Adam Engstrom Reassigned After Canadiens Win Game 7, Florian Xhekaj Returns
florian xhekaj was the roster move Montreal made after its game seven win over the Tampa Bay Lightning, as the Canadiens reassigned Adam Engström to the Laval Rocket. The switch sends one of Laval’s top defensemen back to a playoff team that was one loss from elimination.
Engström Back To Laval
Engström, 22, had split his season between Montreal and Laval. He scored 10 goals and 34 points in 45 games, and he also appeared in 15 NHL games for the Canadiens.
The move came after Montreal won game seven of its first-round series. That sent the Canadiens into the second round against the Buffalo Sabres and opened the door for a roster change that pushed Engström back down the lineup ladder.
Dobson Returns, Xhekaj Sits
Noah Dobson returned from a hand injury for game seven, and Arber Xhekaj came out of the lineup to make room for him. Montreal’s defensive picture changed at the same time Engström was sent back to Laval, tightening the path for minutes on the NHL side.
Engström had been Laval’s No. 1 defenseman when he was in the AHL, and he was one of the Rocket’s top players during his time there this season. Scott Wheeler ranked him as the sixth-best prospect in the Canadiens’ system, and the 2022 third-round pick carried that reputation into the move back to Laval.
Laval Faces Elimination
The timing mattered for Laval. The Rocket had won their first playoff game against the Toronto Marlies last week, then dropped their next two while allowing 12 goals over those two games. They would have been eliminated with a loss in their next game.
That leaves Laval with Engström back on the blue line as the series pressure rises. For Montreal, the move fits a playoff roster that had to clear space for Dobson; for Laval, it restores a defenseman who had produced 10 goals and 34 points before returning to a team in a high-stakes spot.
