QUEBEC CITY – After being an inspiring story with the Montreal Canadiens, especially last season, Alex Belzile is continuing his journey with the New York Rangers where he intends to prove his point.
Belzile finds himself with the Rangers having accepted a contract for two seasons, the second of which will be one-sided. Despite this news, the 31-year-old Quebecer was discreet during the summer season. Present at the Gagné-Bergeron Pro-Am on Thursday evening, the right-hander preferred to talk about this evening.
“It will be a great challenge, that’s for sure, but we’re more here to talk about the cause,” he said.
However, we couldn’t help but mention the fact that he will now be playing games in the legendary Madison Square Garden amphitheater. Unusual when his career was punctuated with stops in the ECHL (including Duluth in Georgia and Anchorage in Alaska).
“It’s fun, every year I progress in my little career. To have a team that will give me an opportunity – not that I didn’t have one in Montreal, on the contrary, I’m very grateful for this first chance on a regular basis – it’s good that clubs elsewhere give me a chance to continue this, ”said Belzile who convinced this organization to bet on him.
“Every year I improve in my game, age is just a number. I am not worried that I will improve further,” he added.
In 2022-2023, Belzile will have been able to play 31 games in a Canadiens uniform, fulfilling his mandates very well and collecting 14 points (six goals and eight assists) along the way.
Belzile came to meet the journalists in the company of Rafaël Harvey-Pinard. For three years, Belzile has been a great ally for Harvey-Pinard who had a promising outbreak last season.
“Raf arrived (at the Laval Rocket) in the COVID year and few young people play with maturity on the ice. He was open to criticism and aiming to improve, that’s a big quality, so he was able to add a bit to his game,” Belzile said.
It was then the turn of the youngest to praise the veteran.
“I’m happy for him, it’s a great opportunity. At the same time, I would have liked him to stay with the Canadiens. I’ve said it before, he’s an incredible leader. I learned a lot playing with him for three years,” RHP recalled.
“I think of so many things off the ice. On the ice, he gave me advice that I couldn’t describe, it’s so precise. Alex is passionate about the little details and it showed in my game. We practiced that in training, ”described the 24-year-old left-hander.
Lafrenière aims for better offensive production
If Belzile had the opportunity to climb the ranks in the familiar context of Quebec within the organization of the Canadiens, he will have to adapt to the reality of the Rangers. The presence of Alexis Lafrenière will facilitate this transfer.
Together, Lafrenière and Belzile will discover the approach of the new head coach, Peter Laviolette.
From the start, Laviolette made it clear that he wanted to give Lafrenière more minutes so that he and the other talented young prospects could reach the next level in their development.
“There have been a lot of changes, it will still be adaptation and I will try to start on a good footing with a new coach. We will get to know him,” commented Lafrenière, who was happy to hear this portion of Laviolette’s speech.
In preparation for his fourth season in the NHL, Lafrenière does not need to think twice to identify his main objective.
“I want to take another step offensively. My game has improved in both directions, but I want to have more offensive production,” said the author of 39 points (16 goals and 23 assists) in 81 games in 2022-2023.
“(This summer) I’m working on my skate, my throw and all the important stuff to get more punch in my game,” he explained.
For Lafrenière, as a left winger, the challenge remains to get ahead of Artemi Panarin (a right-hander) and Chris Kreider who play this role on the first and second line.
In attack, the Rangers will have to integrate Blake Wheeler into their group. Lafrenière’s answer was interesting on this.
“He’s one of the best passers in the NHL, it’s fun to play with a guy like him, he’s got a lot of talent. Especially a right-hander on the right wing, that will help us a lot, ”explained Lafrenière when it seems to be lacking in Rangers, especially since Panarin plays on the left.
On another subject, Lafrenière commented on the transaction sending his great friend, Nathan Légaré, from the Pittsburgh Penguins organization to that of CH.
“He was happy, that’s good, it will be a new start for him. He’s a gamer, he’ll be there in the big games. It’s a good addition for the Rocket and the Canadiens,” he noted.
2023-08-13 11:00:00
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