Corey Schueneman, Mattias Norlinder, Justin Barron and Jordan Harris all made their NHL debuts this season with the Canadiens. Schueneman and Norlinder are playing for the Rocket in their AHL North Division semifinal playoff series against the Syracuse Crunch.
“I think it bodes well for the future looking at those young guys,” Houle said after the Rocket practised Wednesday at Place Bell. “And then you’ve got guys like (Kaiden) Guhle coming in and (Arber) Xhekaj as well that’s a pro signee.”
The Canadiens selected Guhle in the first round of the 2020 NHL Draft and signed Xhekaj as a free agent in October.
Guhle is playing in the WHL playoffs with the Edmonton Oil Kings, who swept their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Red Deer Rebels. In eight playoff games, Guhle has 3-6-9 totals. Xhekaj is playing in the OHL playoffs with the Hamilton Bulldogs, who have a 3-0 lead in their Eastern Conference semifinal series against the Mississauga Steelheads. In six playoff games, Xhekaj has 2-2-4 totals.
