The Montreal Canadiens have appointed Daniel Jacob as head coach of their AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket. This marks Jacob's first professional head coaching role at age 45.
Jacob has prior experience as an assistant coach with the Rocket from 2018 to 2021 and again from 2024 to 2026. He also served in assistant roles with the Syracuse Crunch in 2023-24 and the San Diego Gulls in 2021-22.
Additional coaching stops for Jacob include time with Blainville-Boisbriand in the QMJHL from 2014 to 2018 and McGill University from 2010 to 2014. A native of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, he played five seasons at McGill before a professional playing career that was primarily in Serbia.
The appointment aligns with other recent AHL coaching transitions involving former assistants moving into head roles for the 2026-27 season.