De retour à Gatineau, Alexis Gendron a procuré une victoire in extremis aux Voltigeurs, vendredi soir, au centre Slush Puppie. (Photo Credit: Dominic Charette)
As the 2022 NHL Draft drew to a close, the Philadelphia Flyers literally “took a flyer” picking a 5’10” nifty goal scorer, Alexis Gendron. Happily, that late selection appears to already be working out as a true “rolling a lucky Seven” winner with the club’s final call in the NHL’s annual lottery’s seventh and last round two years ago.
Typically a lot of players have hidden meanings when they decide what jersey number they will wear, and so it has been for this 20-year-old French-Canadian: both for luck — and with real personal significance.
To Alexis, wearing No. 72 means two things as No. 7 is simply “lucky seven,” while No. 2 has always been his life-long “go-to” number, so having both together on the back of his sweater means a lot to him.
Alexis Gendron / Dominic Charette – LHJMQ
That “lucky seven” seems to be fate for the Quebecer as he was previously drafted in the QMJHL seventh round by Blainville-Boisbriand Armada as well as by the Philadelphia Flyers at 220th overall in the seventh.
While hockey “purists” might think at a couple of inches short of being a six-footer, Gendron might somehow struggle at the NHL level, that does not worry current Flyers GM Danny Briere himself at an inch shorter than Alexis notched 370 goals and amassed 812 total points in 973 regular season and 124 playoff games during his 18-year NHL career.
Gendron was recently reassigned to major juniors after a short stint in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms. At such a young age, it was a huge accomplishment to get an early first look at the pro levels, but both the organization and Gendron felt it was better for his development to return to Quebec.
“I started the year in the Lehigh Valley. It went pretty good. I didn’t play much…So it was a tough time for me. But you know, I’m pretty happy with my game.” Gendron told me. “I feel confident, it’s only my first year and I’m aware of that.
“It’s going to be a long-term marathon, but I’m confident I think the organization is too. I had a talk with Danny [Briere], and it’s all positive, I’m looking forward to the future.”
Alexis Gendron (au centre) est félicité par ses coéquipiers après avoir marqué son premier but dans son nouvel uniforme. (Photo Credit: Ghyslain Bergeron)
Upon his return to the QMJHL, Gendron was dealt in a trade on January 2nd from Gatineau Olympiques, where he spent the year prior, to the Drummondville Voltigeurs, the same club for which Flyers GM Briere was a noted sniper himself in his last three years of junior from 1994 to 1997 scoring 135 goals and collecting a total of 443 points in just 216 regular season and playoff games. Both clubs and the Phantoms had planned the trade weeks in advance and Gendron knew and anticipated he’d be traded to one of the stronger teams to get the most out of his coming back.
“Yeah, I knew for a couple of weeks before I got traded. I think they [Phantoms] were waiting on it.” Gendron said. “I kind of knew I was going to Drummondville. Last year I played in Gatineau, this year they’re not very good. So I knew I was getting ready to go to a great team.”
Since joining his new club, Gendron has been on a tear. Some call it luck, others call it a skillful shot and undeniable speed.
The Côteau-du-Lac, Quebec, CAN, native pumped in nine goals in as many games while adding six assists for 15 points. While also averaging double digits in shots per game. If he continues the pace he is on, with more than a point per game, he could set QMJHL career highs across the board.
Albeit a new environment for Gendron with fresh faces and team, he has faced the challenge head-on, sniffed out the advantages quickly, and is thrilled about the fresh start.
“It’s different — a new team,” he notes. “You don’t know many people around it, but it’s kind of close to my home in Jehovah. It’s fun for my mom and family, just 30 minutes away. That’s the fun part for my family. It’s a new start, and I have a great rôle here. I am playing some great minutes, we have a great team, it’s all positive.”
Alexis Gendron a marqué deux buts à ses débuts dans l’uniforme des Voltigeurs, mercredi soir, au centre Marcel-Dionne, dont celui-ci sur un jeu spectaculaire en troisième période. (Photo Credit: Ghyslain Bergeron)
Ironically, Gendron already had connections in the Flyers organization prior to having his name called. His father, Martin Gendron, has been a scout for the Flyers since Chuck Fletcher’s tenure following the former Flyer GM from Minnesota, where they had previously worked together years.
Despite that early connection to the Flyers, however, Gendron said he didn’t know a lot about the club when they drafted him. Growing up in Montreal, he had always followed the French team.
