When Pascal Vincent announced to Logan Mailloux that he had been selected to represent the Laval Rocket at the American Hockey League (AHL) All-Star Game in Palm Spring, the young defenseman did not react as one might have expected. wait there.
Instead of celebrating this recognition and the chance to go bask in California, Mailloux felt like a thief, fully aware that he did not deserve this honor.
The following video excerpt is awkward as can be.
@rocketlaval We’re going to Palm Springs! Joshua Roy and Logan Mailloux will represent the Rocket at the AHL All-Star Classic We’re off to Palm Springs! Joshua Roy and Logan Mailloux will represent the Rocket at the 2025 AHL All-Star Classic presented by Spotlight 29 Casino #GoRocket ♬ original sound – Rocket Laval
If Joshua Roy, also selected, is a logical choice given his impressive season, the appointment of Mailloux raises questions.
With only 16 points in 29 games, he is ahead of Adam Engström (17 points) among Rocket defenders. Engström, more consistent and efficient, would have deserved this place long before Mailloux.
This injustice has not escaped Mailloux, who has been going through a difficult period for several weeks. He knows it better than anyone: his recent performances do not reflect the caliber expected of a player selected for the All-Star Game.
With a -9 record in his last 18 games and a sluggish offensive contribution, he has not been the dominant player he aspires to become.
During morning training, Pascal Vincent shared the good news with his players. If Roy was warmly congratulated by his teammates, the atmosphere was much heavier for Mailloux.
The questioning looks from the other players seemed to weigh heavily on his shoulders, and you could almost see the young defender wanting to disappear into the locker room.
Finally, his teammates went to congratulate him, but Mailloux felt so bad.
Mailloux felt like an imposter. This recognition, which he would normally have welcomed with pride, turned into a cruel reminder of his recent difficulties.
“Why me and not Engström?” he must say to himself.
Mailloux’s selection for the All-Star Game is more linked to his status as a Montreal Canadiens prospect than his current performances.
But this situation highlights the constant pressure on his shoulders. After a promising start to the season, Mailloux saw his game collapse, both offensively and defensively.
His coach, Pascal Vincent, has publicly stressed the importance of Mailloux becoming a reliable 200-foot player, questioning his use on the power play.
This demotion not only affected his ice time, but also his confidence.
Mailloux’s selection to the All-Star Game, far from being a personal victory, could become an electric shock for his development.
For now, it is obvious that he sees this appointment as an additional emotional burden. He knows he will have to prove, on and off the ice, that he deserves such an honor.
However, this situation could also amplify tensions between him and the organization. The criticism, already numerous, risks intensifying, and Mailloux will have to quickly raise the bar to justify this selection.
Logan Mailloux finds himself in an uncomfortable position: he is in the spotlight for reasons he does not consider deserved.
This feeling of imposter could either push him to surpass himself, or plunge him further into doubt.
For now, Mailloux seems more overwhelmed than enthusiastic about the idea of participating in the All-Star Game. But perhaps this event could be an opportunity for him to restart his season and show everyone – and especially himself – that he has what it takes to live up to expectations.
One thing is certain: the road to redemption begins here, and it is up to him to trace it.
Strangely, this selection to the AHL All-Star Game strangely crowns a series of setbacks that have marked his season since the start of training camp.
-What should have been a year of confirmation and progression quickly turned into a succession of difficulties, both on and off the ice.
It all started during the Montreal Canadiens’ training camp, where Mailloux hoped to earn a position with the big club.
With his physical presence and offensive potential, he seemed to have the tools necessary to impress Martin St-Louis and his staff.
But despite posting a respectable three points in five preseason games, his defensive shortcomings and lack of consistency convinced the organization that he wasn’t yet ready for the NHL.
His dismissal to Laval, although expected, marked a first hard blow. Mailloux had looked good offensively, but his defensive play still left something to be desired, a point highlighted several times by Pascal Vincent and the organization.
Once back in Laval, Mailloux got off to a great start with nine points in his first four games.
But these initial fireworks were quickly followed by a sharp fall. His offensive production slowed, and his -9 record in the last 18 games confirmed that something was wrong.
It was in this context that Pascal Vincent decided to demote him to the second numerical advantage unit, a decision which caused quite a stir.
Officially, Vincent justified this choice by emphasizing the importance for Mailloux to concentrate on his defensive game:
“The power play is not what’s going to get him into the NHL. We want him to become a reliable 200-foot player who can defend. »
However, many observers saw this decision as a wake-up call, an attempt to wake up a player who was lost.
This demotion not only affected his ice time, but also his confidence, fueling tensions between the player and his coach.
Along with his on-ice struggles, Mailloux has also been criticized for his off-ice behavior. The organization expressed reservations about his lifestyle, citing a lack of discipline that does not correspond to the Canadian’s professional standards.
These concerns, combined with his poor performance on the ice, contributed to deteriorating his relationship with Pascal Vincent and, more broadly, with the organization.
Mailloux’s nomination to the AHL All-Star Game therefore comes in a context where the defender is far from being at his best.
This impostor feeling adds to an already explosive cocktail of personal frustrations and external criticism.
For Mailloux, this recognition should have been a validation of his work, but it turned into a cruel reminder of his struggles this season.
Since the start of training camp, Logan Mailloux has faced a series of challenges that have shaken his confidence and tarnished his image.
From his demotion in Laval to his off-ice issues to his horrible performances, this season has been a stark reminder of the obstacles he will have to overcome to reach the NHL.
If Mailloux manages to use this honor as a source of motivation, he could turn things around and get back on the path to progression.
But for now, this season feels more like a difficult lesson than a resounding success.
He was right to want to hide when he heard the news.
