The NHL has officially cleared Logan Mailloux, making him eligible to play in the NHL during the 2023-24 season. Mailloux was drafted by the Canadiens 31st overall in the 2021 NHL draft despite telling teams not to pick him. The 20-year-old defenseman was ready to make his debut before the NHL decided to review his case after he was charged with defamation and offensive photography and was then suspended by the Ontario Hockey League in 2021 and didn’t make his OHL season debut until January 7th, 2022, and finished the season with three goals and six assists for nine points in 12 games. Last season, Mailloux played a full year in the OHL with the London Knights putting up 25 goals, and 28 assists for 53 points during the regular season and added eight goals and 16 assists for 24 points in 21 Playoff games.
Heading into next season, Mailloux will obviously have a chance to make the Canadiens roster out of camp but will likely start the season in Laval. This doesn’t come as much of a surprise, knowing his situation and the amount of youth that the Habs already have on their blueline. A year in Laval would benefit Mailloux as he would get a year of professional hockey under his belt and give him an opportunity to show that he has true potential and could be a big part of Montreal’s blueline moving forward.
