Prospect Info: Logan Mailloux Part 3 The Only Hockey Talk Thread

[ChesterNimitz]

I just think this "He's horrendous defensively" mantra is pure exaggeration.

There’s no shortage of exaggerated mantra on this site as the presumptive power of the consensus works both in favour and, at times, against discussed players. Mailloux is an instructive lesson as to the deceptive powers of mob thinking. We have a 6’ 3” 210 lbs defenceman with a supposed mean streak ( whatever that means) and many here believe and repeat the mantra that we have an imposing physical defence arriving: a verifiable Chris Pronger. Nothing could be 'wronger' (pardon the unfortunate rhyme). Keep repeating that misconception and it eventually becomes the accepted consensus. This phenomenon also works in the negative. Reading some posts here, there’s a growing segment of posters who now believe and are willing to parrot the idea that Mailloux would have difficulty effectively playing defence in house league hockey. Ahh, the ever present consensus.

In my position as a manager of a large amateur sport organization I often have to deal with troubled, minor aged athletes who commit acts that constitute criminal offences. Some of these kids come from broken homes or have/face developmental/ social challenges. So I was intrigued why Montreal was prepared to accept the all to be expected social/ public reaction and fury in drafting this self- confessed offender in the first round. So I did what everyone should have done, I did my research and avoided the opinions of the ever present talking heads and the moralists. I had my staff search and locate every video they could find of Mailloux being interviewed and playing both in Canada and overseas during COVID. I quickly determined that Mailloux was not the typical kid that I usually deal with who has committed a disciplinary transgression or even a criminal act. The interviews I watched disclosed a young man who was highly articulate and was very intelligent. The videos of Mailloux playing also confirmed that we had drafted a player who had a number of intriguing skills and traits: size, above average skating, great shot and near élite offensive vision for a player of his age. It was then that I decided to follow this player as he transitioned from minor hockey to junior (OHL) hockey. I tried to watch every video of Mailloux playing for London and saw him play in person on several occasions when I was in a city at the same time the Knights were playing. My many posts on this thread are a reflection of my efforts to gain an accurate perspective of this young player’s development.

I will repeat my previous assessment, as nothing that I have seen has changed same: 1) Mailloux will never be an overly physical defenceman, it is not his game. 2) Mailloux is not an elite skater as he lacks quickness and first step acceleration. He possesses excellent straight forward speed once he gets going and has acceptable lateral skating ability. 3) Mailloux has to gain core strength and add at least 10 pounds of muscle mass to be an effective player in the NHL as he had problems physically controlling larger opposing forwards in the OHL; 4) Mailloux has to greatly improve his game conditioning to play in the pros, at any level. Being away from the game for almost two years adversely impacted his stamina levels. 5) Mailloux possess elite offensive skills and vision. He sees the ice extremely well in the offensive zone; has excellent hand skills; has a range of shots that are already top NHL level and has a first pass that is the best that I have seen in a Montreal prospect since Subban and Chelios before him. His first pass is hard, flat and has laser like precision. In London, few of Mailloux’s teammates could successfully receive those Mahommes like passes. That won’t be the case when he’s passing to Suzuki, Caufield, etc. As I previously commented, Mailloux already has a better first pass than all current Montreal defenceman. 6) Mailloux’s defensive game remains a work in progress. From the games that I watched, Mailloux doesn’t have a natural defensive inclination. It is the exact opposite to Reinbacher’s defensive approach. Mailloux is often caught in between either closing the gap on an opposing forward or angling the forward towards a less threatening area of the ice. Mailloux relies on stick checks way too much and often looks like he’s playing ball hockey in his stationary efforts to block opposing forwards' passes and shots instead of aggressively attacking the opponent. Its in his defensive game where you can really see the missing two years of development. How his defensive game develops over the next few years will determine if Montreal drafted a star defenceman or just another in a long line of one-dimensional defencemen.

I remain confident that Mailloux will play in the NHL , and play well, whether for Montreal or some other team if we are foolish enough to trade him.

Just my thoughts.

 

[Tyson]

There’s no shortage of exaggerated mantra on this site as the presumptive power of the consensus works both in favour and at times against discussed players. Mailloux is an instructive lesson as to the deceptive powers of mob thinking. We have a 6’ 3” 210 lbs defenceman with a supposed mean streak ( whatever that means) and many here believe and repeat the mantra that we have an imposing physical defence arriving: a verifiable Chris Pronger. Nothing could be 'wronger' (pardon the unfortunate rhyme). Keep repeating that misconception and it eventually becomes the accepted consensus. This phenomenon also works in the negative. Reading some posts here, there’s a growing segment of posters who now believe and are willing to parrot the idea that Mailloux would have difficulty effectively playing defence in house league hockey. Ahh, the ever present consensus.

