"Quebecer Frédéric Allard signs in Europe to pursue NHL dream"

2023-05-12 15:33:53

In the last few days, we learned that Quebecer Frédéric Allard had taken advantage of his autonomy to sign a contract in Europe. The defender will therefore spend the next two years in Sweden.

Is it because he didn’t necessarily believe he could find a job in the AHL? No.

In fact, as long as he returned to the AHL and didn’t really have the chance to play in the NHL, he preferred to sign in Europe to open the eyes of NHL scouts to his abilities.

This is precisely what he didn’t like about his time at Laval: he didn’t really have the chance to demonstrate his know-how. This is what he told Jean-François Chaumontfrom the Journal de Montreal.

Frédéric Allard has signed a two-year contract with the Lulea team in Sweden.

“I’d rather talk about taking a break from my NHL dream than writing it off.”

— J-F Chaumont (@JFChaumontJDM) May 12, 2023

Let it be said: he loved playing for the Canadiens and in the end, he has very good memories of his time with the Habs organization, where he realized his dream. He does not want to talk too much against the CH.

But in Laval, he was often left out and he seems to believe that he was only seen as a defensive defender.

They acquired me for a reason, but they didn’t want to find out that reason. – Frederic Allard

If he says he is “very disappointed” not to have played often with the Rocket, he is still happy to have had the chance to wear the Habs uniform. It’s one of his great moments.

His goal is therefore to fall back into the good graces of NHL scouts and rediscover his offensive side. He did not feel he could do it in the organization of the Canadian. It is a good reading of the situation.

Frédéric Allard’s association with the Canadiens’ organization was short-lived when he plays in Sweden next year. One of the best people to play for the Rocket in six years in my opinion.

— Anthony Marcotte (@anthonymarcotte) May 9, 2023

He felt too old to be the big brother of the youngsters and he doesn’t just want to be the one who stays down to help the youngsters up. He also wants to have his chance in the NHL.

Will his path be the right one? One might think that his chances are better than if he had stayed in North America, indeed.