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

[ChesterNimitz]

On that rush he should have shot.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Year and a half in the A and hopefully he comes up for the playoff push next spring. The offence is definitely tantalizing but as a few posters have talked about in the past his defense needs work. The way he followed Hughes around last night was like me in a rec league soccer game.

He is quite quite raw tbh but I think he’ll get there. I know he’s responsible for his actions but you have to wonder if he hadnt lost the year would he be trending toward a #1

Last night you saw the good and bad in Mailloux's game. As some here know, I watched most of Mailloux's games last year in London and reported my assessments on same. I found three main weaknesses in Mailloux's game last year: lack of defensive acumen; lack of quickness and lack of conditioning. Two plays last night highlight the latter two weakness. It was something that I witnesses on many occasions last season. On the Mercer goal, Mailloux was forced to contain / defend Hughes both on the backcheck and in the defensive zone. Hughes is an elite skater both with respect to speed and edgework. Mailloux couldn't catch him on the backcheck and then couldn't contain him in the defensive zone. Its fair to say that most established NHL defencemen couldn't contain this rising star. But notions that Mailloux is an elite skater is simply wrong. He has above average straightforward speed but only average quickness and edgework. Also, at the end of that play, Mailloux started to show fatigue and that contributed as much to his inability to contain (skate with) Hughes as the difference in these players' comparative skating abilities. Those two missing development years have and continue to haunt him. I notice these things in players. But I'm happy to say his overall conditioning against superior competition looked improved. The other play, which is more problematic, was that in the third period he allowed Lazar to go around him on a rush and gain easy access to our net. If a marginal player like Lazar can go around him, what will Mailloux do when facing a McDavid or MacKinnon level player? This kid has great potential. But expecting Mailloux to be the defensive messiah this year or even next year is setting yourself up for disappointment. Let him play big minutes in the AHL. Let him get stronger and faster. Let him grow as a player so that when he does arrive he has a chance of being the impactful player he shows so much promise of becoming.

 

[Saundies]

Mailloux is a crystal clear case of sending a player back to the AHL. It's not even a knock on his talent or where his game is, but the guy simply missed too many games in his development years to not marinate a little in the minors. He could be quote-unquote "ready" and I would still want to see him play there for a little bit.

Nothing wrong with actually letting a 1st round pick develop for a little while.

 

[Ghetto Sangria]

Mailloux is a crystal clear case of sending a player back to the AHL. It's not even a knock on his talent or where his game is, but the guy simply missed too many games in his development years to not marinate a little in the minors. He could be quote-unquote "ready" and I would still want to see him play there for a little bit.

Nothing wrong with actually letting a 1st round pick develop for a little while.

Agreed. Trudeau had issues defensively to start last season in the AHL, but he got more and more opportunity as the season went on due to injury/call ups, etc. He made the most of it and is showing a much better defensive acumen in this camp.

Mailloux becomes an impact top 4 defenseman at the least if he figures out the defensive side of things. His offense will translate that seems pretty clear at this point.

 

[rahad]

Year and a half in the A and hopefully he comes up for the playoff push next spring. The offence is definitely tantalizing but as a few posters have talked about in the past his defense needs work. The way he followed Hughes around last night was like me in a rec league soccer game.

He is quite quite raw tbh but I think he’ll get there. I know he’s responsible for his actions but you have to wonder if he hadnt lost the year would he be trending toward a #1

I can see us trading one of the vet in the 2025 trade deadline to make room for Mailloux. Hopefully, we make the playoff in 2025.

 

[Deebs]

Mailloux is a crystal clear case of sending a player back to the AHL. It's not even a knock on his talent or where his game is, but the guy simply missed too many games in his development years to not marinate a little in the minors. He could be quote-unquote "ready" and I would still want to see him play there for a little bit.

Nothing wrong with actually letting a 1st round pick develop for a little while.

Absolutely. Laval is in the cards for Logan and that's perfect. He can quarterback the PP feeding Slaf at the top of the slot.

