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The Canadiens throw in the towel with a former second-round pick

Originally posted on Dose.ca | Last updated Oct 14, 2025 12:41 PM ET

Riley Kidney, for a time, was linked to Joshua Roy. Both young men were drafted in 2021 (second round for Kidney, fifth round for Roy) and both were playing in the QMJHL at the time. In 2022, both were on the Rocket’s roster during the playoff run, but Kidney didn’t play. Kidney didn’t play, however.In 2023, both players made their full-time debuts in Laval… and that’s when the biggest parting came between the two Flanelle prospects. Roy, though not the Habs’ favorite, played in Laval, but also in Montreal. However, Kidney was never seriously considered for a call-up, and in fact, with only 11 goals in two pro years between 2023 and 2025, he seemed closer to a move to the Mauricie than anything else. And now it’s official: the Rocket have traded Riley Kidney – and Darick Louis-Jean – to the Trois-Rivières Lions. Kidney hasn’t played a game with the Rocket this season.

The Rocket has traded forward Riley Kidney to the Trois-Rivières Lions.

Kidney is a CH second-round pick in 2021, and is currently in the final year of his ELC.

I don’t think I’m wrong in saying that he’s no longer very high on the Habs’ radar. .. https://t.co/iSLfxfD3oL –Maxime Truman (@MaximeTruman) October 14, 2025

As colleague Maxime Truman points out, it’s clear that Kidney is no longer exactly on the Habs’ radar for the rest of his pro career.

He’ll likely serve out the final year of his entry-level contract before leaving the organization next summer – if he isn’t traded before then, of course.

We probably should have done this before, but Riley Kidney has been demoted to the Trois-Rivières Lions for the first time. https://t.co/xBcIf4TKuC –

Anthony Marcotte (@anthonymarcotte) October 14, 2025

Remember, it was Marc Bergevin and Trevor Timmins who set their sights on the Maritime native. It’s not surprising to see the club move on, then, because no, we don’t see a scenario in which Kidney finds value in Trois-Rivières. Speaking of the Rocket, let’s not forget that defenseman Josiah Didier, a former Canadien pick in 2011, was recently awarded a professional tryout contract.

That was before the Marc Bergevin era.

The Laval Rocket announced it had awarded a professional tryout contract to defenseman Josiah Didier

The Laval Rocket signed defenseman Josiah Didier to a professional tryout contract pic.twitter.com/vfvvTiDzg2– Rocket de Laval (@RocketLaval) October 13, 2025

’en

– It starts tonight at home.

Game day!

It’s game day!

Centre Bell 7:00 p.m. / 7:00 p.m. https://t.co/pAoDYdOLZM RDS / TSN2 98,5 FM / TSN 690 https://t.co/7aEc4ULuKb#GoHabsGo | @Depotium pic.twitter.com/mm5Q9QihrJ– Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) October 14, 2025

– Wow.

Blake Snell was amazing…. and Teoscar Hernandez doesn’t know how to run. https://t.co/diKX7hPZuA –

Passion MLB (@passion_mlb) October 14, 2025

– Well done.

Another big accomplishment for Big Zee.

Congrats to #NHLBruins legend Zdeno Chara for completing the Chicago Marathon over the weekend : zeechara33 / IG pic.twitter.com/Mv5xswXNdx– Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) October 14, 2025