Patrick WilliamsTheAHL.com Features Writer
Thirty years after starting his coaching career, Pascal Vincent comes home.
The Montreal Canadiens named Vincent as the new head coach of their AHL team, the Laval Rocket, last week. His latest challenge is something new and familiar.
“I grew up 10 minutes from Place Bell,” Vincent said. “I played my junior hockey in Laval. It's been a long time since I left home. To return to Montreal, to return to Laval, is a privilege.”
Vincent's return to Laval is a return to the American Hockey League, where he spent five seasons as the head coach of the Manitoba Moose from 2016 to 2021. He won the Louis AR Pieri Memorial Award as the AHL's top coach in 2017-18.
The 52-year-old Vincent is coming off his first NHL head coaching job. He led the Columbus Blue Jackets in 2023-24 after two seasons as the team's associate coach. He also has five seasons of experience as an NHL assistant with the Winnipeg Jets in addition to 17 years of experience coaching minor and U-18 hockey in Quebec.
The process of bringing Vincent to the Montreal organization moved quickly following the June 21 departure JF Hole, who left to become the new men's hockey coach at his alma mater, Clarkson University, after three seasons as the Rockets' head coach. Vincent met with a group that included the Canadiens' senior vice president of hockey Jeff GortonGeneral manager Kent Hughesassistant GM John Sedgwicka great coach Martin St. Louisand special counsel Vincent Lecavalieramong others.
Vincent was impressed with the organization's clarity in terms of its development philosophy.
“The clarity of their vision and what they want to do, it was clear what the job is,” said Vincent. “I really like their idea. I felt like, 'Okay, those guys have a plan.' They know how to achieve what they want to achieve, or they know the steps that need to be taken. That really impressed me.”
He knew better than St. Louis. Vincent emphasized that the Rockets will stick to the Canadiens' plans as much as possible. In recent years, Montreal has amassed a promising group of new prospects. The protector Logan Maillouxmember of the 2023-24 AHL All-Rookie Team, and forward Joshua Roy had excellent first seasons and could be put in a position to find full-time NHL roles. If not, their development in Laval will be important. The progressive youth of the organization also includes Adam Engstrom again David Reinbacher. Forward, Owen Beck, Sean Farrell, Emil Heineman, Oliver Kapanen, Riley Kidney, Filip Mesar again Florian Xhekaj they represent the youth of this organization that may have a Rocket.
Preparing those players to eventually contribute to the Canadiens will be Vincent's goal, and is an important part of the rebuilding project.
“I know what it takes to be in the AHL,” Vincent said. “I will sit down and listen to their vision and plans, and we will try to achieve it.”
Vincent has been on both sides of the NHL and AHL head coaching relationship. In Manitoba, he worked with the Jets Paul Maurice, a relationship that has created collaboration up and down both coaching staffs so that player needs are met regardless of position. This past season brought the opportunity to work with the coach of the Cleveland Monsters Trent Vogelhuberand Vincent studied the relationship from an NHL perspective.
“I think it's great,” said Vincent. “At the end of the day, the goal is how can we create an environment where the players will benefit. I think the relationship between these two teams, I see it as a great team of coaches, the Montreal Canadiens and the Laval Rocket. To make sure we are on the same page. Shushane. Obviously ask questions. But at the end of the day, they make the decisions, and our job is to make a plan, and I'm on board 100 percent.”
Vincent grew up as an avid Habs fan and favorite player, Guy Lafleur. He has been a guest coach at both Laval's Place Bell and Montreal's Bell Center, and the home of the Rockets has impressed.
“The crowd, I felt like I was at the Bell Center,” Vincent said.
As he returns home, Vincent is excited to be a part of the legendary Canadiens organization.
“If you come from the province of Quebec, you have bleu-blanc-rouge in your blood,” said Vincent. “I'm very happy to be part of the family now.”
TheAHL.com features writer Patrick Williams has covered the American Hockey League for nearly two decades at outlets including NHL.com, Sportsnet, TSN, Hockey News, SiriusXM NHL Network Radio and SLAM ! Sports, and most recently was the host of The Hockey News On The 'A' podcast. He was the recipient of the AHL's James H. Ellery Memorial Award for the league's top scorer in 2016.
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