Circumstances have modified for the Montreal Canadiens. That could possibly be the understatement of the yr after common supervisor Kent Hughes acquired ahead Patrik Laine, thereby considerably shaking up issues up entrance for the Habs. Nevertheless, with defenseman Jordan Harris going again the opposite approach, the commerce has the potential to have a domino impact on the blue line. Logan Mailloux is the likeliest beneficiary, whereas earlier than Hughes had made room, it made sense for him to remain within the American Hockey League.
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A part of the rationale the Laine commerce was worthwhile for the Canadiens is how they “solely” gave up Harris. Whereas Harris initiatives as a gentle top-four defenseman and holds worth, it’s a case of an excessive amount of provide and too little demand or want, because the Habs had (nonetheless have) a surplus of left-handed defensemen, and younger left-handed defensemen at that.
No Room for Harris
Harris positioned under Mike Matheson and Kaiden Guhle on the depth chart on the left facet at the very least. Matheson could also be leaving the group sooner reasonably than later as an unrestricted free agent in 2026. Nevertheless, prospect Lane Hutson is particularly projected to be on the rise on the depth chart on that left facet too.
Seeing as everybody has such excessive hopes for Hutson AND Guhle, who simply signed a wealthy six-year, $33.3 million extension, the perfect Harris was going to get on the left facet had been third-pairing minutes (with a fifth-ranked 17:28 per recreation final season). You then get into Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj.
Struble clearly earned the belief of the workforce’s teaching workers with 56 video games performed final season (even successfully enabling the Habs to take their time creating Xhekaj within the AHL after he had returned from damage). With Xhekaj having simply signed a one-way extension, competitors for ice time was at all times going to be stiff. In reality, the left-handed Harris performed extra typically on the correct than the left, consequently.
So, with Harris’ departure in addition to that of Johnathan Kovacevic earlier this offseason, it’s clear there’s now extra room on the correct. Two spots will presumably go to veteran David Savard and the newly prolonged Justin Barron, who will realistically get promoted full-time now that he’ll be eligible for waivers for the primary time. So, Mailloux, an AHL all star final season as a rookie, possible now has the within monitor to make the roster out of coaching camp.
Harris had been the topic of commerce rumours for some time as somebody who conceivably didn’t match, due largely to the actual fact the Canadiens performed him on his off facet. It spoke partially to his versatility, but additionally to his expendability within the eyes of many.
To be truthful, the identical is true of Guhle, who performed essentially the most typically reverse Matheson, on the highest pairing. Clearly, Guhle taking part in as a lot as he did (20:51, just under Matheson, who had the best ice time amongst Canadiens defensemen) reveals the diploma to which the Habs worth him, although. In the end, the purpose must be to play Guhle on his pure facet as a lot as potential for the sake of his growth. Shifting Harris accomplishes that too, due to the pure pairings it establishes.
A Spot for Mailloux on Third Pairing?
Matheson is a pure match alongside the stay-at-home Savard on the highest pairing. Guhle and the offensively inclined Barron, Guhle’s second-most-common companion final season, complement every one other in precept. Assuming Struble and Xhekaj battle it out for seventh-defensemen duties, that leaves a spot on the correct for Mailloux… or David Reinbacher (or Adam Engstrom).
Whereas Reinbacher, the Canadiens’ fifth-overall choose in 2023, is gunning for a roster spot himself, Mailloux must be the favorite… not essentially as a result of he initiatives as the higher participant. In the end, he simply suits higher primarily based on present circumstances.
Whether or not it’s Xhekaj or Struble on the left, Mailloux’s offense enhances them higher than Reinbacher’s protection. In the meantime, ought to Barron falter, they’ll transfer up and down between the second and third pairings virtually interchangeably on paper (primarily based on their offensive capabilities). Barron and Mailloux in the meantime give the Habs two right-handed pictures from the blue line for separate power-play items, in the event that they select to go that route.
Clearly, the Canadiens should hope Reinbacher develops extra of an offensive recreation (and Mailloux extra of a defensive one to be truthful). Nevertheless, there’s in all probability extra alternative for Reinbacher to hone his expertise at his personal tempo with the Laval Rocket than with the Habs. Primarily based on his greater projected ceiling and low general expectations for the workforce within the standings (comparatively talking), there must be no need to hurry him in any approach.
The overall consensus is the Canadiens drafted Reinbacher to be a top-pairing defenseman. Ignoring his and Hutson’s complementary types for the second, it’s truthful to argue they envision Guhle creating into a lot the identical on the other facet due to the extension he simply signed. Guhle solely debuted two seasons after being drafted at Age 20.5. If the Habs are going to take an identical strategy with Reinbacher, he’s acquired a yr of growth at a decrease stage awaiting him.
With Mailloux now 21, his time might realistically be now.
