With the conclusion of the 2024 Rookie Faceoff, the Utah Hockey Membership debuted its blue, white and black color-schemed jerseys. In three video games, the staff posted a 1-2 file taking part in in opposition to the San Jose Sharks (3-2 loss), Los Angeles Kings (4-3 extra time win), and the Vegas Golden Knights (3-2 loss). After Utah introduced its Rookie Camp roster in early September, the franchise showcased its deep prospect pool. A type of prospects who participated within the Rookie Faceoff was defenseman Maveric Lamoureux.
Who’s Maveric Lamoureux?
The 6-foot-7, 214-pounder is the whole lot an NHL normal supervisor may ask for: His prolonged stature provides him an extended attain and a bodily benefit over his opponents. Lamoureux additionally gives within the offensive zone, tallying 33 factors in 39 video games for the Drummondville Voltigeurs of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL) final season.
Associated: Coyotes’ Maveric Lamoureux Making Waves in QMJHL
The Arizona Coyotes chosen Lamoureux with its final of three first-round choices within the 2022 NHL Entry Draft. The 20-year-old signed his entry-level contract (ELC) on Aug. 17, 2022. He has performed the final two seasons with the Voltigeurs as an alternate captain. The alternate captain for Workforce Canada on the 2024 U20 World Junior Championship recorded three factors in 5 video games.
Efficiency at 2024 Rookie Faceoff
The Canadian was tied for probably the most factors amongst Utah’s skaters in three video games. Lamoureux and ahead Julian Lutz each posted three-point performances within the Rookie Faceoff.
Lamoureux’s lone objective got here within the staff’s loss in opposition to the Golden Knights. He proved his offensive prowess by scoring a power-play objective from the slot, going top-shelf.
Utah’s head coach for the Rookie Faceoff, Steve Potvin (the Tucson Roadrunners’ head coach), commented on Lamoureux’s potential.
“If you see how a lot he can do, I don’t know what his ceiling is,” Potvin stated. “I feel his ceiling is de facto excessive, and I didn’t anticipate any such offensive skill, he’s one of many guys that generated probably the most offense.”
Outlook for Tucson
The best-handed shot’s spectacular displaying put followers and administration on discover. Whereas Utah’s defensive core seems to be to be set for its inaugural season, Lamoureux may make the bounce as much as the NHL stage if accidents or poor play have been to happen. For now, probably the most ultimate spot for him is within the American Hockey League (AHL) with Utah’s affiliate; the Tucson Roadrunners.
Defenseman Victor Söderström led the Roadrunners’ protection in scoring with 32 factors final season. Nevertheless, the first-round choose by the Coyotes in 2019 lately signed a two-year deal with Bryäns IF of the Swedish Hockey League (SHL). Due to this fact, Lamoureux is anticipated to fill Söderström’s sneakers as one of the best right-handed shot in Tucson.
Different notable defensemen who may play for the Roadrunners this season are Artem Duda, Maksymilian Szuber, and Vladislav Kolyachonok. Though Kolyachonok recorded 4 factors in 5 video games with Arizona final season, the latest signing of veteran Robert Bortuzzo places strain on him to be the additional defenseman for Utah this season.
If Lamoureux have been to play within the AHL this season, he ought to be on Tucson’s first defensive pairing with both Szuber or Kolyachonok. Each potential companions are left-handed (Lamoureux is right-handed), have NHL expertise from final season, and supply a extra defensive recreation.
Lamoureux was on Utah’s high power-play unit on the Rookie Faceoff and is one of the best candidate to quarterback the Roadrunners’ high power-play unit. He may also be a go-to penalty killer for Povtin’s squad. His lengthy attain and top will assist him field out gamers in entrance of the web and break up go and shot makes an attempt.
Final season, Tucson produced forwards Dylan Guenther (35 factors in 45 video games) and Josh Doan’s (9 factors in 11 video games) stunning campaigns for the Coyotes. May Lamoureux replicate one thing comparable in some unspecified time in the future throughout the 2024-25 season? Solely time will inform because the Utah Hockey Membership endures its first season as an NHL franchise.
