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

[overlords]

Why would the Canadiens trade away a Right D when the biggest organizational weakness is RD?

Mailloux is one of the top RD prospects they have. Why do you think they are going to trade him?

If they trade mailloux, it's because they're receiving some certainty on RD in exchange, either in that trade or in another parallel one, or maybe UFA. The habs aren't going to go forward with two green RD's propping up a team that is hoping to make the playoffs.

 

[Tyson]

If they trade mailloux, it's because they're receiving some certainty on RD in exchange, either in that trade or in another parallel one. The habs aren't going to go forward with two green RD's propping up a team that is hoping to make the playoffs.

Is it possible that after two complete AHL seasons that Logan Mailloux might be ready for the NHL? I am not saying he is but somewhere in the Rochester series he got hurt and struggled the rest of the playoffs but before then...he was arguably Laval's best player.

 

[overlords]

Is it possible that after two complete AHL seasons that Logan Mailloux might be ready for the NHL? I am not saying he is but somewhere in the Rochester series he got hurt and struggled the rest of the playoffs but before then...he was arguably Laval's best player.

I think his greatest weakness and strengths are a terrible match for our needs. I also don't think he was ever our best player in laval. He was putting up points because he's a really good trigger guy. He's too slow/predictable at circulating the puck in the o-zone, I can't stand him when he's Qbing the pp rather than being the shooter. I also don't think he's good at all against a cycle, he's improved at defending the rush though. Still takes pretty dumb penalties. I don't see him ever playing the PK at the NHL level, and it'd be nice to replace Savard's contributions somehow. If he really hits, I think he could be a PP2 guy, but he's got a long way to go.

That being said, RDs are worth their weight in gold and I don't move him unless I find someone that meets our needs better than he does.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

A lot of hot takes on Mailloux in here. Some positive, many negative. I think what we have to remember is this kid only just turned 22 (in April). He’s a developing prospect, in a position that often requires a longer time to develop before they’re ready to play full time in the NHL. We’re seeing it on the big club with guys like Xhekaj, Struble, and even Guhle. Not Hutson obviously but he’s a freak haha…. It takes time for a young guy to break in and become a steady NHL defender.

The thing I always go back to when evaluating high end talent - “You can teach defense but you can’t teach offence.” It’s that simple with this prospect. He’s got a ton of offensive ability, but his defense is poor. He tried focusing more on that part of the game this year and his offensive totals dwindled because of it….

He does add size and physicality at a prime position, and also shown a ton of character and willingness to do the hard work required to even be offered a contract by Hughes. That’s not something to be simply Pooh poohed and given away. He has some significant warts, but with proper coaching and a commitment to hard work, I don’t see any reason why he couldn’t be a regular NHL player. Hes close in many ways - Christ he has 5 points in 8 NHL games! - if we can just get him to be an average defender who plays with an edge, he will be a big addition to this team. How many 6’3, 220 lbs right hand shot defenders have that kind of offensive ability while still playing physical/dropping the gloves in today’s game? Almost zero. We can absolutely use what he brings but we have to be patient.

Some of you may remember when the Habs had the best development system in the NHL. Those old Nova Scotia Voyageurs teams produced and developed so much elite talent for the parent club. Prospects were allowed to simmer and develop before they joined the big club, but they were ready when they got there. Defensemen like Larry Robinson, Rick Chartraw, Brian Engblom, Mike Lalor all spent at least two seasons in the AHL and went on to have long careers in the NHL, and the AHL was a tough tough league back then.

Have some patience, we have a talented prospect here with a unique skill set, who is still very young, and who has already shown he can produce offensively at the highest level.

This post sums up my thoughts on LM. Factor in the missed development time and I think he’s exceeding expectations at this age. Time is our friend here and Maillioux will be an asset to this club in the not too distant future.

 

[Tyson]

I think his greatest weakness and strengths are a terrible match for our needs. I also don't think he was ever our best player in laval. He was putting up points because he's a really good trigger guy. He's too slow/predictable at circulating the puck in the o-zone, I can't stand him when he's Qbing the pp rather than being the shooter. I also don't think he's good at all against a cycle, he's improved at defending the rush though. Still takes pretty dumb penalties. I don't see him ever playing the PK at the NHL level, and it'd be nice to replace Savard's contributions somehow. If he really hits, I think he could be a PP2 guy, but he's got a long way to go.

That being said, RDs are worth their weight in gold and I don't move him unless I find someone that meets our needs better than he does.

According to many including Anthony Marcotte he was Laval's best player in the playoffs until midway through the Rochester series. Rumor has it that he had injured ribs.
The Habs do need to figure out their D core because it is a hodge podge of players that don't mesh.

 

[DAChampion]

I've been posting regularly here since 2012 or so, but I don't recall many people discussing LD vs RD until a couple years ago. I think they were largely discussed as interchangeable.

 

[Soaker]

I've been posting regularly here since 2012 or so, but I don't recall many people discussing LD vs RD until a couple years ago. I think they were largely discussed as interchangeable.

It's not that big of a deal,many blow it out of proportion.

 

[JGRB]

It's not that big of a deal,many blow it out of proportion.

Josh Gorges, a LHD was one of if not our best RD for like a 5 year window.

It’s definitely blown out of proportion.

 

[BehindTheTimes]

I've been posting regularly here since 2012 or so, but I don't recall many people discussing LD vs RD until a couple years ago. I think they were largely discussed as interchangeable.

I think it was largely ignored until team Canada selection where Babcock wanted right handed shots on the right side and left handed shots on the left side. Most of the elite puck movers/skaters can probably play either or. Guhle/Hutson both very young looked very good on their off side. Ever since that selection camp it’s all we hear about.

