Good report.
Here is my assessment of Mailloux's play against the Flint Firebirds.
Overall: Mailloux played a strong, game and was effective in all three zones of the ice. He played in all high leverage situations as Hunter continues to rely heavily on Mailloux in all critical in-game situations. From this observer's perspective, Mailloux was, in an understated and controlled manner, the most impressive London player in the game.
Offensively: While he was kept off the score sheet, through his skating, shooting, passing and overall offensive vision, Mailloux created multiple scoring chances. From his usual half-board position, Mailloux continues to be the player who drives the Knights' power play. Problem is, all opposing teams know this and know that if given a shooting opportunity, he's either going to score or kill their goalie. This overplaying against Mailloux opens up the ice for other players on the ice and, as he has showed against the Fireboards (and as he has shown throughout the year) Mailloux has the skill, vision and patience to find that open teammate. Mailloux showed that NHL + shooting skill multiple times and if he could hit the net more consistently, he would have at least 15 more goals this season. While Mailloux has many intriguing skills (size, reach, skating and a 100+ mph shot) to admire, his overall vision and passing skills are excellent. Like Joe Montana throwing 40 yard pinpoint passes to Jerry Rice, Mailloux easily 'completes' two zone passes to teammates and makes highly intuitive passes in the offensive zone that creates grade A scoring chances. It's a vision and passing ability that few players at the OHL level possess and I would suggest that few of Montreal's current defencemen have. That passing talent and on ice vision, in themselves make Mailloux a valuable asset. And if the Montreal brain trust somehow can't see it, I am certain other teams, with a modicum of insight, can. Talk of trading this prospect, particularly after Montreal has already absorbed and digested so much criticism by selecting Mailloux in the first place, is complete foolishness.
Defensively: While Mailloux will never be a defensive wizard, the defensive side of his game continues to mature. He no longer has a penchant for chasing the play in the defensive zone and is more apt to close the gap and force the play when such a tactic will have a positive result. Put simply, there is a greater purpose and control to his defensive game as he is now using his size and skating advantages to eliminate opposing forwards rather than adopting a stationary stance or chasing opposing forwards all over the ice. Case in point was his play when he was able to neutralize a rush by one of the OHL's fastest forwards, Amadeus Lombardi. Lombardi tried to sweep around the London Knight when Mailloux turned with Lombadi and by employing his great edge skating ability was able to squeeze the rushing forward against the boards behind the net and take the puck away. It was a play that Mailloux couldn't or wouldn't do at the start of the season. As some know, I suggested several months ago, that perhaps Mailloux's future in the NHL was as a forward. Against Flint, I had a chance to watch Mailloux play as a forward for one shift when leaving the penalty box after serving his 2 minute penalty he immediately went and played left wing. For that short shift Mailloux reminded me of the old Russian player, Alexander Yakushev. Same size, frame and skating style. How's that for a blast from the past?
Other Notes: The game also provided me with another opportunity to watch a player who first caught my eye at the most recent Prospects Game: Coulson Pitre. This kid has NHL written all over him. He has size , excellent skating, agggression and a nose for the net. Pitre has 24 goals and 34 assists in 57 games. He may be a bit of a reach to take him with Florida's 1st rounder, but if Pitre is available at the top of the second round when we are drafting, I would grab him. In my view he's as good a prospect as Beck. Maybe even better.
So do opposing forwards.