In my position as a manager of a large amateur sport organization I often have to deal with troubled, minor aged who commit acts that constitute criminal offences. Some of these kinds come from broken homes or have developmental/ social challenges. So I was intrigued why Montreal was prepared to accept the social/ public reaction and fury in drafting this self- confessed offender in the first round. So I did what everyone should have done, I did my research and avoided the opinions of the ever present talking heads and the moralists. I had my staff search and locate every video they could find of Mailloux being interviewed and playing both in Canada and overseas during COVID. I quickly determined that Mailloux was not the typical kid that I usually deal with who has committed a disciplinary transgression or even a criminal act. The interviews I watched disclosed a young man who was highly articulate and was very intelligent. The videos of Mailloux playing also confirmed that we had drafted a player who had a number of intriguing skills and traits: size, above average skating, great shot and near élite offensive vision for a player of his age. Ir was then that I decided to follow this player as he transitioned from minor hockey to junior (OHL) hockey. I tried to watch every video of Mailloux playing for London and saw him play in person on several occasions when I was in a city at the same time the Knights were playing. My many posts on this thread are a reflection of my efforts to gain an accurate perspective of this young player’s development.

I will repeat my previous assessment, as nothing that I have seen has changed same: 1) Mailloux will never be an overly physical defenceman, it is not his game. 2) Mailloux is not an elite skater as he lacks quickness and first step acceleration. He possesses excellent straight forward speed once he gets going and has acceptable lateral skating ability. 3) Mailloux has to gain core strength and add at least 10 pounds of muscle mass to be an effective player in the NHL as he had problems physically controlling larger opposing forwards in the OHL; 4) Mailloux has to greatly improve his game conditioning to play in the pros, at any level. Being away from the game for almost two years adversely impacted his stamina levels. 5) Mailloux possess elite offensive skills and vision. He sees the ice extremely well in the offensive zone; has excellent hand skills; has a range of shots that are already top NHL level and has a first pass that is the best that I have seen in a Montreal prospect since Subban and Chelios before him. His first pass is hard, flat and has laser like precision. In London, few of Mailloux’s teammates could successfully receive those Mahommes like passes. That won’t be the case when he’s passing to Suzuki, Caufield, etc. As I previously commented, Mailloux already has a better first pass than all current Montreal defenceman. 6) Mailloux’s defensive game remains a work in progress. From the games that I watched, Mailloux doesn’t have a natural defensive inclination. It is the exact opposite to Reinbacher’s defensive approach. Mailloux is often caught in between of closing the gap on an opposing forward or angling the forward towards a less threatening area of the ice. Mailloux relies on stick checks way too much and often looks like he’s playing ball hockey in his stationary efforts to block opposing forwards' passes and shots instead of aggressively attacking the opponent. Its in his defensive game where you can really see the missing two years of development. How his defensive game develops over the next few years will determine if Montreal drafted a star defenceman or just another in a long line of one-dimensional defenceman.

I remain confident that Mailloux will play in the NHL , and play well, whether for Montreal or some other team if we are foolish enough to trade him.

Just my thoughts.

I respect your posts more than I respect guys in the media.

 

[ROEN]

I'll have this article up on my substack about Mailloux for those who want to read up and follow a take on this :

The tale of Logan Mailloux’s climb to the NHL has been retraced ad nauseam. The narrative is familiar: youthful misjudgment in Europe, a distressing photograph, and ensuing legal entanglements. The aftermath? A fervent search for atonement and a narrative redefined from one of error to rehabilitation.

But Mailloux's story doesn't exist in isolation. It finds parallels in haunting sagas that have, over the years, pierced the Canadian soul. Amanda Todd's name echoes the debilitating effects of online transgressions. Yet, an even darker cloud gathers on the horizon: the looming revelations about sexual assault allegations surrounding the Canadian 2018 junior hockey team. As the nation braces for what's to come, Mailloux's quest for redemption appears even more daunting.

