You always have to put things into perspective when evaluating players at a junior tournament, like the one this weekend at the Bell Centre. Age and experience, among others, are two essential factors to consider.
When it comes to comparing the top two right-handed defensemen, David Reinbacher and Logan Mailloux, for example, you have to take into account that Mailloux is 18 months older than Reinbacher and has a full year of AHL experience.
Reinbacher’s draft rank, a top 5 in 2023, must nevertheless be taken into account in the equation in relation to Mailloux, a 31e in 2021.
Even though he had to get used to a smaller rink, left-handed defenseman Adam Engström had a head start despite his 20 years given the fact that he had two years of professional experience in the corps in Sweden.
Top-line center Owen Beck, 20, a second-round pick in 2022, came from junior, unlike his two wingers, Emil Heineman and Sean Farrell, both 22 and established in the AHL for a year.
Within the trio of colossi, the evaluation grid differed between Tyler Thorpe, 19, 6’4″, 209 lbs, freshly drafted from the junior ranks in the fifth round, and Luke Tuch, 22, a second-round pick in 2020, four years at Boston College and two games in the American League.
The outcome of these two games, lost by a close score against the Maple Leafs’ prospects, obviously matters little. Toronto did not count on a pool as deep as Montreal’s, but compensated by integrating older and more experienced players. The CH prospects counted on goaltenders invited because of the injury suffered by Quentin Miller.
Lane Hutson was neither the oldest, at 20, nor the most experienced—though he had played two NHL games—and certainly not the strongest. He dominated in outrageous fashion. “A man among children,” was the phrase that weekend. It was no exaggeration.
Things were so easy for this late second-round pick in 2022 that he sometimes tended to hold the puck too long. He got caught a few times, but for the most part, he was able to recover the puck afterwards. That’s how good it was.
Moving forward, Hutson will have to return to a slightly more cautious style, without losing his natural character, as he did so well in his two late-season games against Detroit. Hutson has dominated at every stage of his career. It’s hard to see how he wouldn’t adjust to the National League.
Mailloux is progressing well. He was named captain this weekend. He is easy to spot on the ice at 6’3″ and 220 lbs. He has improved his decision-making with the puck. He still has that devastating shot. He doesn’t hesitate to protect his lesser teammates.
In the short term, he can be given an edge over Reinbacher, who has been both incisive and discreet against the Leafs’ prospects. This Austrian nevertheless seems to have a better-stocked toolbox.
Reinbacher also has better execution speed. Once developed, he could probably also be used in defensive missions, which will not necessarily be the case for Mailloux. However, the latter seems more explosive offensively.
Engström had a very good weekend. We’ll see if he won’t be even more effective in a more structured context, against NHL players, since we see him as a more cerebral defender.
On the attack, see Beck “charrier” his trio speaks volumes. This young right-handed center has improved his individual skills, without losing his defensive instincts. Unless there is a major surprise, he will never be an offensive player in the National League, but the Canadiens may have an effective third or fourth-line center on hand. That’s not bad for a second-round pick.
Heineman and Farrell did well, as expected given their track record. But it will be difficult for them to crack the Canadiens’ lineup, barring injuries.
2022 first-round pick, 26e Overall (after Juraj Slafkovsky), Filip Mesar has been a bit more incisive this year, after a lackluster season in junior. He remains a small forward who is mostly comfortable on the perimeter. Riley Kidney has improved his competitiveness in the AHL, but he falls into the same category.
Thorpe, the big right-handed winger, has scored two goals in as many games. He still has a lot of work to do, but a big guy like him with such individual skills can make the organization happy, especially since he was drafted late this summer. Florian Xhekaj, 20, 6’4″ and 210 lbs., also showed a lot of tenacity, mobility and aggression. Encouraging. Luke Tuch has the physicality for the job for a power forward, minus the offense. He doesn’t have the explosiveness of the other two.