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Montreal Canadiens: Most Unheralded Prospect Deserves More Recognition

By Suki Gill

HALIFAX, CANADA - JANUARY 05: Adam Engstrom #8 of Team Sweden skates the puck against Charlie Stramel #28 of Team United States during the second period in the bronze medal round of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship at Scotiabank Centre on January 5, 2023 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images)
HALIFAX, CANADA - JANUARY 05: Adam Engstrom #8 of Team Sweden skates the puck against Charlie Stramel #28 of Team United States during the second period in the bronze medal round of the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship at Scotiabank Centre on January 5, 2023 in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. (Photo by Minas Panagiotakis/Getty Images) /
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Fans of the Montreal Canadiens have been closely following this rebuild for years.  They know the names of all the top prospects and up and coming young players in the organization like the back of their hand.  All that is, except for one.

Adam Engstrom was a 3rd round pick of the Canadiens in 2022. The 6’2”, 185 lb defenceman was selected 92nd overall in last year’s draft and as a left-hand shot he has been nothing more than an afterthought to fans on a LHD depth chart that includes the likes of Kaiden Guhle, Jordan Harris and Arber Xhekaj among others. However Engstrom has been making significant strides and people are beginning to take notice.

He had a great showing at 2023 World Juniors in Halifax where he played on the top pair for a Sweden squad that narrowly missed out on a medal when they lost in overtime to the United States in the bronze medal game.

He also displayed great growth at the club level successfully graduating from the junior ranks to the Swedish Hockey League with Rogle and while he’s known more for his competitiveness and defensive play he put up a respectable six goals and 10 assists for 16 points in 43 games in one of the world’s best hockey leagues. There is more offence to his game than he’s given credit for and if he continues to progress along his current path he projects to be a solid two-way defender in the NHL sooner than later.

Many onlookers at the recent Canadiens development camp in Brossard had nothing but praise for the young Swede. He was rated one of the top 5 standouts at the camp by Rick Stephens of The Hockey News and Rob Ramage, the Canadiens Director of Player Development, said of Engstrom, “He’s taken it to another level and he continues to impress.”

So while players like David Reinbacher, Lane Hutson and Logan Mailloux get all the headlines, Engstrom continues to quietly go about his business and slowly but surely make a name for himself.

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