 

[HabsAddict]

If Hughes trades for Zegras then the trifecta of failed trades will be complete.

Verbeek literally hates floaters...and HuGo will do what?

Failed once, it happens.

Failed twice, didn't learn from first mistake.

Failed three times, simply incompetent.

 

[HabsAddict]

According to many including Anthony Marcotte he was Laval's best player in the playoffs until midway through the Rochester series. Rumor has it that he had injured ribs.
The Habs do need to figure out their D core because it is a hodge podge of players that don't mesh.

I've been trying to get the injury info.

Usually players can't hide the injury because invariably they try to protect it. The only hint i have was he was slow when he went back for a dropped stick. In a rib bruise, even unconsciously one usually avoid bending in that side but I can't remember which side he was favoring. Definetly it was an odd one hand pickup.

He still net cleared so if it was a rib injury, he heavily dose on pain killers. And of course...really really help with alertness...NOT

 

[JianYang]

I met Sheldon when he came off the ice at a morning skate. We were talking, he got called into the locker room, came back out and apologized for leaving our chat, he handed me a stick. After practice we walked out side by side talking. Sheldon Souray and Mike Komisarek are arguably the 2 nicest athletes I have ever met.

Never heard souray say a bad thing about anyone except the Edmonton oilers organization lol.

 

[Skip Bayless]

Josh Gorges, a LHD was one of if not our best RD for like a 5 year window.

It’s definitely blown out of proportion.

Josh Gorges and the Montreal Canadiens also couldn't move the puck out of their own end to save their lives at that point in time. And same for today.

It's important to have players on their good side, not every player has the skills to compensate for playing on their backhand.

 

[le_sean]

Josh Gorges, a LHD was one of if not our best RD for like a 5 year window.

It’s definitely blown out of proportion.

lol what 5 year window are you alluding to? His Habs career coincided with Komisarek right at the start then PK Subban. At no point in time was Josh Gorges our best RD. All he could do was wildly throw the puck off the glass.

 

[Sorinth]

Why would the Canadiens trade away a Right D when the biggest organizational weakness is RD?

Mailloux is one of the top RD prospects they have. Why do you think they are going to trade him?

There's a few reasons why he might be the one to go.

• It takes value to get value, and Mailloux does have value.
• We want to take a step right now, and Mailloux even if he's ready to play in the NHL, which frankly is somewhat doubtful, the most optmistic projections will have him taking several years adjusting to the NHL before he would be a significant contributor to the team. So if he's part of a package for a quality NHL player we are a better team even if trading from a weak area.
• They might feel his problems aren't likely to improve and that they should deal him now before other teams wise up.
• They are more comfortable with a LD playing on the right side then some fans.

 

[HabsAddict]

the most optmistic projections will have him taking several years adjusting to the NHL before he would be a significant

Never heard that from any pro scout although you are free to make as many imaginary predictions as you fancy...

 

[Sorinth]

Never heard that from any pro scout although you are free to make as many imaginary predictions as you fancy...

Do you not agree that the vast majority of D take a number of years adjusting to the NHL before they really start to really deliver on their promise? D who come in and are instantly good are very rare.

 

[BLONG7]

LM is popping up in a lot of trade chatter boys...........I have to admit I have only seen him play very little.

What does he fetch with a #16 with him?

 

[Lafleurs Guy]

LM is popping up in a lot of trade chatter boys...........I have to admit I have only seen him play very little.

What does he fetch with a #16 with him?

I'm not in a rush to trade him but RB is ahead of him and we need vet help on the right side. Under normal circumstances he'd be a guy I'd keep developing but right now the situation is such that I can see him being moved.

 

[le_sean]

There's a few reasons why he might be the one to go.

• It takes value to get value, and Mailloux does have value.
• We want to take a step right now, and Mailloux even if he's ready to play in the NHL, which frankly is somewhat doubtful, the most optmistic projections will have him taking several years adjusting to the NHL before he would be a significant contributor to the team. So if he's part of a package for a quality NHL player we are a better team even if trading from a weak area.
• They might feel his problems aren't likely to improve and that they should deal him now before other teams wise up.
• They are more comfortable with a LD playing on the right side then some fans.

Not only does he have value, it might be at its maximum after the season he had in Laval. If we feel his warts will take more time to fix, if they are even fixable, then the time to move him is likely now.

 

[DAChampion]

Looking at the roster, I think that an extension for Matheson would suggest that Mailloux is on the way out.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Looking at the roster, I think that an extension for Matheson would suggest that Mailloux is on the way out.

It means Xhekaj and Struble are done and the Habs and Matheson are comfortable moving forward with Matheson as a 3rd pair PK specialist.

 

[Kojo]

They're going to extend Matheson? That would be a mistake unless he sign at hometown discount. Either way Mailloux is nice to keep around for depth. He's waiver exempt for another year and I think he can take his game to another level if we're patient with him.

 

[Naslundforever]

I think it was largely ignored until team Canada selection where Babcock wanted right handed shots on the right side and left handed shots on the left side. Most of the elite puck movers/skaters can probably play either or. Guhle/Hutson both very young looked very good on their off side. Ever since that selection camp it’s all we hear about.

87% agree there; Guhle can play rhd but looks better all around to me on the left and most of all seems to get run way less.

 

[Sorinth]

One thing to note about the whole LD/RD thing is that all three of Matheson, Hutson, Guhle were used on the right side last season. It's very likely that Hughes has talked to each of them about that experience, if one of them said they liked it/felt comfortable that reduces the need for Hughes to specifically target a RD and makes a guy like Mailloux a lot more expendable.