We keep hearing and reading the narrative that Logan Mailloux will never be an impactful NHL defenceman because he is poor defensively.
This became a popular opinion in hockey circles a couple of years ago thanks to the opinions of a handful of independent scouts and social media members, and some of them have stuck by it, apparently without closely studying a game of his ever since.
His defensive game has only improved since his last year of junior. Dale Hunter used him 27 minutes a game in all situations for London in their long OHL playoff run, and last year, the rookie AHL all-star improved immeasurably in his own zone as the season wore on.
After barely playing for two seasons and jumping into the OHL as a rookie, did everyone expect him to be a finished prospect defensively? He was raw, and that shouldn’t have surprised anyone. Projecting him as a future bust at that time was a classic example of jumping the gun. There may have also been some hidden agendas, given his much-publicized incident in Sweden in his draft year.
This year, after seven games, he has been on the ice for 1.89 goals against 60, one of the best defensive marks in the league.
What makes that stat even more impressive is that he is averaging 4.52 points per 60 minutes. His +2.63 differential comfortably leads the league and is among the highest differentials I have ever calculated. That is a 21-year-old defenceman with 181 games of OHL and pro experience, folks.
Once upon a time, the Canadiens had a big, rugged, mobile defender with a booming shot who was raw when he attended his first Montreal training camp, having played only one OHL season. He would develop in the AHL for 1 1/2 seasons before getting called up to the Canadiens. Larry Robinson turned out okay.
That’s not to say he is the next Habs Hall of Fame defenceman, but he has some similarities to Big Bird, and that type of weapon in the Canadiens lineup will be welcome when he’s ready.
Leading the AHL in points per game is a good start, and the two points he picked up last night in Rochester, including the overtime game-winner, demonstrate both his confidence and skill at the AHL level right now. He’s ready for prime time when the Mailloux Show gets approved by the Habs executives with a callup. The next one will likely be a permanent one.
Is Mailloux perfect defensively? Certainly not. He can get caught out of position, but it’s usually from being a bit too aggressive offensively, and that’s not always a bad thing as it demonstrates his confidence level. That can always be reined in at the NHL level, and he’s already shown that he’s not as liable to take offensive risks when he’s in the Big League.
You want a young defenceman in the minors thinking that he’s the best at that level, and you know what? Offensively, he is just that. He also has the speed to get back in the playoffs when he pinches too aggressively, and he busts his tail when he’s caught up ice. It will end up costing his team occasionally, but when one factors in the contributions he can provide offensively, it more than balances out at the AHL level at this point in his career, as his differential per 60 clearly demonstrates.
Those careless decisions are more a product of his lack of experience than any perceived lack of hockey IQ. The more reps and games he plays, the more he will realize his limitations. His coaches will also point this out, and the overaggressiveness will dissipate as he matures. It’s easier to tame a wild stallion than to motivate a bloodhound, but it takes time and patience.
With his team trailing 1-0 in Rochester last night, Mailloux sparked the team to victory with his offensive tools.
There isn’t a better power-play weapon in the AHL right now, as opponents have to respect his shot. He has the heaviest point shot in the league, and that goes for both his wrister and slapper. On Barre-Boulet’s power-play goal midway through the third period, the Americans had to respect Mailloux’s shot, and he disguised it perfectly while finding B-B with a perfect setup for the go-ahead goal.
His one-on-one defending has improved by leaps and bounds since he first lined up on London’s blueline. He no longer gets caught flatfooted, and with his mobility, length, and strength, he is difficult to beat one-on-one. His gap control is sound, as he is confident in his ability to keep up with his opponent. You don’t see him get burned very often any more, and that has come with experience.
When he has the puck in the defensive zone, his skating often gets his team out of trouble. It is very difficult to check him with his reach, puck protection, and mobility, and he skates the puck out of trouble. His outlet passes have also continued to improve, and he rarely coughs up the puck with a careless cross-ice pass. He doesn’t rush it when he has the puck and isn’t afraid to get hit to make the right play.
His puck retrievals are also very good, and his straightened speed is excellent. He wins races to the puck and then has the patience and bravery to hold onto it until the right pass comes along.
Mailloux played more than 25 minutes last night, including the opening shift and four shifts in total in overtime, which is a clear indication that the coaching staff has few concerns about his defensive game. He is averaging 2:14 per game on Laval’s top penalty-killing units, further evidence that the narrative that he’s poor defensively is incorrect.
The Canadiens are handling him perfectly by giving him a few NJL tastes but letting him gain experience playing 22+ minutes a night in Laval until the trade deadline when David Savard can be expected to be moved if the club is out of the playoff picture. David Reinbacher should be close to being ready at that point too, and he can slide into Mailloux’s spot in Laval without the club missing a beat.
