Unexpected turnaround for the Canadiens and controversial Logan Mailloux

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Tom Banks
July 20, 2024 (5:09 PM)

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The Montreal Canadiens backed up Logan Mailloux back in 2021 when no one else would, but now they may have no choice but to move on from him.

Three years ago, Logan Mailloux was a controversial first-round pick of the Montreal Canadiens, but over the past few years, he's worked hard to restore his reputation while thriving with the London Knights and the Laval Rockets. In his first AHL season, the 21-year old tallied 14 goals and 47 points in 72 games played, enough to earn his NHL debut with one game in 2023/24.

Now in a shock turn of events, the Montreal Canadiens may have to turn their back on him and send him back to the AHL in order to keep Justin Barron in 2024/25, despite the fact that many in the organization believes he's ready for the NHL.

"But let's say Logan Mailloux, if you were to bet today, here we are, mid-July, Logan Mailloux started in Laval yesterday. Do you think he's had enough seasoning in Laval to start with the Canadiens and then be on his way, or do you think a little bit more time in Laval would actually do him good?

Well, I think I mean, I've thought, before Jonathan Kovacevic got moved, that he's probably going to start the season in Laval because Barron will be eligible for waivers and he won't. Right. Yeah.

It probably comes down to not wanting to lose an asset in the Lehkonen trade for nothing, who could still be a decent NHL defenseman, perhaps.

So, do they start the year with Mailloux and Barron as a sixth or seventh? That's possible, but I think Barron would probably spend most of the time in the press box because you don't want that, especially with Mailloux, because I think he's one of the higher-ranked prospects in the organization. Yeah, he's got to play. So if they don't want Barron as the seventh guy and they want to give him a regular role to start the year, then Mailloux, I would think, likely heads to Laval for more seasoning, which wouldn't be a bad thing."

This isn't to say that Maillioux couldn't make his debut later in the year if he impresses in the AHL, but there's always a chance frustration could grow for the former 31st overall pick.

Source: House of Hockey
Surprising turn of events for Logan Mailloux and the Montreal Canadiens

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JUILLET 20 \| 269 ANSWERS Unexpected turnaround for the Canadiens and controversial Logan Mailloux Will Logan Mailloux become a consistent piece for Montreal in 2024/25?
Yes	148	55 %
No	121	45 %
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