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

[ChesterNimitz]

Why is he producing less this season than last season ? How come he regressed so much ?

It may well be a case of less opportunity as both Trudeau and Engstrom's development has surpassed that of Mailloux's. One has to be blind not to recognize the limitations in Mailloux's skating. That limitation has largely pushed him off Laval's power play and the offensive production that flows from that playing opportunity.

This writer has come full circle with respect to Mailloux's upside. I was his biggest booster when he first played in London, but as early as August 2023, I cautioned everyone that Mailloux is not an elite skater as he lacks quickness and first step acceleration. Nothing I have seen watching Mailloux at Laval over the past two seasons has given me any confidence that Mailloux can develop into the top pairing defenceman that so many here expected or hoped for.

Posters are now suggesting that Hughes trade/include Mailloux in some blockbuster trade to acquire elite talent. I think that urging is a little too late. In March of 2024, I suggested that Mailloux be traded sooner than later because :

.... his market value, based on his offensive production this year, may never be higher. That type of production masks a lot of warts in his game and may blind other GMs to same.​

​

Regrettably, the opportunity to maximize Mailloux's value in a trade has disappeared. That proverbial ship has sailed.

 

[Don D]

I don't get it.
Mailloux is playing his second year in the AHL and has been selected to his second All Star game.

 

[1909]

I don't get it.
Mailloux is playing his second year in the AHL and has been selected to his second All Star game.

Who is selecting those players ? Coaches r medias ? Mailloux impressed a lot last season because of his blasting shots.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

Who is selecting those players ? Coaches r medias ? Mailloux impressed a lot last season because of his blasting shots.

Reputation.

Do you really believe Marchand should be playing for Canada at the upcoming Four Nations Tournament based on his performance this year?

Reputation is the great deceiver.

 

[1909]

Reputation.

Do you really believe Marchand should be playing for Canada at the upcoming Four Nations Tournament based on his performance this year?

Reputation is the great deceiver.

Do you think the selection of the four teams was done too early ? They should had waited after Christmas time, or mid season like now. They don’t need two and a half months to put names on jerseys.

 

[Sorinth]

Reputation.

Do you really believe Marchand should be playing for Canada at the upcoming Four Nations Tournament based on his performance this year?

Reputation is the great deceiver.

Which would also mean that the ship hasn't yet sailed on capitalizing on his trade value. It may have peaked this summer after his gaudy AHL rookie season, but he'll still hold significant trade value for a while longer.

I think ideally he would be traded as part of a package for a real high end NHLer, but given that Hughes mentioned they would probably value a '26 or '27 1st round pick more so then a 2025 pick I wonder if we could or should trade Mailloux for a protected 2026 1st round pick that turns into a '27 or even '28 pick with lesser and lesser protections.

 

[McGuires Corndog]

I personally expect nothing from him. I would use him as a trade asset this summer before he doesn’t have any value

I’m going to agree here. I don’t see enough hockey IQ in him to be able to overcome his defensive warts. I’d love to be wrong, but if he can be used as piece in a trade for a core player moving forward then you have to consider it. I’d also be ok if he was a sacrificial piece to move up in the first round to target a player we really like.

 

[montreal]

I’m going to agree here. I don’t see enough hockey IQ in him to be able to overcome his defensive warts. I’d love to be wrong, but if he can be used as piece in a trade for a core player moving forward then you have to consider it. I’d also be ok if he was a sacrificial piece to move up in the first round to target a player we really like.

that's very tough to know though as I used to rail against posters that hyped up Beaulieu when he was in Hamilton, I talked about how he kept repeating the same stupid mistakes over and over and how that is a big red flag. If you had of told me then that he would still end up playing almost 500 games in the NHL I would have said no way he's too stupid and can't get a shot on net to save his life. I was wrong.

Now that there's 32 teams it's watered down even more. One thing Mailloux has shown so far is he can produce but to try and figure out how much can he produce as say a PP specialist 7th D if he can't improve his defense vs what the lazy and or stupid plays he makes. It's just hard to know how much improvement he can make or not.

I have a lot of concerns, as he will just give up on a play at times and others he just does the opposite of what you should do. But I look at Baron and think Mailloux can be better then him.

 

[Vachon23]

that's very tough to know though as I used to rail against posters that hyped up Beaulieu when he was in Hamilton, I talked about how he kept repeating the same stupid mistakes over and over and how that is a big red flag. If you had of told me then that he would still end up playing almost 500 games in the NHL I would have said no way he's too stupid and can't get a shot on net to save his life. I was wrong.

Now that there's 32 teams it's watered down even more. One thing Mailloux has shown so far is he can produce but to try and figure out how much can he produce as say a PP specialist 7th D if he can't improve his defense vs what the lazy and or stupid plays he makes. It's just hard to know how much improvement he can make or not.

I have a lot of concerns, as he will just give up on a play at times and others he just does the opposite of what you should do. But I look at Baron and think Mailloux can be better then him.

I did the same comparison with Beaulieu before the season

Mailloux reminds me Nathan Beaulieu but bigger and with a better shot. Many interesting tools but no toolbox. Hope he can become like Sheldon Souray with his shot and physicality but I think his IQ will prevent him to be a top pair in the NHL

 

[Kimota]

Something I noticed with Mailloux even back to the Knight days is that he's a strong boy and he has a good size and always thought he should have been more physical. He already has no issues dropping them. But he should be forceful at getting pucks and hitting more. I think if he did that, he would be more engaged and less in his own mind, making mistakes. He should take notes from how Ghule is playing.

 

[Paddyjack]

I’m going to agree here. I don’t see enough hockey IQ in him to be able to overcome his defensive warts. I’d love to be wrong, but if he can be used as piece in a trade for a core player moving forward then you have to consider it. I’d also be ok if he was a sacrificial piece to move up in the first round to target a player we really like.

If we got Carrier for Barron, we certainly could get an interesting piece for Mailloux. I'm more confident in Engstrom anyway to be honest. But no hurry really, I think the best strategy is to wait next year and see if he can bring his game together, and if not, what do we need at that particular time and try to acquire it using him.

 

[CristianoRonaldo]

Trade him before it's too late, he's not good.

 

[CristianoRonaldo]

He also said that Hutson was a "gadget player". He's more wrong than right. He's a couch scout like most here. He'll see the odd game when available to him.

He made a mea culpa about Hutson. He's more often correct than wrong, he's far superior to the typical scout, and he can back up his points with a thorough explanation.