There might be worse places to spend a Monday than Columbus, Ohio.
Laval Rocket defenceman Marc Del Gaizo was recalled by the Canadiens for Monday’s game against the Blue Jackets. It marked the third time this season the 26-year-old was summoned by Montreal. And it marked the sixth game in which he didn’t dress.
By Tuesday, Del Gaizo had been assigned to the Canadiens’ AHL farm team. He was paired with Adam Engstrom during Wednesday’s 3-2 loss to Syracuse. Engstrom, who might be closer to the NHL than Del Gaizo, scored Laval’s first goal.
He seems to get the call for every road trip, and the Canadiens have a three-game road trip next week with stops in Salt Lake City, Las Vegas and Denver.
“I’m kind of knocking on the door to play up top,” Del Gaizo said after a 30-minute practice at Place Bell on Thursday. “You always want to be in the NHL. You do what they ask you to do — whether it’s to take warm-ups, not play, play, skate in the morning, not skate or work out. You do what they want. You can leave a good impression by how hard you work. That’s something that comes naturally to me: hard work and being prepared.
“I think they have something special (in Montreal). I want to be a part of it in any way I can, whether it’s playing a handful of games or a lot of games. Whatever it is.”
Del Gaizo was part of the Canadiens’ Western Canada road trip last month to Calgary, Edmonton, Vancouver and Seattle. He was recalled this month, when Montreal travelled to New Jersey. He received an NHL salary, ate well, flew on charter flights and stayed in first-class hotels.
Del Gaizo, 5-foot-10 and 193 pounds, was selected by the Nashville Predators in the fourth round (109th overall) in 2019. While he has bounced around the AHL with Chicago and Milwaukee, he played 46 games for Nashville last season, producing two goals and nine points.
He signed a one-year, two-way deal with the Canadiens on July 2. Knowing the possibility existed of spending time yet again in the AHL, Del Gaizo wanted to sign with an organization where the parent club and affiliate are located within driving distance. He played 30 games with Milwaukee last season and spent stretches living out of a hotel.
Predators defenceman Marc Del Gaizo collides with Canadiens captain Nick Suzuki during the third period in Nashville on April 6.
With the Canadiens down to six healthy defencemen, there were times Del Gaizo said he believed he might play this season, spelling Arber Xjekaj or Jayden Struble.
“It seems like I’ve been on the road all season,” Del Gaizo said. “It has been fun, though. Whether you’re playing or not, you can always leave a good impression. I’m trying to stay ready and get that next spot. Every time I’ve gone up, I’ve felt more comfortable with the team … more a part of it.”
Del Gaizo is considered a defenceman with good skating and puck-moving skills. While he lacks NHL size, he compensates with his intelligence and reliability. The native of Basking Ridge, N.J., has four assists in 12 games with Laval. He turned pro after three seasons at UMass-Amherst. He won the NCAA championship in 2021, earning Hockey East all-rookie and NCAA championship all-tournament team honours.
Del Gaizo majored in sport management and has aspirations of becoming a general manager.
“I was always undersized,” he said. “Everyone has kind of written me off. I went to college because I wasn’t drafted in the OHL.”
As an undersized player, Del Gaizo said he must be consistent to earn regular NHL employment. “I think I’ve done a really good job of defending, killing plays, using my skating and my stick to defend. It’s something I feel I’ve really improved on.”
While Rocket head coach Pascal Vincent didn’t know Del Gaizo well before he signed, an AHL team can never have enough defencemen with NHL experience. Laval was also seeking depth on the blue line after the departures of Tyler Wotherspoon and Gustav Lindstrom.
“I was excited for the organization because he’s a guy that can play in the NHL,” Vincent said. “He’s a real mature man. A good pro. He knows the role. He knows what it takes and he knows who he is. He has good compete. He can kill plays. He can make a good (breakout) pass. He’s got good feet.”
Despite the promotions of forwards Jared Davidson and Joshua Roy to the Canadiens, Laval (10-6) remains in a three-way tie for first place in the North Division. Laval entertains Belleville Friday night and Saturday afternoon.
hzurkowsky@postmedia.com
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