We knew that Logan Maylox's moment would come, without knowing exactly when. it's time.
The Canadian summoned the Laval Rocket defender late Monday evening. He will join the team on Tuesday and will likely play the first game of his career in the evening against the Detroit Red Wings.
It will also be 82H The Habs' last meeting this season. The Rockets won't play until Friday.
Maillox, 20, is having an excellent first professional season. His 47 points in 70 games have him tied for third among MLB defensemen, and fourth among rookies, all positions combined. His brilliance even earned him an invitation to the arena's all-star game.
After Mylox made a good impression in his first training camp with the Montreal Canadiens last fall, it was clear he needed to work on the defensive side of his game in the minors. Several times this season, Rocket coach Jean-François Holly has praised the youngster's improvement in this regard.
More than once Holley frankly stated that Maillox was “ready to be called up.” It's done.
On the occasion of the club's final tournament in 2023-2024, Montreal fans will be able to see two greats of the organization's caliber in action, while Len Hutson, who experienced his National Hockey League baptism Monday in Detroit, should play his second game.
controversial
Let us remember that Ontario's arrival into the organization's fold was amid controversy. And in the 2021 draft, then-general manager Marc Bergevin caused a stir by selecting Ontario in the first round (31H In total).
In 2020, while playing in Sweden, Maillox circulated an intimate photo of his sexual partner to his teammates. The local court convicted him on various charges and imposed a fine on him. The issue came up on our side of the Atlantic just before the 2021 draft session, and given the magnitude of the situation, the defenseman himself publicly asked not to be drafted. But Bergevin and his deputies insisted.
This decision by the Habs shocked the hockey world as well as the political class and civil society. It has been condemned by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, among others. The sponsors threatened to separate themselves from the team.
Under great pressure, Geoff Moulson spoke to calm matters, took “responsibility” for his “lack of judgement”, and insisted on the fact that Maillox's wording was a “mistake”. Gary Bettman, the rink's commissioner, announced that Maillox could not skate in his league until he received a special permit to do so.
Satisfied with the young athlete's personal development over the year following his draft, the new CH management awarded him his first NHL contract in October 2022. After completing his junior training in the spring of 2023, Mailloux began his professional career last fall in Laval.
Just before training camp, Habs vice president of hockey operations Jeff Gorton said of his player that he was “in a good position” to receive the green light from department authorities. He qualified “if he makes it to the NHL” before adding “it won't be a problem when the time comes.”
Maillox met with top NHL executives over the summer, and everything indicated that discussion was positive. Throughout the season, echoes of Laval indicated how serious and mature the former London Knights were.
However, it was not clear if another high-level meeting would have to be organized, or if additional clearances would have to be submitted by the NHL, before the defender plays in Montreal.
It was not possible to learn more about this on Monday. At the end of the evening, the Canadian referred us to the NHL. Given the time, a league spokesperson who we tried to contact did not respond.
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