Prospect Info: William Trudeau, LHD, Charlottetown Islanders (QMJHL) - 4th round 113th pick overall

[AHShadow]

So you're saying it makes sense to risk losing Harris/Xhekaj to waivers just to play Trudeau for 10-15 games?

Pretty sure that both Xhekaj and Harris are waiver exempt so if Trudeau is definitely the best defensemen out of the three, then we could put them back in the AHL without risking losing them.

 

[schwang26]

More people should watch Laval. They wouldn't be so surprised at how good Trudeau is. The way his curve is going, after another year, he'll be nhl ready.

 

[Essenege]

That 2021 draft truly looks like Timmins farewell gift. From a weak position draft, we got

Josh Roy and Mailloux who’d both be top 20 today.

Trudeau who looked amazing in the AHL at 20. NHL potential for sure 2 years in.

Kidney who overperformed is draft rank in junior. We’ll see how he does this year.

Simoneau who had a good first pro year. Could end up as a good depth player.

I guess any draft look good D+2 before the jump to pro but this one I really believe.

 

[BoneHutson]

That 2021 draft truly looks like Timmins farewell gift. From a weak position draft, we got

Josh Roy and Mailloux who’d both be top 20 today.

Trudeau who looked amazing in the AHL at 20. NHL potential for sure 2 years in.

Kidney who overperformed is draft rank in junior. We’ll see how he does this year.

Simoneau who had a good first pro year. Could end up as a good depth player.

I guess any draft look good D+2 before the jump to pro but this one I really believe.

The last 4 drafts really have been something. Usually, a draft that produces 2 NHLers will be considered a success. In each of these drafts, I see at least 3 NHL guys.

2020: Guhle, Farrell and Dobes
2021: Mailloux, Roy, Trudeau, Kapanen (4th line C but still) + Maybe Kidney whos been better in junior than many guys drafted before him.
2022: Slaf, Beck, Hutson, Engstrom + Maybe Mesar whos still remains a first rd pick with elite skills and skating.
2023: Reinbacher, Fowler and Konyushkov

 

[dackelljuneaubulis02]

The last 4 drafts really have been something. Usually, a draft that produces 2 NHLers will be considered a success. In each of these drafts, I see at least 3 NHL guys.

2020: Guhle, Farrell and Dobes
2021: Mailloux, Roy, Trudeau, Kapanen (4th line C but still) + Maybe Kidney whos been better in junior than many guys drafted before him.
2022: Slaf, Beck, Hutson, Engstrom + Maybe Mesar whos still remains a first rd pick with elite skills and skating.
2023: Reinbacher, Fowler and Konyushkov

I think Mysak is still relevant. He wasn't wow filled but played a smart simple game and was effective. So tack on another in 2020.

Hell go back to 2018: KK, Romanov and Ylonen (first pick sure is whatever but still a fairly productive draft)
2019: Caufield, Struble, RHP and maybe Norlinder though an outside shot.

2022: Tourigny definitely looks good with the puck on his stick, Nurmi does nothing but produce. Wouldn't rule these 2 guys out either

The drafting of the last few years has been much improved imo.

 

[Michelangelo]

I assume that Xhekaj would definitely not clear waivers.

Xhekaj does not even have to go through waivers likely before 2025-26 as he is exempt until he plays 3 seasons or 160 NHL games, whichever comes first.

He is currently at 1 season and 51 games.

 

[the valiant effort]

What is the midseason report on this LD?

 

[Saku K]

Trudeau's on pace for about the same amount of production offensively, the big difference is most of his damage has been 5-on-5. He's been removed from the powerplay in favor of Mailloux/Xhekaj/Barron with only 3 powerplay assists this season.

I don't mind since his niche in the NHL won't be as a powerplay play specialist but more as a good well-rounded bottom pairing defenseman. He's been more a staple on the PK this season and part of the plan right from the start as he had to earn his spot last year and had a terrific second half of last season.

