The Montreal Canadiens rookies had a bounce-back game against the Boston Bruins players of the future, posting a 4-1 win. The Bruins pipeline is a little thinner than the Sabres, who downed the Habs 6-3 a day earlier, but the win showed that the proverbial rust had been shaken off.
In the second game, one thing stood out, and that’s the defence pair of Logan Mailloux and Jayden Struble.
The pair’s dynamic is intriguing because of how versatile the duo are. They have size, mobility and strong skating, which makes them fantastic modern-day defenders. Their defensive games have grown exponentially, and this has made them very versatile and effective.
Struble came up as a puck-moving offensive-style player, who played with an edge, but needed to grow his game on the defensive side. Strong coaching has already shown the growth of his game away from the puck, and a full season under the tutelage of JF Houle could see him rocket up the left defence depth chart. He skates well, hits like a truck and his defensive game will only improve with professional-level coaching, at 6’ 194 lbs, according to elite prospects, he has NHL size.
Mailloux is less physical, despite being three inches taller and roughly 20 lbs heavier than Struble. He skates like the wind and has strong puck skills that allow him to use his great shot with regularity. I’ve documented the growth in his defensive game, and how it has made the Belle River, Ontario native much more dynamic.
There is a strong chance that Mailloux and Struble form the Laval Rocket’s top defensive pairing, and if so, I believe the team will benefit greatly from the pair. With the young forward talent likely to occupy the Rocket roster, having a defensive pair like that will really help support the offence. Struble is unlikely to play in the NHL this year, but it could happen for Mailloux, although the benefits of a season in Laval can’t be understated.
The Canadiens’ depth on the left side makes Struble’s path to the NHL pretty tough, but a year in Laval playing big minutes alongside Mailloux could improve both his stock confidence. The blend of this pairing will be effective and proficient in all three zones. Putting both players together seems like a wise decision in the interest of giving both guys to best opportunity to grow.
A fun pairing to watch during the rookie showcase could translate to the top of the Rocket defensive depth chart. It’s a very minute sample size of the pair’s play together, but the Canadiens organization knows what they have with both players, so it’s no surprise they thought the two would gel together.
Having the top duo secured ahead of training camp could prove very important, as they can form some chemistry, and with that the punishing physical play should shine through with the increased confidence.
Want your voice heard? Join the A Winning Habit team!