While the Montreal Canadiens have not made many NHL transactions this offseason, they have been actively restructuring their prospect pipeline. Joshua Roy and Sean Farrell both looked like promising young prospects a couple of years ago, but they fell down the pecking order and were moved to get a fresh start. While not the same situation, if Adam Engstrom fails to show that he can be a regular in the Canadiens lineup this season, he could be going down the same path. He has excelled in the AHL the last two seasons with the Laval Rocket, earning a call-up to the Canadiens last year, but he will need to prove he is a better option than the players listed above him to become a regular in the NHL. The Canadiens' top four on defence is locked in, but Engstrom has a chance to win a spot in the lineup over players like Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj, who had unconvincing seasons last year.
Engstrom is too good to still be in the AHL
After spending the first two seasons following his draft year in Sweden with Rogle BK Angelholm, Engstrom made the switch to North America in 2024 and excelled as a rookie in the AHL. He played in 66 games that season, recording five goals and 22 assists, finishing sixth in points among rookie defencemen. He was even better this past season, becoming a true offensive force on the blueline for the Rocket. In 45 games last season, Engstrom had 10 goals and 24 assists. What cemented his call-up to the Canadiens was his performance against the Belleville Senators. He tied a franchise record, recording five points in the Rocket's 7-2 win. Four days later, he made his debut for the Canadiens in their 4-3 win against the Utah Mammoth.
Engstrom’s dynamic offensive game did not translate to the NHL. In 15 NHL games, Engstrom finished with one assist, while playing just over 13 minutes a game. Limited ice time and no power-play minutes likely contributed to his lack of production. If he wants to be a regular in the Canadiens lineup, he will need to find a way to contribute despite the limited opportunities. At the AHL level, Engstrom was a force, being named to the AHL’s Top Prospects Team. He is at the point in his career where he might be too good for the AHL, but still has a lot to prove before he is considered an NHL regular, something he will look to change in training camp.
Roster spot there for the taking for Engstrom
No one is displacing Lane Hutson, Noah Dobson, or Mike Matheson in the Canadiens lineup. Kaiden Guhle showed his value in the playoffs, despite yet another injury-riddled regular season. Alexandre Carrier was a regular in the Canadiens lineup, but a lacklustre second half of the season makes him far from a lock to be an everyday player once again. The last two players to feature regularly for the Canadiens on defence were Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj. Xhekaj is without a contract extension, and there is a real possibility he does not return to the Canadiens next season. Struble has yet to show any real progression in his game since making his debut in the 2023-24 season, which could open the door for someone like Engstrom to steal his spot in the lineup.
The only problem is Engstrom will not be the only player challenging for a roster spot in training camp. Canadiens 2023 5th-overall pick, David Reinbacher, also made his NHL debut last season. The Canadiens have a lot invested in Reinbacher and probably hope he is ready to make the jump to the NHL this season, but that might not affect Engstrom’s chances of making the team. The Canadiens' two top defenseman prospects play on opposite sides of the blueline, and it is not unrealistic that the two could feature on the team’s bottom pairing next season. It all depends on how they perform in training camp, but if Engstrom and Reinbacher can show they bring more value to the team than players like Carrier, Struble, and Xhekaj, then they should be in the lineup. If not, it might be time to start looking at trade options.
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