Given his presence in due form at the Canadiens’ rookie camp, and as his final leap to the professional ranks approaches, we can say that the Logan Mailloux era has well and truly begun in Montreal.
Its history, of course, largely preceded it. But on the ice, the baptism is about to take place. In the coming weeks, he will fight, for the first time, for a position with the Habs, if not with the Laval Rocket.
Although Mailloux already knows several players at the club, especially after spending several weeks in town during the summer of 2022, the organization obviously wanted to ensure that his official integration goes the right way. For the past month, the 20-year-old Ontarian has been staying with Paul Byron. The latter, although he does not officially have a position within the team, is present at the on-ice sessions of the big club’s players already at work at the Brossard training center. It is clear that the CH wants to keep him in its fold.
“I am privileged to live with the Byrons, who opened their door to me,” said Mailloux immediately, Thursday morning, after the rookie players’ training.
“They are great people. And it’s great, as I approach my first professional year, to be able to talk with a guy who has played 600 games in the NHL. »
Byron especially spoke to him about the virtues of hard work, Mailloux said. “His career, the time he spent in the minors, how hard he worked to get to the top,” Mailloux listed.
PHOTO FRANÇOIS ROY, LA PRESSE ARCHIVES
Paul Byron
“You have to show up every day and fight to continue,” he continued. It’s a tough industry, because if you don’t perform, someone will take your place. »
Wise principles, which the student has visibly learned. We would have happily asked the professor what he thinks, but the Canadian declined our request for an interview with Paul Byron about his new roommate.
Objective Montreal
Given his very rare appearances in person in the media since the Canadian drafted him in 2021, we know relatively little about the personality of Logan Mailloux.
The 6’3″, 220-pound colossus appeared relaxed in front of the many microphones aimed in front of him. The press scrum took place in English, but he is able to speak in French. He seemed embarrassed by his mastery of the language, although it was very acceptable.
From the outset, he made no secret that it is in Montreal that he wants to play this season. “I would be wrong not to think like that,” he believes.
To get there, however, he will still need to receive the green light from the NHL. The thing has been widely documented, but in 2020, while playing in Sweden, Mailloux distributed an intimate photo of his sexual partner to his teammates. The local court found him guilty of various charges and fined him. The Canadian created a scandal in July 2021 by making him his first round draft choice. In fact, he himself had asked not to be drafted.
Last year, Gary Bettman, commissioner of the circuit, declared that the Canadian defender would not be able to skate in his league until he received special authorization to do so.
A formal meeting took place last July with league leaders. “We had a good and frank discussion. Logan impressed us,” Bill Daly, deputy commissioner of the NHL, told journalist Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports.
Jeff Gorton, vice-president of hockey operations for the Canadiens, also gave positive feedback from this meeting. Earlier this week, at the team’s golf tournament, he said Mailloux will be “in a good position” to play “if he makes it to the NHL.” “It won’t be a problem when the time comes,” added the manager.
Gorton, we understood, preferred to wait to know if Mailloux would break through the CH formation before advancing further. The principal concerned had the same reservation. “I can’t go into details, but the meeting was positive,” he limited himself to saying, adding that his short-term goal was to have a good rookie camp, then a good training camp. .
A prolific offensive defenseman in the Ontario Junior League last season (53 points, including 25 goals, in 59 games), he instead wants to demonstrate his versatility over the coming days. “If you can’t play defense, you can’t play in the NHL,” he summed up.
Thursday, the group of 27 Habs recruits left for Buffalo, where a tournament will be held with the hopes of five other teams, including the Sabres.
Candidly asked if he was happy with his current situation, Mailloux did not hesitate. “We’re going to play hockey!” he exclaimed. It’s the first time I’ve put on the Canadian jersey, it’s exciting. It took a while [avant de se produire]. Certainly I am happy! »