Intangir
Registered User
Engstrom was an "adventure" defensively the first couple of regular-season games for Laval, with most of his mistakes being over-aggression on pinches offensively or failing to properly map-out D coverage with his partner leading to guys getting open, receiving passes, and getting grade-A scoring chances (and screwing Dobes out of save percentage points on more than one occasion).
But then I feel that Engstrom started adapting, that the AHL coaching and NA experience started to make its way through him. Since the last 6-7 games I feel that Engstrom started playing a simpler, more patient type of game, and actually has been more than decent defensively for a rookie D that is new to the NA game.
I'd argue that Enstrom has been MUCH better this year to start his AHL career than Mailloux was in his first 10-15 games last year.
Now, if Engstrom manages to generally match Mailloux's unbelievably-fast pace of development defensively from last year then we'll really be in business.
I mean, Mailloux basically went from "even career ECHL-defensemen wouldn't suck that much defensively" the first couple games to "very solid at the AHL level" before the midway point of last season. That progression was crazy to see, I had never seen such a drastic in-season change in so few games in more than 20 years seriously following Canadiens prospects.
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