BUFFALO, NY - JUNE 25: Pascal Laberge poses for a portrait after being selected 36th overall by the Philadelphia Flyers during the 2016 NHL Draft on June 25, 2016 in Buffalo, New York. (Photo by Jeffrey T. Barnes/Getty Images)
Pascal Laberge, the young Laberge can score goals with the best of them. That has been his one niche since he played for the Victoriaville Tigres when he was in Juniors, but injuries have gotten the best of his young NHL career.
The key for Laberge is staying healthy, healthy to compete at the AHL level or ECHL level for that matter, in hopes of forming some consistency in his game. Unfortunately, injuries have gotten the best of his career for the most part-to date, as he had his 2016-17 season cut short do to a severe concussion, “My concussion got in the way of more success,” Laberge told me in 2017, “The points stats weren’t there. It was hard dealing with that concussion. It was a feeling I’ve never felt before. The concussion was one of the hardest things I’ve had to deal with as a player. So, I’m going to rebound from prior year, and hopefully the Flyers see that.”
Laberge continued, “To become a member in the NHL, you work so hard to train, practice, and play. To get to that type of level would be amazing. I’m happy and I’m fortunate at the opportunity I’ve been given.”
The young prospect wanted to make an impact for the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in 2019-20. However, Laberge was sent directly to the Reading Royals early in October, but he did a receive an early call-up to the Phantoms. Laberge was up and down with his time at Lehigh, however, he scored some goals for the Phantoms in 23 games played, as he potted seven goals,. In addition, Laberge managed to tally three assists, all in all, not too shabby in reality.
It was unfortunate to see Laberge make his way to the Royals in the early part of the new year in 2020, however, he was sent there for playing time, and consistency in his game. Laberge scored in bunches, and at other times he was not as noticeable on the ice for the Phantoms. However, do not give up on this young 22-year-old in Laberge. He finally got into a nice rhythm finally for the purple, as he tallied six goals, to go along with six assists for 12 points in 24 games played.
Laberge eventually found a home in Reading. He finally looked like that young prospect who played for the Tigres, and was a 2016 draft pick that the Flyers hoped when former General Manager Ron Hextall drafted him. Laberge established confidence, and one could see it with the way he handled the puck, and skating with the Royals. He was finally a confident player that could pick apart opposing teams netminders in the ECHL. Laberge has an accurate wrist shot, and can pick his spot on the net. One could tell he was finally having some fun again.
Thanks to coaches Kirk MacDonald and Nick Luukko, Laberge will enter the 2020-21 season enthused with confidence, whether that’s with the Royals or Phantoms. Whatever the case maybe for this young prospect, Flyers fans do not give up hope on him. The best is yet to come.
We coulda had Debrincat instead
Pascal Laberge was doing well in junior hockey. In his draft year, he was fabulous and in the Canadian Jr All Star game, he stood out. The season following his being drafted by the Flyers, he received a totally uncalled for, blindside crosscheck to the head at speed, by a goon named Zachary Malatesta. You can still YouTube, or google that awful hit. Pascal was not the same after that hit, but he has worked extremely hard to regain his confidence.
Pascal Laberge is a great young player who I’d love to see make it to the Flyers. He’s fast, A great Puck handler and can really fire the puck. Had it not been for that hit, he might be a Flyer today.