Still very young at 21 until next season, I don't know if he will be able to find his way to the habs lineup with all the young quality defenseman we have and that will be coming in. Hopefully, it won't end up in some kind of Francois Beauchemin-type of situation for the habs and trudeau.

 

[jfm133]

Trudeau is the new Struble, in the sense that he is under the radar for the medias. I watched many Laval's games the last two season and the kid is still improving. As it was said in the previous message, he is off the PP this year because the team wants to push Mailloux, Xhekaj and Barron. In a sense it was a good thing because it allowed Trudeau to work on the rest of his game and not concentrate on points. He has the potential to be a better version of a D in the style of Jordan Harris. Not big, not small, great skating and mobility, but I think Trudeau is stronger physically with a better offensive upside. That being said, I would keep him in Laval next season. It would have been good for Harris too to play in Laval at 22. Habs have the luxury to be patient with their D prospects. Mailloux would play in Laval next season too unless he would do a Struble, I mean be so good that Hughes is forced to promote him.

 

[Tyson]

Trudeau is the new Struble, in the sense that he is under the radar for the medias. I watched many Laval's games the last two season and the kid is still improving. As it was said in the previous message, he is off the PP this year because the team wants to push Mailloux, Xhekaj and Barron. In a sense it was a good thing because it allowed Trudeau to work on the rest of his game and not concentrate on points. He has the potential to be a better version of a D in the style of Jordan Harris. Not big, not small, great skating and mobility, but I think Trudeau is stronger physically with a better offensive upside. That being said, I would keep him in Laval next season. It would have been good for Harris too to play in Laval at 22. Habs have the luxury to be patient with their D prospects. Mailloux would play in Laval next season too unless he would do a Struble, I mean be so good that Hughes is forced to promote him.

A legit prospect who is continually improving. No rush

 

[26Mats]

A top 4 next year in Laval of:

Hutson Reinbacher
Trudeau Mailloux

Future is bright.

 

[overlords]

A top 4 next year in Laval of:

Hutson Reinbacher
Trudeau Mailloux

Future is bright.

Pretty sure they said they wanna bring Engstrom over next year, so Trudeau might get buried hard.

 

[jfm133]

Hutson ahead of Trudeau next year in Laval? If he has a preferential treatment, yes, but not based on their overall game. Power play yes, but not 5 on 5 or PK.

 

[WeThreeKings]

Hutson ahead of Trudeau next year in Laval? If he has a preferential treatment, yes, but not based on their overall game. Power play yes, but not 5 on 5 or PK.

Hutson will definitely play above Trudeau, come on.

 

[26Mats]

Pretty sure they said they wanna bring Engstrom over next year, so Trudeau might get buried hard.

It's interesting because
Hutson Reinbacher
Engstrom Mailloux
Trudeau Bogdan

Could be a nice future nucleus of a dcore, and it doesn't even include all the young guys plus Matheson we already have overflowing in Montreal. A lot of assets. Hopefully Hughes can use them well.

 

[StCaufield]

Hutson will definitely play above Trudeau, come on.

At first I can see Trudeau ahead on the depth chart. Not for long though once he’s settled into pro hockey. I’d throw him in the fire though personally and run him hard minutes

Ngl he’d be a good trade piece to get some sort of scoring on the team because all we have is defence for the future

 

[WeThreeKings]

At first I can see Trudeau ahead on the depth chart. Not for long though once he’s settled into pro hockey. I’d throw him in the fire though personally and run him hard minutes

Ngl he’d be a good trade piece to get some sort of scoring on the team because all we have is defence for the future

Hutson will no doubt play NHL games before the end of this year, so I don't think there's a chance Trudeau hits ahead of Lane on the depth chart.

 

[jfm133]

There is no come on. Hutson is 160 lbs with no hope to ever break above 170 lbs. Did you watch Trudeau lately? Still lacks reliability in some aspects of his game, but he makes high end plays. Watch his pass on Maillet's goal tonight. Half a point per game as a D with PP pulled away from him to give it to bigger names. People are in awe when Hutson makes this kind of pass in the NCAA, but Trudeau his doing it on a regular basis lately in the AHL.

