Josiah Didier is leaving the Canadiens' system, creating another depth issue beneath Martin St-Louis' NHL roster.
The 33-year-old right-shot defenseman has agreed to join Björklöven for the 2026-27 season after spending one year with the Laval Rocket.
Björklöven earned promotion to the SHL last spring, giving Didier an opportunity to continue his career in Sweden's top professional league.
The move closes his brief chapter with Montreal's AHL affiliate. He had remained an unrestricted free agent following the end of Laval's season.
Didier wasn't brought to Laval to drive the power play or produce major offensive numbers. His value came through defensive structure, reliability and a veteran presence inside a young locker room.
The Rocket made that clear in their farewell message, calling Didier a legend while thanking him for his season and wishing him well in Sweden.
Josiah Didier's departure opens a blue-line job
Didier brought extensive AHL experience to Laval after previous stops in several organizations. That background gave the coaching staff a dependable option and younger defensemen an experienced teammate to lean on.
His departure now leaves a clear opening on the right side of Laval's blue line. That vacancy could shape the organization's remaining offseason business.
Management must decide whether to add another established AHL defenseman or leave the spot open for a younger player during training camp.
That second option would create a legitimate opportunity for one of Montreal's developing prospects. More minutes, tougher assignments and special-teams work could become available.
But replacing Didier involves more than filling a lineup card. Laval is also losing a player trusted to provide stability when games tightened and younger teammates needed direction from the bench.
Europe has become an attractive path for experienced AHL players seeking larger roles and a different professional challenge. Didier now gets both while joining a newly promoted SHL club.
For Laval, the move adds another question before puck drop in 2026-27. The next addition-or promotion from within-will reveal how the Rocket plan to replace Didier's experience.
Should the Laval Rocket replace Josiah Didier with a veteran defenseman?
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