In his predicament, public discourse teetered on the brink. Many were torn, oscillating between outright censure and conditional empathy. Amidst this cacophony, one voice bore weighty resonance. Chantal Machabée, Quebec's revered sports journalist and a mother, was unequivocal. To her, Mailloux's place within the hallowed halls of the Canadiens, especially after their thrilling Cup run, was an ill-judged leap by Marc Bergevin.

Yet, the present finds Mailloux entrenched within the Canadiens, not just as a player, but as a symbol of hope or perhaps caution, as the team navigates a transition phase.

While the contours of Mailloux's penance journey remain largely veiled, endorsements from the London Knights and Canadiens' brass testify to his transformative strides. But with bated breath, the Canadiens are crafting a narrative around him, delicately balancing redemption against accountability.

Beyond his evident on-ice finesse, the real quest is to witness Mailloux’s holistic evolution. His journey stands as a beacon for many, not just for his personal metamorphosis but as a potential template for those implicated in the impending 2018 junior team revelations. The road to redemption, while personal for Mailloux, now holds broader implications. The NHL, the Canadiens, and especially the victims of such cyber indiscretions deserve a clear roadmap.

As the Habs grapple with their internal dynamics, they must be acutely conscious of the broader conversation they're contributing to. This isn't merely about one player's redemption, but about setting a precedent in a hockey landscape grappling with deeply entrenched issues. The hope is that they rise to this challenge, meeting it head-on, rather than averting their gaze.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

I think his story is important, btw I updated the article putting a bit of emphasis on how NHL teams will be following him to see how to create a blueprint for the NHL talent that was part of the 2018 Canada Junior Hockey team

The speculation from that is there's 2 good players, so their teams will likely try to keep said player, maybe introduce a suspension themselves for said player for one team, but the other is rumored to be traded and I imagine teams are waiting until that player is cleared.

The others that I remember almost certainly part of the group are barely NHLers, so teams will just avoid them. It's much easier that way than dealing with the media for a fringe player.

One player who didn't play in the league and still doesn't have a contract is very likely to not get another one, but they could be a player a team acquires to deal with as he might be a good depth option.

 

[Sagikev]

and Armia’s contracts

f*** I thought he had one more year on his contract, but it's actually 2... My night is ruined

 

[DinosaurBones]

I'll have this article up on my substack about Mailloux for those who want to read up and follow a take on this :

The tale of Logan Mailloux’s climb to the NHL has been retraced ad nauseam. The narrative is familiar: youthful misjudgment in Europe, a distressing photograph, and ensuing legal entanglements. The aftermath? A fervent search for atonement and a narrative redefined from one of error to rehabilitation.

But Mailloux's story doesn't exist in isolation. It finds parallels in haunting sagas that have, over the years, pierced the Canadian soul. Amanda Todd's name echoes the debilitating effects of online transgressions. Yet, an even darker cloud gathers on the horizon: the looming revelations about sexual assault allegations surrounding the Canadian 2018 junior hockey team. As the nation braces for what's to come, Mailloux's quest for redemption appears even more daunting.

In his predicament, public discourse teetered on the brink. Many were torn, oscillating between outright censure and conditional empathy. Amidst this cacophony, one voice bore weighty resonance. Chantal Machabée, Quebec's revered sports journalist and a mother, was unequivocal. To her, Mailloux's place within the hallowed halls of the Canadiens, especially after their thrilling Cup run, was an ill-judged leap by Marc Bergevin.

Yet, the present finds Mailloux entrenched within the Canadiens, not just as a player, but as a symbol of hope or perhaps caution, as the team navigates a transition phase.

While the contours of Mailloux's penance journey remain largely veiled, endorsements from the London Knights and Canadiens' brass testify to his transformative strides. But with bated breath, the Canadiens are crafting a narrative around him, delicately balancing redemption against accountability.

Beyond his evident on-ice finesse, the real quest is to witness Mailloux’s holistic evolution. His journey stands as a beacon for many, not just for his personal metamorphosis but as a potential template for those implicated in the impending 2018 junior team revelations. The road to redemption, while personal for Mailloux, now holds broader implications. The NHL, the Canadiens, and especially the victims of such cyber indiscretions deserve a clear roadmap.

As the Habs grapple with their internal dynamics, they must be acutely conscious of the broader conversation they're contributing to. This isn't merely about one player's redemption, but about setting a precedent in a hockey landscape grappling with deeply entrenched issues. The hope is that they rise to this challenge, meeting it head-on, rather than averting their gaze.

