Analyst Shocks Everybody by Comparing Controversial Prospect to PK Subban
For nearly seven seasons, former Montreal Canadiens defenseman P.K. Subban electrified the Bell Centre crowd numerous times with his spectacular maneuvers and offensive contributions. A true power play quarterback for the Tricolore, the second-round pick of 2007 surpassed the 50-point mark in three consecutive seasons.
Moreover, the CH's top brass may have landed the future PK Subban in the 2021 draft with the selection of Logan Mailloux at the 31st spot. Indeed, in his first professional season, the former London Knights player is impressing greatly with his ability to create scoring opportunities in the offensive zone.
He stands out particularly for his skill in finding the back of the net, with statistics surpassing all rookie defensemen in the American League since the 2004-2005 season. In fact, if the Bleu-Blanc-Rouge prospect continues on this trajectory, he could be the first to reach the 19-goal mark in his first year in the AHL.
The only two defensemen who have come close to this threshold are PK Subban and Justin Schultz, both of whom scored 18 goals in their rookie season, hence the comparison between the former number 76 and the Canadiens' prospect.
"Logan Mailloux is on track to score 19 goals. No rookie defenseman in the AHL has scored as many goals since statistics began being recorded in 2004-2005. Justin Schultz and a certain PK Subban each scored 18." - Grant McCagg
Obviously, their playing styles are quite different, but it's undeniable that there are similarities in their ability to generate offense. Recently selected for the AHL All-Star Game, Logan Mailloux has been even more impressive since Arber Xhekaj's demotion to Laval.
The 20-year-old defenseman, standing 6'3" and weighing over 220 pounds, has accumulated an impressive total of 8 goals and 15 assists (23 points) in 37 games so far this season. He is on pace to collect 45 points, a milestone not reached by any rookie defenseman in 2022-2023.
This year, Brandt Clarke, the eighth overall pick, is the only defenseman to have amassed more points than the number 24 of the Laval Rocket.
While many fans criticized the organization for selecting Logan Mailloux in 2021, it's likely that the vast majority of them are now very pleased to have a prospect of the caliber of the Belle River native on the team. It's hard to predict his future, but all signs point to him becoming a key member of Martin St-Louis's defensive squad in the coming years.
One thing is certain, it will be very interesting to follow his progression throughout the season, as he undoubtedly has a very promising potential. We are eager to see him don the Canadiens uniform in the NHL.
Credit: Go Nordiques
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 21 | 94 ANSWERS Analyst Shocks Everybody by Comparing Controversial Prospect to PK Subban Do you think Logan Mailloux will be a star? | ||
| Yes | 34 | 36.2 % |
| No | 60 | 63.8 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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