Appearing in his first NHL game since April 12, 2024 when he was with the Anaheim Ducks, Groulx started the game on the third line with Easton Cowan and Nick Robertson. His impact on the game wasn’t immediately felt, but he slowly grew into it before putting it all together with a solid showing in the third period.
When speaking with reporters after the game, Groulx said it doesn’t get much better to have his return to the NHL happen in Montreal with his family in attendance.
“ I think it was a work in progress, honestly. As the game went on, I felt better and better,” he said. “ First period, I felt kind of behind on the play a little bit, speed-wise and everything. Second period was a bit better, and third period I had my legs under me. I had a lot of speed in the neutral zone. I started to make a bit more plays in the neutral zone offensively. Had a couple of shots too.”
One of those shots that he was able to put on courtesy of a nifty deke in transition to get by Noah Dobson before cutting to the slot and getting the puck on net which was denied. From that point on, head coach Craig Berube leaned on Groulx more the rest of the game with increased usage in all situations, including taking a defensive zone draw late in the game.
Groulx admitted there were some nerves before puck-drop in part due to the game being at the Bell Centre, which he described as the loudest building in the NHL.
“I think Chief really trusted me out there and in key situations. Big faceoff too at the end of the game, and throughout the game with PK time, ” he said. “ I’m a defensive-minded guy; third-line centre is a perfect role for me. Defence first, I can chip in offensively. I think I proved it with the Marlies this year that I can provide some offence. Even today, I had some great looks, just gotta put it in.”
“I thought he played a very good game,” Berube said. “I was very happy with the young guys coming in, Q, Cowboy. They all played well tonight, for me. Coming into this rink, it can be a pretty hostile environment, but I thought all three of them were very good.”
With the way his Leafs debut went, perhaps Groulx could play a role in getting the team back in the win column for the first time since before the Olympic break.
“ In the second period, I had a very, very long shift in the D zone. I had a couple of good checks, so I think every time I’m engaged physically, that gets my legs under me,” he said on when he felt he got into a groove. ”Then I came in the third, and I was telling Steve [Sullivan], ‘Oh, I feel way better right now.’ I had a couple plays in the neutral zone where I felt like I had a lot of steam that I could turn the D wide, but instead of that, I try to make a move. Even offensively, when I hold on to the puck, and I mix some plays, that’s where you get a lot of energy from that and confidence. So I felt real good.”