Holy big thesaurus guy

Edit: Not that theres anything wrong with that

 

[ZUKI]

Well, the reason Hoffman isn’t a Hab anymore is that Hughes was able to orchestrate an excellent transaction involving many moving parts that successfully undid Bergevin’s ineptness in signing Hoffman in the first place. I suspect ridding ourseives of Gallagher’s and Armia’s contracts will prove to be a more daunting task. Hughes’ success in this regard will, as I previously noted, impact Hughes’ legacy and the success of his efforts to re-build this storied franchise.

please, enough with this blinded admiration for anything Hughes is doing as much as the blinded hate for anything Bergevin has done.

We have no clue how the trade has been done: was it an offer made by Hughes or simply an offer orchestrated by the Pens GM who proposed the base of it and Hughes just approved and discussed about some secondary details? we don’t know, so we won’t call Hughes a genius for it.

as i said , all the teams have bad contracts, have overpaid players, so there is no need to paint Hughes as if he has inherited the worst team ever. Suzuki, Caufield , Anderson, Guhle, WifiXman, Harris , Chiarot , Toffoli, Petry, those last that were turned into very good assets by Hughes but because he had something to work with. And to end , there’s a lot of promising prospects that are coming very soon.

I really like the work of Hughes until now , minus the trade with Detroit . The man is brilliant, articulated and i am confident he will build a good team. But he’s not an hero neither a martyr

 

[ChesterNimitz]

please, enough with this blinded admiration for anything Hughes is doing as much as the blinded hate for anything Bergevin has done.

We have no clue how the trade has been done: was it an offer made by Hughes or simply an offer orchestrated by the Pens GM who proposed the base of it and Hughes just approved and discussed about some secondary details? we don’t know, so we won’t call Hughes a genius for it.

as i said , all the teams have bad contracts, have overpaid players, so there is no need to paint Hughes as if he has inherited the worst team ever. Suzuki, Caufield , Anderson, Guhle, WifiXman, Harris , Chiarot , Toffoli, Petry, those last that were turned into very good assets by Hughes but because he had something to work with. And to end , there’s a lot of promising prospects that are coming very soon.

I really like the work of Hughes until now , minus the trade with Detroit . The man is brilliant, articulated and i am confident he will build a good team. But he’s not an hero neither a martyr

I neither seek nor expect a hero or a martyr. Mere professional competence will suffice. It will be a refreshing change from the dredges of incompetence that we have endured for what seems to be an eternity.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

please, enough with this blinded admiration for anything Hughes is doing as much as the blinded hate for anything Bergevin has done.

We have no clue how the trade has been done: was it an offer made by Hughes or simply an offer orchestrated by the Pens GM who proposed the base of it and Hughes just approved and discussed about some secondary details? we don’t know, so we won’t call Hughes a genius for it.

as i said , all the teams have bad contracts, have overpaid players, so there is no need to paint Hughes as if he has inherited the worst team ever. Suzuki, Caufield , Anderson, Guhle, WifiXman, Harris , Chiarot , Toffoli, Petry, those last that were turned into very good assets by Hughes but because he had something to work with. And to end , there’s a lot of promising prospects that are coming very soon.

I really like the work of Hughes until now , minus the trade with Detroit . The man is brilliant, articulated and i am confident he will build a good team. But he’s not an hero neither a martyr

He inherited good players but more worthless turds and terrible contracts than most GM's start with. Very few GM's have the brains to make some of the trades Hughes has made. And in most of the deals like the Pittsburgh deal there were other GM's lined up to help out and he came out with the deal.

 

[salbutera]

He inherited good players but more worthless turds and terrible contracts than most GM's start with. Very few GM's have the brains to make some of the trades Hughes has made. And in most of the deals like the Pittsburgh deal there were other GM's lined up to help out and he came out with the deal.

How dare other GMs not realize all that needed to be done was waive the magic wand to get Petry to waive his NTC…

 

[Wateredgarden]

Mailloux and Hutson are projects, the tools are insane, but before we call them professional players the road will be long.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

How dare other GMs not realize all that needed to be done was waive the magic wand to get Petry to waive his NTC…

There were 15+ teams he could be traded to. It is possible that Habs were the only ones that could absorb Petry's whole contract.

 

[Tyson]

I still can't believe that the report of Mailloux being cleared to play was false. I also can't believe that this hasn't been dealt with yet.

If they add what Mailloux did with the 2018 WJC team and suspend him that will be over the top. NHLPA better step up.

