The Canadiens announced Friday morning that they have sent defenceman Jayden Struble down to the AHL’s Laval Rocket on a conditioning assignment.
The 23-year-old Struble has 2-3-5 totals in 26 games this season to go along with a minus-7 rating. He has been a healthy scratch for the last seven games and for 15 of the last 19 games. He hasn’t played since Jan. 10 when he had 5:09 of ice time in a 3-2 overtime win over the Washington Capitals. Struble took two penalties — one for hooking and one for tripping — in that game.
Struble played 56 games with the Canadiens last season, posting 3-7-10 totals and a minus-3. He also played 13 games for the Rocket with 1-6-7 totals and a plus-5. The Canadiens selected Struble in the second round (46th overall) of the 2019 NHL Draft.
The Rocket are on the road this weekend with games Friday in Hartford against the Wolf Pack and Sunday in Providence against the Bruins.
Heading into Friday’s game the Rocket were in first place in the Atlantic Division with a 24-11-3 record.
The Canadiens had the day off Friday with no practice after losing 4-2 to the Red Wings Thursday night in Detroit. They will play the New Jersey Devils Saturday at the Bell Centre (7 p.m., Citytv, SNE, TVA Sports).