip. He will have a few days to acclimatize to his new team, as the Rocket are off until Friday, when they will face the Rochester Americans. Thorpe is also eligible to play for the Rocket in the AHL postseason.
The Laval Rocket also announced the signing of forward Joseph Dunlap to a one-way AHL contract for the 2025-26 season. The 6’0″ 185 lb 25-year-old native of Windham, NH, is coming off a 22 point season in 39 games with Ohio State University, and will join the Rocket on a PTO for the remainder of the 2024-25 campaign.