 

[Tyson]

Absolutely. Laval is in the cards for Logan and that's perfect. He can quarterback the PP feeding Slaf at the top of the slot.

From what I have seen from LM he is a legitimate big time prospect. One thing that cannot be denied is the amount of hockey he has played over the last 3 years. For that reason it would be wise to play him 22 minutes a night in Laval in all situations. The kid is the real deal, I would argue that he is the Habs top prospect.

One thing that has become clear is that the coaching staffing Laval is pretty damn impressive, and sending young players down is actually a positive.

 

[Andy]

Can someone who has a more technical understanding of skating explain to me why Mailloux is so smooth skating laterally and in a straight line, but takes so much time to pivot and turn? I've noticed he takes really wide arcs to turn directions and he keeps getting outskated as a result. What is going on from a technical perspective?

That part of his skating is concerning me a little. He changes directions like an 18 wheeler.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

Can someone who has a more technical understanding of skating explain to me why Mailloux is so smooth skating laterally and in a straight line, but takes so much time to pivot and turn? I've noticed he takes really wide arcs to turn directions and he keeps getting outskated as a result. What is going on from a technical perspective?

That part of his skating is concerning me a little. He changes directions like an 18 wheeler.

The simple answer is that he’s a big dude.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

The simple answer is that he’s a big dude.

And he’s still growing into that big body. Mailloux will never be a nimble skater. He’s skating is all about power. If this kid gains a half a step over the next year or so, ( which I think he will) he's going to be hard to stop off the rush

 

[HuGort]

Mailloux played good. Considering all the time he missed

 

[Scriptor]

And he’s still growing into that big body. Mailloux will never be a nimble skater. He’s skating is all about power. If this kid gains a half a step over the next year or so, ( which I think he will) he's going to be hard to stop off the rush

As long as Mailloux can protect the puck as he uses his powerful stride, he will be hard to stop off the rush, even if he doesn't gain that half a step, IMO.

With the right pairing partner that can shield him, defensively (Guhle?), the upside to Mailloux's game will offset the liabilities greatly, I think.

 

[Tyson]

Logan Mailloux is easily this team's top prospect IMO.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

As long as Mailloux can protect the puck as he uses his powerful stride, he will be hard to stop off the rush, even if he doesn't gain that half a step, IMO.

With the right pairing partner that can shield him, defensively (Guhle?), the upside to Mailloux's game will offset the liabilities greatly, I think.

Agreed. There are few defencemen that are perfect. Most have some deficiencies/weaknesses. Mailloux's defensive shortcomings, while noticeable, are, like most things on boards like this, exaggerated. For example, against the Devils, was he a greater defensive liability than Xhekaj? In assessing any young player you look at the total package and where growth/development is necessary. And whether such growth is probable. In Mailloux's case we have an intriguing prospect whose offensive skills are already NHL level. With any growth, these skills will become elite level. If and when that happens, I doubt his defensive deficiencies, whatever they are, will preclude him from being an impact player at the next level. Such is his offensive upside. As I have said, the idle talk of trading this young, promising player borders on complete folly.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Logan Mailloux is easily this team's top prospect IMO.

I think he is neck and neck with Hutson. But if Mailloux takes the next step: increased strength, conditioning and defensive awareness - it won't be close. His total physical package that he offers will be superior to the undersized but brilliant Hutson. Having both as future key players on our powerplay is an unbelievable luxury.

 

[Scriptor]

I think he is neck and neck with Hutson. But if Mailloux takes the next step: increased strength, conditioning and defensive awareness - it won't be close. His total physical package that he offers will be superior to the undersized but brilliant Hutson. Having both as future key players on our powerplay is an unbelievable luxury.

He may never produce at Karlsson levels, but Karlsson is the prime example of how elite offensive talent, for a D, overshadows any defensive deficiencies they might have. There are plenty of other examples more comparable to what we might expect from Mailloux's offensive production.

Sheldon Souray, AKA, 'The Pylon', is a good example. There are many others.

