Laval Rocket rookie forward Jan Mysak unfazed by high expectations

Being a high draft choice carries its share of expectations.

Jan Mysak understands this and embraces the challenges that lie ahead as he enters his first professional season with the AHL’s Laval Rocket.

“It would be sad if the organization didn’t have high expectations for me,” Mysak said Monday after the first training camp practice for the Canadiens’ AHL affiliate at Place Bell in Laval. “The expectations from them should be high, as they are for me. High expectations are good and I’m okay with that. I don’t mind the pressure.

“I’m just trying to live in the moment right now and I’m not looking so far ahead. Right now, it’s training camp and I want to make the team, that’s all.”

The Canadiens selected Mysak, a 20-year-old from the Czech Republic, in the second round (48th overall) of the 2020 NHL draft. And the 5-foot-11, 182-pound prospect has only continued to blossom since then.

The forward is coming off a productive season for the junior Hamilton Bulldogs, where Mysak scored 34 goals and 64 points in 61 games. In 17 playoff games, he went 4-7-11, helping the Bulldogs capture the OHL championship and advance to the Memorial Cup, where they lost in the championship game.

Mysak then, for the second time in his career, was named captain of Team Czechia at the world junior championship, where he had four goals and four assists in eight games. After participating in the recent Prospects Challenge, he hopes to further develop his game under Rocket head coach Jean-François Houle.

“I think this league’s really quick,” Mysak said. “You have to move the puck quick, skate and have your head up, see the play. Everything’s going to be harder than it was in junior last year. It’s another level. It’s where I want to be.”

Mysak possesses offensive skills and is versatile enough to play on the wing. He has displayed an ability to adapt, having already split a season between Litvinov HC of the Czech Extraliga and the Rocket after the OHL was shut down due to COVID-19. Mysak played 21 games for the Rocket in 2021 under former head coach Joël Bouchard, producing two goals in 22 games.

Mysak wants to be regarded as a sound defensive player as well, someone capable of playing a complete 200-foot game. And, while it’s still too early for Houle to project where Mysak might slot in this season, he’s effusive in his praise.

“He’s a good, young kid,” Houle said. “He’s eager to learn and asks a lot of questions. He wants to improve. I like his positioning and he’s sound defensively. I think he needs to provide a little more offence, but he’s a leader, is well-liked and can skate. I’m sure he’s going to be a pivotal part of our team.”

Houle said Mysak could be used on the wing, but he might be more suited to play centre due to his strong faceoff skills and acute awareness of what’s required defensively.

Houle still doesn’t know which players he’ll have at his disposal this season — several of his potential players remain at camp with the Canadiens — 32 players were split into two groups on Monday. The team will scrimmage Wednesday and Thursday, before playing exhibition games this weekend on the road against the Toronto Marlies and Belleville Senators.

The coaching staff also will name a new captain after defenceman Xavier Ouellet signed with Pittsburgh.

The Rocket advanced to the Eastern Conference final last season before losing to Springfield, and is expected to have another strong roster, albeit one that’s inexperienced, with an emphasis on developing the deep pool of prospects instead of relying on veterans.

“Just so you know, we had a meeting (Sunday). That run is over,” Houle said. “We didn’t win s—. This year is a new year.”

hzurkowsky@postmedia.com

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