Logan Mailloux's defensive game wasn't good enough to stick it out in Montreal

Logan Mailloux is in a spot that isn't comfortable for any player. He is too good for the American Hockey League, which he showed last year as a rookie by being the team's All-Star Game representative. Mailloux's strength is in his offensive game, and he has been fearless in showing it since the team called him to the NHL. However, some flaws in his game were starting to pile up, and with the return of players from injury, it made sense to get Mailloux back to Laval.

Mailloux leads all Canadiens defensemen with 5.6 shots per 60 at 5v5. The Habs don't have the most dynamic blue line, but with all the hype surrounding Lane Hutson's offensive game, it's intriguing that Mailloux is leading this category. Although Mailloux's offensive play was fine, there were plenty of times he looked lost defensively.

It's good to have a blueliner contributing at the offensive end, but if he's giving up too many chances defensively, it doesn't make much sense to keep rolling him out. The Canadiens are one of the worst defensive teams in the league this season, and it's only gotten worse since Mailloux joined. The front office has no worries about Mailloux's offense, but they'll need to see some improvements at the other end before he gets a full-time spot.

Marc Dumont from Montreal Hockey Now brought up an interesting point that I have to give him credit for. I also touched on it in a recent article about defensive issues being a personnel problem or Martin St. Louis' system. St. Louis uses a hybrid system in the defensive zone, which can wreak havoc on a young player trying to learn to play in the NHL.

The system utilizes a mix of zone and man-on-man, which has the group start the coverage in a zone system but then switch to man-on-man in the middle of the action. It works when you have an experienced team that understands the concept. However, when there's a young defenseman trying to get his feet wet and get comfortable, it takes work to grasp.

It's the main reason Mailloux and Hutson are having trouble in the defensive zone this season. St. Louis must consider changing it at a certain point, considering the system has not worked since the Dominique Ducharme era.