It’s never a good sign when the general manager calls — especially late at night.
Rafael Harvey-Pinard was packing last Thursday night, eagerly anticipating the flight to Southern California the next day and the start of the Canadiens’ three-game road trip, when the call came from Kent Hughes, informing the forward his next stop would be Laval and not Anaheim.
“It was a short discussion,” Harvey-Pinard told The Gazette before he and his Rocket teammates broke for this week’s AHL All-Star Game in Palm Desert, Calif. “I was surprised a little bit. For sure you want to stay up there (NHL), so I was a little bit disappointed. At the same time, I get it. It’s part of the job. I just want to get back there.”
Recalled by the Canadiens on Jan. 25, Harvey-Pinard didn’t dress for that night’s game against New Jersey. He also was a healthy scratch three nights later against Winnipeg before finally dressing last Thursday against Minnesota. But he was limited to 11 shifts and 8:54 of ice time in Montreal’s 4-0 defeat.
Nonetheless, the 26-year-old was on the ice at Place Bell last Friday for the Rocket’s morning skate before meeting Hartford that night and again Saturday afternoon. Harvey-Pinard contributed three assists in total as the Rocket won both games, increasing its North Division-leading record to 28-11-3 heading into Friday night’s match at Toronto.
In 26 games with Laval, Harvey-Pinard has four goals and 14 assists and has been asked to assume more of a defensive role.
“He’s more than welcome to be here,” quipped Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent. “He’s doing everything he possibly can in order to get back to where he was in the past. It took him some time, but he’s getting there. Is he completely there? I’m not sure.
“I don’t think he’s an offensive guy in the NHL,” Vincent added. “He can make plays but he’s more of a defensive energy, reliable, consistent kind of guy. His attitude is perfect. Take a picture of what a good attitude means and I’d put his face next to it. He’s just been amazing.”
Only 5-foot-9 and 181 pounds, Harvey-Pinard had some physical obstacles to overcome, yet made it to the NHL as a seventh-round (201st overall) 2019 Canadiens’ draft choice.
The Jonquière native became a fan and media favourite thanks to his infectious attitude and sunny disposition. And it didn’t hurt his standing that he scored 14 goals and 20 points in 34 games with Montreal during the 2022-23 season. That included a hat trick against Columbus during the Canadiens’ 8-2 victory that March.
Last season, however, was less successful. Separate lower-body injuries limited him to 45 games and his production dropped significantly, with Harvey-Pinard only scoring two goals and 10 points. His future became further clouded last summer when he needed surgery for a fractured leg sustained during a softball match. That meant Harvey-Pinard missed training camp and didn’t have the opportunity to compete for a job.
He was assigned to Laval on Nov. 19 on a long-term injury conditioning loan.
“For sure it’s tough to miss a lot of games the past two years,” he admitted. “I’ve been working hard to return to the point where I was. I’m not sure I’m exactly where I was before those injuries. It takes time when you miss four months of games and training camp. We just need to see progress every day. My goal this season is to feel my game is getting better, day after day.”
Although Harvey-Pinard was a scorer in junior, playing for both Rouyn-Noranda and Chicoutimi, he has had to adjust to more of a defensive role the last two seasons, knowing that’s likely his only ticket for an NHL return.
“I need to find a balance,” he explained. “I like being a good defensive player, but need to find other ways to produce offensively. To be better and create more offensive chances. Find a way to get one or two more chances every game. Little details in the offensive zone that can help.”
Harvey-Pinard’s two-year, US$2.2-million contract expires at the end of this season, when he’s eligible to become a restricted free agent. He’d like to remain in the Canadiens organization and probably brings enough tangibles to the table — even at the minor-league level — to warrant a new deal, since the Rocket is always looking for veteran leadership.
“I see a future here for sure,” he said. “I want to stay as long as possible in the organization. I like the way the organization’s going, the players. It’s fun to be around these guys. I just need to find a way to get back up there. It’s in my hands. I need to work harder to get back to the way I can play.”