 

[the valiant effort]

I still can't believe that the report of Mailloux being cleared to play was false. I also can't believe that this hasn't been dealt with yet.

If they add what Mailloux did with the 2018 WJC team and suspend him that will be over the top. NHLPA better step up.

When the heck did this happen?!

 

[1909]

I think his story is important, btw I updated the article putting a bit of emphasis on how NHL teams will be following him to see how to create a blueprint for the NHL talent that was part of the 2018 Canada Junior Hockey team

It,s like comparing apples and oranges. The guys who had raped the young woman in London should be suspended fo a very, very long time, even for the rest of their potental career.

 

[Tyson]

When the heck did this happen?!

Francis Bouillon said as much in an interview a few days ago.

 

[1909]

Does he or does he not have the Presidential pardon to access the NHL ? The Habs nor the NHL have sent out a press relase about that. So we can assume he is not so far.

 

[Electronic83]

I dont know what to think about media reporting these day, getting frustrated about them. There is so few of them that are credible and those are silent in the summer usualy. 50% of the stuff is made up or manipulated for clicking. Renaud Lavoie was in my mind supposed to be legit since hes working on the official team broadcaster, but hes not anymore.

I bet he took a beer with a habs staff and that person said " ah dont worry, kent told me there is almos no chance he wont be allowed to play" . After that he went back on TV to be the one who break the news, putting his rep on the line. I guess we will have to wait for offical news from the team or league its the only way to be set. Like the news about Reinbacher who theoricaly wont play AHL next year this should be debunked soon enough.

 

[Habs Halifax]

He's heading into his age 20 season after trying to recover from his mistake. Fans/Media want information faster than what management/NHL want to release it. At the end of the day, he's showing up to camp and competing and he's work very hard at becoming a better person and learning from a big mistake. It's very possible that they want to see a bit more from him before the "official" information of him cleared to play is released.

Does he need official approval play preseason games? I'm assuming so. This will be announced in September sometime. Our first preseason game is what? Sept 25th? Almost a month away still.

 

[1909]

He's heading into his age 20 season after trying to recover from his mistake. Fans/Media want information faster than what management/NHL want to release it. At the end of the day, he's showing up to camp and competing and he's work very hard at becoming a better person and learning from a big mistake. It's very possible that they want to see a bit more from him before the "official" information of him cleared to play is released.

Does he need official approval play preseason games? I'm assuming so. This will be announced in September sometime. Our first preseason game is what? Sept 25th? Almost a month away still.

How come then that the NHL have stated officially in the past that Mailloux won't be permitted to play at NHL before a personal hearing with Bettman ? If it was official then, how come they are not "officially" stating than he will be allowed to play at NHL level ? What is something would be made public, but the ban lift would be "private" and silent ?

 

[RC51]

Look I dont know what the deal is with LM and Betman right now.
BUT,,, rookie camp is just round the corner. the kids needs an answer NOW.
Ok Mr. Betman, the kids has already paid a huge price for his wrong actions.
His is overdue to be let out of jail. Enough is enough already. If Betman does NOT finally let him out of jail, then go ahead and post it Mr. Betman, throw him out FOREVER, end his nhl dreams, face the kid and tell him to his face " you will never play in the nhl for the rest of your life and beyond, go work at starbucks your in fact lucky I dont tie you to a tree and whip you back with 100 lashes as in 1820 because I own you ass when it come to the nhl.

 

[Kimota]

There is no "Presidential pardon" lol

It was widely reported that he has been cleared to play and was clearly done without an official press release to keep the blue haired zealots at bay. Do you not think that the NHL would be all over a false report of his clearing?

The story is over and there is nothing left to debate.

I hope you're right.

 

[Treb]

Homework for all of you. Research the meaning of "only hockey talk". I am very close to locking Mailloux threads for a while.

 

[Boss Man Hughes]

Homework for all of you. Research the meaning of "only hockey talk". I am very close to locking Mailloux threads for a while.

WHY? There were 2 Mailloux threads. One for hockey talk and one to discuss non hockey talk. Just need to resurrect the other thread.

 

[Treb]

WHY? There were 2 Mailloux threads. One for hockey talk and one to discuss non hockey talk. Just need to resurrect the other thread.

No, because it always gets political and politics are not allowed on here. We have tried many times and we don't want to ban half the users that post in the thread.

X is there if you want to debate Mailloux's off-ice incident.