Patrick WilliamsTheAHL.com Features Writer
Samuel Bryce Ice time is needed.
He has done a lot of work on the Laval Rocket.
“It feels good to play a lot of minutes here,” the left wing said after the Rockets' first weekend, “so I feel good.”
Bryce's chance with the Montreal Canadiens hasn't come yet. At least not yet. The Toronto Maple Leafs released him from waivers on October 6 after signing with Montreal as a free agent and attending training camp with the team.
Maple Leafs opportunity reunites him with head coach Craig BerubeHe coached Bryce in St. Louis when the Blues won the Stanley Cup in 2018-19. He made his Columbus debut in Toronto on October 29 and played a season-high 10:55. However, his ice time slowly declined, reaching a low of 4:19 on November 13th. Bryce has 265 NHL games on his books, with one goal and two assists in eight games with the Maple Leafs, but he spent all of last season in Abbotsford, and the Leafs — trying to address a slow start to the season — didn't necessarily have enough time to give Bryce more time to ease him back into an NHL rhythm.
“I think the games I’ve been in, I’ve had some really good games,” Bryce said of his brief time in Toronto. “But they have a lot of players, good players. I thought when I got in the lineup, I did a good job.”
Bryce was taken off waivers by Montreal last week and assigned to Laval. For the Montmagny, Que., product, this is the place closest to home for him. Of course, the Canadiens blocked him from joining the North Division rival Toronto Marlies.
head coach Pascal Vincent Let Bryce get to work, playing with the captain on the left side of the line Lucas Condotta and Xavier Simoneauforming a line, can cause considerable problems for the opponent. All three played gritty, exciting styles.
Bryce made his Lehigh Valley debut on Saturday night, scoring a goal in the first period and then scoring again with 33.6 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime. He won 5-4 with the only goal in the penalty shootout.
One night in Hershey, Bryce had two assists in a 4-3 Laval win. Bryce's assist in a 4-1 win over Providence in his home debut at Bell Plaza on Tuesday was his fifth point in three games.
AHL fans are familiar with Bryce. Last year, he played in the Calder Cup for Abbotsford, scoring 19 points in 23 games while consistently hitting the ball, anticipating and wearing down opposing defenses. Eight days after the Skate Cup at Bojangles Arena, Bryce signed a new one-year contract with Montreal.
“They (the Canadiens) have a young team, a really good team, and when you get the opportunity to sign with your hometown team, I think it's an easy decision,” Bryce said. “I'm glad I did it.”
The consistency Bryce showed last spring is something the Canadiens would like to see.
“When they won the Cup in St. Louis,” Vincent said, “he was really good in the series. Last year as well. Physical guy. I think he has his own identity. He's got great hands, but at the same time he can be physical. I think he can bring some things that are hard to find.”
“We need to see consistency in those areas. One-on-one battles. Shooting. Breaking plays. Solid defense. What he's good at is he can shoot, he can be good in front of the net, and he can be physical. If he does that well and is consistent, I think he gives himself a good chance.”
After winning the McGregor Kilpatrick Trophy in 2024-25, the Rockets are once again among the AHL's top clubs, leading the North Division with a 15-6-0-0 record. Bryce makes them better. Maybe this means LaVar takes the next step toward a championship. Or maybe it would provide another opportunity to join the Canadiens. Regardless, Bryce is in a good spot.
“I'm glad I played a lot of hockey,” Bryce said, “and got my confidence back.”
About two decades in the American Hockey League, TheAHL.com feature writer Patrick Williams also currently covers the league for NHL.com and FloSports and is a regular contributor to SiriusXM NHL Network Radio. In 2016, he received the AHL's James H. Ellery Memorial Award for outstanding coverage of the league.
