Adam Engstrom impresses in prospect showdown loss

The Montreal Canadiens kicked off their weekend series against the Toronto Maple Leafs top prospects on Saturday afternoon.

Montreal fell 4-3 in the shootout after Lane Hutson was the only shooter to register a tally. The obvious players stood out, Hutson of course. Florian Xhekaj did what the Xhekajs do, dropping the mitts early in the contest.

But another player, actually a defenseman not named Hutson stood out with his buttery smooth skating. Adam Engstrom never looked rushed or nervous when he had the puck on his stick, and his deceptiveness got him out of many situations. Whether it be a spin back to his zone to find more space or one to elude defenders en route to the offensive zone, he looked incredibly poised.

For my money, Engstrom was the second most impressive Habs prospect and if he doesn't play in Montreal, he should play a big role with the Laval Rocket. Paired with David Reinbacher, Engstrom was smooth, calculated and never rushed his puck play. All things that with some professional games under his belt, should allow him to develop into a well-rounded top four defender down the road.

Engstrom could be on Canadiens shortlist

I think that Engstrom is neck and neck with Logan Mailloux, both are behind Hutson in terms of readiness to crack the Canadiens roster. With David Reinbacher a little behind them, this could mean Engstrom if he proves to be versatile enough, could play in Montreal on his off-side. With Jordan Harris and Jonathan Kovacevic out of town, there are some openings.

I expect that David Savard, Mike Matheson, Kaiden Guhle and Lane Hutson will make up the top four. Then Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj will be high on the list for the bottom pair. But if things go right, Engstrom could find his way onto the bottom pair or in the conversation for a spot on opening night.

Certainly, however, Pascal Vincent, Rocket head coach will want to have a competitive blueline this season. Keeping some of the first-year professional defensemen in the fold will be great for their development and the teams' success. Should the Rocket wish to make some noise, they will need all hands on deck and the experience from postseason play can't be replicated.

But if Engstrom proves worthy of a role with the Canadiens, his chance could be one that strengthens the Canadiens defence even more.