Montreal Canadiens: Logan Mailloux Continues to Display Strong Two-Way Game

Montreal Canadiens first round pick Logan Mailloux has played just four games so far this season but he has made the most of them.

The 18 year old defenceman had two assists in his season debut, followed that up with a two goal game, then scored again in his third game of the season.

Last night he played against the Erie Otters and he put on another strong performance at both ends of the arena.

The 6’3″ and 208 pound right shooting defender is showing why the Canadiens were willing to use a first round pick on him at the 2021 NHL Draft. He uses his size and physicality to shut things down in the defensive zone, winning battles in front of his net, and he can carry the puck from one end of the ice to the other in a hurry to turn a defensive shift into a scoring chance.

He did just that in last night’s win.

The London Knights fell behind 2-0 in the first period, but Mailloux took matters into his own hands to close that gap before the end of the first period. The Knights were on a power play and the puck was iced by the Erie Otters.

Mailloux picked the puck up behind his own net, deked around one Otter at his own blue line, before meeting a wall of three Otters at the offensive blue line. Instead of dropping the puck backwards which has become custom in hockey these days, Mailloux an old fashioned dump and chase. And he did it effectively. And he did it all by himself.

He softly floated the puck into the near corner so the Otters goalie couldn’t come out and play it, then turned on a burst of speed to chase the puck down. He was beat by an opponent to the puck, but he used just one hand to lift the defender’s stick and steal the puck from him. When he did he immediately cut to the front of the net and nearly scored on his backhand.

He didn’t score but he continued to battle for the puck until it popped loose to a teammate who knocked it into the open net.

Later in the game, with the Knights now leading 3-2, Mailloux made strong plays at both ends of the ice within a few seconds of each other.

At the start of the following clip, you can see Mailloux (#24 in green) battling with an opponent in front of the net. The Otters have a chance to move the puck out front, but Mailloux has the player so tied up they don’t even bother trying to get it to him.

Then, when the Knights force a turnover, Mailloux immediately sees the three Otters forwards stuck in deep in so he turns on the jets to join the offence. He gets the puck and steps around a defenceman at the attacking blue line like he is standing still with work boots on instead of skates. Mailloux then fires one of his four shots on goal but the rebound gets sent flying out past center ice.

There is some not so phenomenal camera work, but what appears to be a sure 2-on-0 for the Otters is completely snuffed out by a hard backchecking Mailloux.

In less than 30 seconds, Mailloux was able to show off his strength and positioning in front of his own net, his unreal stickhandling skills, a blistering wrist shot, and his blazing speed.

In less than 30 seconds, Mailloux was able to show off his strength and positioning in front of his own net, his unreal stickhandling skills, a blistering wrist shot, and his blazing speed.

Essentially, what he shows in that one shift is what he has been showing on a nightly basis since pulling on that Knights sweater: he is the total package and looks to have an incredible NHL career in front of him.