Hutson will definitely play above Trudeau, come on.

 

[jfm133]

If Hutson plays games for Montréal this year it will be the Farrell treatment, then back to the hard reality next season in the AHL, and the shock could be hard this year because playing D is not as easy physically as playing on the wings. Farrell could avoid the physical play, Huston won't.

Hutson will no doubt play NHL games before the end of this year, so I don't think there's a chance Trudeau hits ahead of Lane on the depth chart.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

Hutson ahead of Trudeau next year in Laval? If he has a preferential treatment, yes, but not based on their overall game. Power play yes, but not 5 on 5 or PK.

If both Hutson and Reinbacher are in the ahl, then its pretty much guaranteed that they play together.

 

[26Mats]

If both Hutson and Reinbacher are in the ahl, then its pretty much guaranteed that they play together.

Hutson - Reinbacher
Engstrom - Mailloux
Trudeau - Bogdan

mmm...
Just give us the Calder cup. That would be exciting to watch

 

[HabzSauce]

Trudeau is the new Struble, in the sense that he is under the radar for the medias. I watched many Laval's games the last two season and the kid is still improving. As it was said in the previous message, he is off the PP this year because the team wants to push Mailloux, Xhekaj and Barron. In a sense it was a good thing because it allowed Trudeau to work on the rest of his game and not concentrate on points. He has the potential to be a better version of a D in the style of Jordan Harris. Not big, not small, great skating and mobility, but I think Trudeau is stronger physically with a better offensive upside. That being said, I would keep him in Laval next season. It would have been good for Harris too to play in Laval at 22. Habs have the luxury to be patient with their D prospects. Mailloux would play in Laval next season too unless he would do a Struble, I mean be so good that Hughes is forced to promote him.

Trudeau was my fav player at preseason he reminded me of a more aggressive/offensive chiarot.

I agree all we need is patience. Let everybody cook but we also gotta make some trades too

 

[ChesterNimitz]

There is no come on. Hutson is 160 lbs with no hope to ever break above 170 lbs. Did you watch Trudeau lately? Still lacks reliability in some aspects of his game, but he makes high end plays. Watch his pass on Maillet's goal tonight. Half a point per game as a D with PP pulled away from him to give it to bigger names. People are in awe when Hutson makes this kind of pass in the NCAA, but Trudeau his doing it on a regular basis lately in the AHL.

After a brutal start to the season, Trudeau has come on. It wouldn’t surprise me if Trudeau makes the jump to the NHL before Mailloux. Trudeau, at least at this stage, is a much more dynamic skater than Mailloux, and for that matter Hutson. It’s that level of skating that allows Trudeau to make those ‘high end plays.’

Trudeau still has holes in his defensive game but the tools are there that may allow him to carve out an effective NHL career. He may well surprise his many doubters here.

 

[yianik]

The last 4 drafts really have been something. Usually, a draft that produces 2 NHLers will be considered a success. In each of these drafts, I see at least 3 NHL guys.

2020: Guhle, Farrell and Dobes
2021: Mailloux, Roy, Trudeau, Kapanen (4th line C but still) + Maybe Kidney whos been better in junior than many guys drafted before him.
2022: Slaf, Beck, Hutson, Engstrom + Maybe Mesar whos still remains a first rd pick with elite skills and skating.
2023: Reinbacher, Fowler and Konyushkov

An NHL team has to average about 1 top 6F/ top 4D and a starting goalie every year, including top line and top pair players. If it doesn't then it has to sign UFAs or make good trades to get them. Otherwise it's a non contender. And more is better.

So we need to do much better than 2 NHL players , one has to be a top player. Habs have not done that for many years, and here we are.

 

[ChesterNimitz]

More people should watch Laval. They wouldn't be so surprised at how good Trudeau is. The way his curve is going, after another year, he'll be nhl ready.

You want people to watch before they comment? What heresy.