Logan Mailloux is the story of a young defender with raw talent, full of offensive potential, but who, unfortunately, seems caught in the limbo of the Montreal Canadiens organization.
Imagine, he collects point after point with the Laval Rocket and almost seems bored in the American League.
Too good for this league, but not ready for the NHL yet?
We’ve all seen this movie before.
It’s a bit like having a sports car, but being stuck in traffic: the engine is powerful, but you’re not moving forward.
On the one hand, his performances speak for themselves. In the AHL, in four short games, Mailloux collected eight points, including a goal and three assists in a single game against Providence.
It’s not nothing! In fact, these kinds of statistics make all the young defenders cringe as they struggle to achieve such performances.
But the observation is simple: things are going too well for him in the AHL.
As proof, his last match with the Laval Rocket once again highlighted his impact.
In a 6–3 blowout win over the Providence Bruins, Mailloux had a goal and three assists, helping the team extend its winning streak.
Those who missed this impressive match can take a look at the highlights here:
So why is he demoted?
The Canadian must have seen something wrong in the NHL, because even if his offensive statistics are promising, the defensive reality is much less so.
In six games with the Canadiens this season, he has four points.
Not bad at all for a young defender.
But where the problem lies is in his own zone. His defensive game lacks consistency and rigor, and his coverage or anticipation errors make him vulnerable against the best forwards in the NHL.
Yes, he is capable of completing a perfect pass in the offensive zone, but when it comes to defending his territory, it seems like the young defenseman sometimes loses the thread.
The Canadian therefore opted for a pragmatic decision: send him back to Laval so that he can continue to work on his defensive game, where mistakes are not so costly and where he can refine his skills without the constant pressure of the NHL.
A decision that may seem frustrating, but which, we hope, will be beneficial in the long term.
The big question that remains is this: what do we do now with Mailloux?
In a team where the development of young talents becomes essential, we could be tempted to use him more in the NHL, despite his defensive weaknesses, to give him more experience at the highest level.
But with a player who seems too strong for the AHL and not consistent enough for the NHL, the organization is caught between two stools.
The ideal solution might be a compromise: give him a few games in the NHL, then send him back to Laval to continue working on his flaws, and repeat the process until he finds his feet.
This type of back-and-forth development isn’t ideal, but in Mailloux’s case it appears to be emerging as the only viable option.
In short, we are faced with a classic dilemma: risk him developing bad habits in a league that does not challenge him or send him to the NHL fire knowing that he risks making costly mistakes.
For now, the Canadian has opted for the first option, but it would be surprising not to see Mailloux back in Montreal before the end of the season.
To be continued…