If Mailloux becomes a 20+ goal-scorer that can get 50+ points regularly and make our PP potent, nobody will be nit-picking his defensive limitations. The team will just concentrate on shielding Mailloux with the right pairing partner at even strength.

All the better, of course, if Mailloux improves his defensive acumen and becomes at least average in that department (he's already not that far off from that benchmark, I think, because, as you noted, while noticeable, his shortcomings are also exaggerated).

 

[MD thaivuN]

He may never produce at Karlsson levels, but Karlsson is the prime example of how elite offensive talent, for a D, overshadows any defensive deficiencies they might have. There are plenty of other examples more comparable to what we might expect from Mailloux's offensive production.

Sheldon Souray, AKA, 'The Pylon', is a good example. There are many others.

If Mailloux becomes a 20+ goal-scorer that can get 50+ points regularly and make our PP potent, nobody will be nit-picking his defensive limitations. The team will just concentrate on shielding Mailloux with the right pairing partner at even strength.

All the better, of course, if Mailloux improves his defensive acumen and becomes at least average in that department (he's already not that far off from that benchmark, I think, because, as you noted, while noticeable, his shortcomings are also exaggerated).

Hell, we had Ben Chiarot in the top 4, whose physical attributes made people cope over his sus defensive game. Mailloux just need to reach that level of decency defensively.

 

[sampollock]

laval will do this kid so much good. mold him down there

 

[1909]

Logan Mailloux is easily this team's top prospect IMO.

No. But he is a top-three or top-four. Reinbacher is already a way better d-man than Mailloux. Hutson is a rare talent.

 

[Tyson]

No. But he is a top-three or top-four. Reinbacher is already a way better d-man than Mailloux. Hutson is a rare talent.

I don't think we truly know yet and I hope all 3 become studs for this team.

 

[Vachon23]

Still have a lot of doubt about his hockey IQ but he got tools

 

[Habs Halifax]

Logan Mailloux is easily this team's top prospect IMO.

Not with me. Roy is our top prospect. Slaf and Reinbacher could leap frog him but I think Roy would be my top guy today. Mailloux is in the top 5 mix for sure though. Then add Hutson to this mix.

laval will do this kid so much good. mold him down there

One area I ponder about is if Mailloux follows the Barron development path or does he have faster development. They seem similar to me... big boys that can skate and have good shots and decent vision. It's going to come down to how they comprehend the reliability game for a D man in the NHL. A lot of guys don't figure it out.

 

[HuGort]

Mailloux has gain a lot since that first game in rookie camp. Not going to be long before he in NHL. Trade deadline at latest.

 

[417]

It's funny...ever since he's been drafted all we've heard about was how bad he is defensively.

I haven't watched a ton, but I do think that his defensive deficiencies are largely narrative-based.

When you're told player A has a specific weakness, it's hard to see anything else after awhile.

He's got some warts in his game, which is normal...especially for a player who hasn't played a ton.

But I don't see anything that's going to be insurmountable.

 

[Gaylord Q Tinkledink]

It's funny...ever since he's been drafted all we've heard about was how bad he is defensively.

I haven't watched a ton, but I do think that his defensive deficiencies are largely narrative-based.

When you're told player A has a specific weakness, it's hard to see anything else after awhile.

He's got some warts in his game, which is normal...especially for a player who hasn't played a ton.

But I don't see anything that's going to be insurmountable.

People didn't like the pick because of the controversy around it and will exaggerate his flaws and undermine his skills because that's how people are.

His defensive play isn't NHL ready, but I think he could be decent defensively to start in the A. He's still got the size, speed and reach to fix some of his errors in the A. To put him in the NHL right now he would be burned daily and would just destroy his confidence.

Better to let him experience the occasional defensive flaw in the A
, so be can learn from it, than to be rushed and destroyed.

He probably shouldn't start in the NHL next season, either, but who knows how the season will go.

I'm also of the belief to season a bit more than to rush and see it not work out.