“I was more of a Montreal Canadian fan,” Gendron said. “Growing up in and around Montreal, even though my dad was a part of the Flyers organization, I didn’t follow them that much.”
Gendron expresses his gratitude towards his father and family, saying he models his game after Martin and other players around the league.
“My dad is a model for me, to be honest,” Alexis said proudly. “He played the game. He played in the NHL. He played Europe. He was a shooter who loved to score goals, and that’s why I gained that love for shooting the puck. It’s from him.”
Gendron notes Toronto Maple Leafs forward Auston Matthews and Montreal native and current Chicago Blackhawks forward Anthony Beauvillier as two players he admires and considers them his favourites growing up.
“Auston Matthews is a great model for me,” he explains. “I’m trying to look to him as to how he shoots the puck and plays the game,” Gendron told me. Gendron also notes that the far less well-known Montreal native player, Anthony Beauvillier, is another favorite because of his similarities. “He’s just a smaller player, a lefty like me, who played major Junior too,” he says. “When I was young, I went to see him play a couple of times.”
The Flyers selected Alexis Gendron (left) with the 220th overall pick in the 2022 NHL draft. Photo: AP
During his time in Lehigh Valley, Gendron was sitting in the press box more than he was tying his skates — which is by no means a dig — it is the typical treatment rookies get at the AHL level. In the 17 games, he did find himself in, however, he was noticeable with seven points (5G/2A) in those contests. It was more about the youngster trying to find his footing and gain some experience in the minors before returning to the juniors.
Over the last few years, the Flyers’ development has been a rough watch. Nonetheless, whatever the new regime has been doing to reevaluate it has worked. Gendron expressed how pleased he was with the current management staff and spoke highly of the development team, who were there to help his game day in and day out. He has built a strong relationship with former Flyer Sam Morin, who is now helping the Lehigh Valley Phantoms in its development department.
“It’s going the right way, and they do a great job,” Gendron says. “We have a great development staff. Riley Armstrong and Sammy Morin have been in touch regularly and have been practicing with me. Sammy came last week with me and Drummondville. Armstrong is coming in two weeks to see me, talk a bit, and have a nice dinner. So, you know it’s going the right way. We have a great development guys.“
Being so close to Jehovah, Gendron has the strong in person support of his family and friends who have been to a handful of his games throughout the season, both in the AHL and QMJHL. As has Alexis, his father, Martin, may have found some good luck in the numbers as well wearing “17” and “32” at different points in his career. Playing very similar styles, the two share some outstanding qualities on the ice. playing very similar styles. And both believe that the younger Gendron could bring a lot to the table in the orange and black.
“I’m a shooter. I’m always gonna be a shooter mentality kind of player as I like to score goals and create plays offensively.” Gendron said when asked what he can bring to the table as a Philadelphia Flyer. “And I’ve been working on my D side of the park lately, and I think that also gotten better.
“My experience at the pro level helped me a lot too,” he adds. “I am trying to shoot the puck and use my speed to create and play hard defensively. That’s the kinda player I want to be.”
Gendron is aware that Flyers head coach John Tortorella admires a 200-foot game and wants to see players play both sides of the puck. He knows in order to be successful in the organization, he has to do that, providing a part of his game that may slip through the cracks at first glance.
He believes that using his “small” stature is to his advantage as he can fly through the defensive zone and open up a lot of ice. Gendron said his hockey IQ and undeniable fast feet were something to keep an eye on.
Despite having a gruelling camp last summer both physically and mentally on and off the ice, Alexis Gendron has kept his confidence up and wants to make a name for himself going into the next.
“Everybody knows that Torts’s camp it’s pretty hard…You just gotta come ready and be sharp every day…and yeah, the skating is pretty hard,” Gendron notes with a laugh, “but you just work things out and see what happens. I want to have a better camp this year. I want to show who I am, what player I can be, and just be better. I’m going to make sure I have a better one next year.”
“I’m confident, and I think the organization too,” he surmises. “I talked with Danny Briere, it’s all positive, I’m looking forward.”
While No. 7 is not an available Flyer jersey number as it was long ago retired to honour Hockey Hall of Fame LW Bill Barber — nor is No. 2 honouring Hall of Famer Mark Howe however, No. 72 certainly is, Alexis Gendron would love to eventually don the number it in Orange and Black and make a name for himself in it.
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