File Logan Mailloux | Kent Hughes is hopeful

(Buffalo) Theoretically, Logan Mailloux will take the next step in his career this fall: he will make the leap to the professionals. In Laval, unless there’s a surprise at camp.

To do this, Mailloux will however have to obtain the authorization of the commissioner of the National League, Gary Bettman, who had indicated, this weekend in Vegas, that he planned to meet the former choice of 1^er Canadian tour after the Stanley Cup final.

Kent Hughes is obviously well aware of the case, first because it is his job as GM, then because his former agency, Quartexx, represented the defender.

“Since I arrived in Montreal, I have been made aware of all the work he is doing to improve as a person and to be more aware,” Hughes said during his Thursday morning press scrum. to the NHL tryout camp for the draft. Logan has done a lot of work. We are proud of his efforts. »

Hughes added that he is hopeful that the meeting with Bettman “goes well”.

Three Mailloux teammates are present at the evaluation camp this week. One of them, Oliver Bonk, was particularly complimentary about the player drafted at 31^e rank in 2021. When asked in general about Mailloux’s impact on the Knights this season, Bonk described him as a “special” player. »

“He is good at scoring, for the attacking side. He was a leader, a mentor for young people, ”said the son of the former Canadian Radek Bonk.

Oliver Bonk added that Mailloux was very open about the crime of a sexual nature he committed in Sweden, which earned him a conviction in the form of a fine, and a half-season suspension at the club. fall 2021.

“He knows he made a mistake and he’s very open with the squad,” said the defender. He grew out of it.

Easton Cowan, a forward with the Knights, also had good words. “He picked up a lot of points. He’s a good leader and a good guy. He showed me a lot, he leads by example. He works hard and it looks like he wants to get good,” Cowan said.

Mailloux had 53 points in 59 games in London this season, before adding 24 points in 21 playoff appearances, leading the Knights to the Finals, where they lost to Peterborough.

It remains to be seen what Gary Bettman will say about it. Last season, Mailloux notably followed therapy, as well as a plan with an academic and personal development counsellor. His efforts had convinced the Canadiens to give him a contract that fall, but a month later, in the wake of the controversy surrounding the hiring of Mitchell Miller by the Bruins, Bettman had indicated that his approval would be necessary.

In short

Dubois: no comment

Obviously, the Pierre-Luc Dubois file was invited to this press briefing. The colleague of The Athletic Pierre LeBrun revealed this week that the Quebecer wishes to pursue his career elsewhere than in Winnipeg. Information has been circulating for months that Dubois aims to play in Montreal. However, the Jets still hold the rights to Dubois, who will become a restricted free agent on 1^er July. “I can’t talk about players from other teams, so I can’t comment on Pierre-Luc, or on Carter Hart if there are other questions,” Hughes said with a smirk. We will always look for ways to improve the team, but not in the short term. »

Montreal, an attractive market?

Hughes has confirmed that he is keen for Nick Suzuki to remain the club’s highest earner for the time being. On Monday, Cole Caufield signed an 8-year contract, with an average annual value of $7.85 million, which is $25,000 less than Suzuki. Hughes, however, took the opportunity to sell the attractiveness of the Montreal market to players. “I often hear that players don’t want to play in Montreal. Not players or agents, but we hear it often. That may have been true in the past, but I disagree. The players are happy when they are in a good context and play good hockey. It’s important to us. Cole wanted to be here and it’s a message to others that good players everywhere want to play in Montreal. »

Satisfied with Montembeault

Hughes also indicated that he had suggested to Samuel Montembeault that he accept Canada’s invitation to participate in the World Championship. The goaltender eventually took on the No. 1 role and helped Canada win gold. “We’ve seen it all year. It’s not easy to play in Montreal, even if we were in a context where we weren’t fighting for the Stanley Cup. Sam has a certain calm and we had confidence that he would be good at the World Championship. We are very proud of him. »