The text message buzzed just after the 12:00 deadline, and for a split second it looked like all the other small updates that clutter a hockey day: timestamp, source, a one-line note. But it wasn’t just any update. It was the one Canadiens fans had been hovering over all morning, the one name that had turned a routine waiver wire into a referendum on patience, projection, and the fine print of development. William Trudeau. One of those prospects who never quite shouts for attention, and yet the room feels different when his future is uncertain. The phones started lighting up in Laval before they did in Montreal. That alone tells you this wasn’t going to be a normal Tuesday.

From the outside, it should have been simple. A 23-year-old defenseman, coming off an upper-body injury that wiped out his camp, needing reps and rhythm more than headlines or handwringing. Waivers as a procedural step. A paper corridor. And yet, somewhere in the last day, it felt like more than that—like the point where quiet potential meets the loud market that demands a verdict far earlier than most players deserve. Did anyone take a swing? Was there a stealth claim? Did a rebuilding team in the other conference decide that what Montreal sees in him was worth a free roll? You could feel the temperature rising with every hour the league office stayed silent.

Inside the organization, the conversation didn’t sit neatly in a single department. Development wanted runway. Coaching wanted options. Management wanted flexibility. Fans wanted certainty. And it’s in those gaps—between what’s best for the player and what the calendar demands—that a decision can echo beyond an email. The reality, of course, is that waivers are never just about today. They’re about what a player becomes when the game speeds up and shrinks at the same time, when every mistake is a data point and every calm breakout is forgotten until the night it saves a period.

By the time the news reached the Rocket, it wasn’t met with a cheer so much as a nod: the kind of acknowledgment hockey people reserve for outcomes that feel earned rather than gifted. A reminder that the path that looks like a detour is often the straightest line to where you’re supposed to go. There’s a reason some coaches quietly circle dates on a calendar that no one else notices, a reason certain pairings are discussed long before they’re seen. You might hear about one of those reasons sooner than you think.

What matters now isn’t the list he briefly sat on, but the ice he’s about to step onto. A roster spot that opens more than it complicates. A partner who returns at just the right moment. A system that asks for poise before panache—and rewards both when the timing’s right. There’s a small twist to this, one that shifts how you’ll view his next few games, and it starts with a decision you haven’t read yet. Keep an eye on the first shift he takes tomorrow. You’ll understand why this wasn’t just a waiver day. It was a start.

Canadiens defenseman William Trudeau

Photo credit: NHL

After 24 hours of waiting, we finally know what’s happening with William Trudeau – and the news will bring a smile to many Montreal Canadiens fans.

I’m very happy to share that the young defenseman was not claimed off waivers and will therefore be joining the Laval Rocket right away.

Since yesterday, Habs fans have been closely watching the NHL waiver wire.

Kent Hughes had placed William Trudeau, a 23-year-old Quebec defenseman, on waivers in order to assign him to the Laval Rocket.

I have to admit, I was quite worried that another team would jump at the opportunity, since Trudeau represents a very promising player – solid defensively and reliable at both ends of the ice.

But the good news just dropped: he wasn’t claimed!

“Defenseman William Trudeau was not claimed off waivers and will report to the Laval Rocket.”

– Laval Rocket

William Trudeau was not claimed off waivers and will join the Laval Rocket

According to Sportsnet journalist Elliotte Friedman, no team submitted a claim for the Habs defenseman.

That means William Trudeau will be joining the Laval Rocket.

And honestly, I really think that’s excellent news.

I believe he still has a lot to offer. He hasn’t played a game yet this season – in fact, he couldn’t even take part in training camp due to an upper-body injury.

Earlier this morning, Pascal Vincent hinted that if he wasn’t claimed, there’s a good chance we could see him in the lineup as soon as tomorrow. He could join David Reinbacher, who just returned from injury.

Last season, Trudeau recorded 19 points in 68 games with Laval, while posting a +14 rating.

Very good stats for the young defenseman.

And let’s be honest, it’s always a good thing to keep our young players and prospects within the organization’s structure.