Laval Rocket Score: Schedule, Standings & Team Guide

The Laval Rocket have turned a minor-league hockey franchise into a surprising attendance powerhouse. As the top affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens, this AHL club has carved out a reputation for developing NHL talent while maintaining strong fan support, drawing an average of 8,107 fans per game in the 2023-24 season to rank among the AHL’s attendance leaders, according to Team Marketing Report.

Average attendance: 8,107 (2023-24) ·
NHL affiliate: Montreal Canadiens ·
League: American Hockey League ·
Division: North ·
Home arena: Place Bell, Laval, Quebec

Eight key facts, one pattern: the Laval Rocket combine solid on-ice achievements with strong community support and a clear development mission.

The pattern in the table below shows how the team’s operational metrics tell the story.

How successful have the Laval Rocket been?

Season records and playoff history

• The franchise relocated from St. John’s to Laval in 2017 and has since reached the playoffs four times (2018, 2019, 2022, 2023).
• In the 2022-23 season, the Rocket won the North Division regular-season title, the only division crown in their history.
• The team’s squad value as of 2025-26 is $7,968,341, up $2.4 million (+44.33%) from the prior season, according to Benchrates (squad valuation platform).

Key player development milestones

• The Rocket have developed notable NHL talent now playing for the parent Canadiens, including Cole Caufield, Nick Suzuki, and Kaiden Guhle.
• Player development pathways include AHL seasoning on two-way contracts; most AHL players earn between $40,000 and $90,000 per season, per the WBS Penguins (AHL player development report).

The implication: squad valuation growth signals rising organizational health.

What is the average attendance at Laval Rocket games?

Attendance trends since 2017

• Average attendance in 2023-24 was 8,107, according to Team Marketing Report, placing the Rocket among the top 10 AHL teams.
• Place Bell, the team’s home since 2017, has a capacity of 10,062, so the fill rate hovers around 80%.

Comparison to other AHL teams

• AHL attendance leaders typically draw 8,000–11,000 per game; the Rocket sit in the upper third of the league.
• The strong attendance is a key factor in the team’s financial sustainability, especially given that AHL per diem on the road is $83 per day, as reported by Play Hockey in Europe (AHL insider guide).

What this means: attendance strength makes Laval a low-risk market for the Canadiens’ development pipeline.

Are the Laval Rocket affiliated with an NHL team?

Affiliation history

• The Laval Rocket have been the primary AHL affiliate of the Montreal Canadiens since the franchise moved from St. John’s in 2017.
• The affiliation is exclusive: all Canadiens prospects and reclamation projects are assigned to Laval.

Impact on player development

• The close proximity (Laval is a Montreal suburb) allows Canadiens management to monitor players regularly.
• Two-way contracts let players move between NHL and AHL; the average AHL salary for such players is higher than the league minimum of $52,725, per Play Hockey in Europe (AHL insider guide).

The pattern: geographic proximity gives Laval a development advantage that most AHL affiliates lack.

What is the average salary of an AHL player?

AHL salary range

• The average AHL salary is approximately $295,100 based on Laval Rocket squad metrics from Benchrates (squad valuation platform).
• The minimum salary for standard AHL contracts is $52,725; for players loaned up from the ECHL it is $41,625, according to Play Hockey in Europe (AHL insider guide).
• Most players earn between $40,000 and $90,000 per season, per the WBS Penguins (AHL player development report).

Comparison with NHL earnings

• The NHL average salary exceeds $3 million per season, making the gap between the two leagues enormous.
• Many AHL players take offseason side jobs (coaching youth hockey, running camps) to supplement income, as noted by the WBS Penguins (AHL player development report).

The catch: the salary gap means AHL players must make lifestyle sacrifices that NHL stars never consider.

Who are the wealthiest hockey players of all time?

Top NHL career earnings

• Wayne Gretzky’s career earnings are estimated at $200+ million (including endorsements), according to industry tallies.
• Other top earners include Connor McDavid, Auston Matthews, and Artemi Panarin, all on contracts above $10 million per year.

Highest single-season earnings

• The highest NHL salary in 2024-25 belongs to Nathan MacKinnon at $16.5 million.
• For context, the entire Laval Rocket squad value (all 27 players) is roughly half of MacKinnon’s single-season salary: $7.97 million, per Benchrates (squad valuation platform).

The implication: the wealth gap makes AHL development a high-risk career gamble for most players.

Timeline: Laval Rocket milestones

• 2017 – Franchise relocates from St. John’s to Laval, becomes Laval Rocket.
• 2018 – First playoff appearance (lost in second round).
• 2022 – Return to playoffs after two-year break due to COVID-19.
• 2022-23 – Won North Division regular-season title.
• 2024 – Continued as primary Canadiens affiliate, squad value climbs to $7.97M.

Confirmed facts and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

• Laval Rocket average attendance 8,107 (2023-24), per Team Marketing Report.
• Affiliated exclusively with Montreal Canadiens since 2017.
• Roster value $7,968,341, up 44.33% from prior season (Benchrates).
• AHL minimum salary $52,725 for standard contracts (Play Hockey in Europe).
• Most AHL players earn between $40K and $90K per season (WBS Penguins).
• Laval signed Vincent Arseneau to one-year AHL contract in 2024 (TheAHL.com).

What’s unclear

• Exact attendance figures for 2024-25 season not yet published.
• Future of the affiliation agreement beyond its current term.
• Whether the Rocket can sustain top-10 attendance if the Canadiens assign fewer high-profile prospects.

Perspectives from the ice

Many AHL players seek side jobs during offseason to supplement income.
WBS Penguins (AHL player development report)

AHL per diem allowance on the road is $83 per day as of 2024-2025 season.
Play Hockey in Europe (AHL insider guide)

What this means for the Laval Rocket and AHL fans

The Laval Rocket occupy a unique space: a minor-league team with major-league attendance, a clear development mandate, and rising squad value. But the financial reality for most players is tight. For the Montreal Canadiens, the calculus is simple: invest in Laval’s stability and watch prospects develop closer to home. For AHL fans in Laval, the choice is just as clear: support a team that genuinely competes, or risk losing the franchise to a market that will.

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