Logan Mailloux

Logan Mailloux
Born	(2003-04-15) April 15, 2003 (age 21) Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Height	6 ft 3 in (191 cm)
Weight	212 lb (96 kg; 15 st 2 lb)
Position	Defence
Shoots	Right
NHL team (P) Cur. team	Montreal Canadiens Laval Rocket  (AHL)
NHL draft	31st overall, 2021 Montreal Canadiens
Playing career	2021–present

Logan Mailloux (born April 15, 2003) is a Canadian ice hockey defenceman for the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League (AHL) while under contract to the Montreal Canadiens of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected in the first round, 31st overall, by the Canadiens in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft under controversial circumstances. ^[1]

Playing career

Junior

In the 2019–20 season, Mailloux played primarily for the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) London Knights' Junior B affiliate, the London Nationals, scoring 18 goals and 50 assists in a 48-game season that was prematurely shortened by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. This was enough to secure rookie of the year and defensive player of the year honours for the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL). He also appeared in four games with the Knights in the OHL season, but did not record any points.

With the OHL's pandemic hiatus halting the 2020–21 season, Mailloux was loaned to SK Lejon in the Swedish Hockeyettan, where he registered 15 points in 19 games. While in Sweden, Mailloux received a 14,300 Swedish krona fine (approximately $1,640.00 USD or $2,000.00 CAD, at the time) for secretly taking photos of a young woman while they were engaged in a sexual act. He then shared the images, and the identity of the woman, with members of his hockey team. ^[2]

Prior to the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, Mailloux renounced himself from the draft, stating that he did not want to be drafted, and wanted to focus on his reconciliation and growth. Despite this, the Montreal Canadiens selected Mailloux with their first-round selection, 31st overall. ^[3] The decision to draft Mailloux proved to be immensely controversial, attracting criticism from Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, a lifelong Canadiens fan, who announced that he was "deeply disappointed" by the team and characterized the selection as demonstrating a lack of judgment. ^{[4] [5]} Isabelle Charest, Quebec's Minister for the Status of Women, expressed that she was also surprised and disappointed by the pick. ^[6] On July 28, the Canadiens announced that Mailloux would not be invited to participate in the team's rookie or main training camp, and that they would "reassess" whether or not he was ready to join the organization later in the year. ^[7]

On September 2, 2021, the Ontario Hockey League announced that Mailloux had been suspended due to the foregoing incident in Sweden. He was reinstated by the OHL on January 1, 2022. ^[8] Mailloux played twelve games, managing three goals and six assists, before injuring his shoulder in a fight. The injury required surgery and brought his season to a premature end. ^[9]

Prior to the commencement of the 2022–23 OHL season, Mailloux was signed by the Canadiens to a three-year, entry-level contract on October 5, 2022. ^[10] Team owner Geoff Molson would later characterize him as "a good kid who made a big mistake and we’re going to help him along and we’ll see how it all turns out." ^[11] Appearing in 59 regular season games, he recorded 25 goals and 28 assists, the former the most for any OHL defenceman in that year. ^[12] Mailloux earned praise for both on-ice play and leadership qualities. ^{[13] [14]} He was subsequently named to the OHL Second All-Star Team. ^[15] Qualifying to the playoffs, the Knights reached the OHL Finals, but were defeated by the Peterborough Petes in six games. ^[16] Mailloux recorded 24 points in 21 playoff games, setting a team record for a defenceman in a single postseason. Reflecting on being able to play a full season in the OHL for the first time, he said "I played some games here and have wanted to do that since I was 16. Getting that chance has been pretty special." ^[12]

Professional

Following a meeting with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, Mailloux was declared eligible to play in the NHL. ^[17] He participated in the Canadiens' training camp in September 2023. On October 3, the Canadiens assigned him to the Laval Rocket, the team's American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate. ^[18] Early assessments of his performance praised his offensive acumen, while suggesting that defensive responsibility would be an area for improvement to make the NHL. ^[19] In January 2024, he was named the team's representative for the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic. ^[20] Mailloux finished the AHL season with 14 goals and 33 assists in 72 games played, and was named to the league's All-Rookie Team in recognition of his achievements. ^[21]

On April 15, 2024, Mailloux was recalled by the Canadiens prior to their final game of the 2023–24 NHL season. ^[22] The following day, he made his NHL debut in a 5–4 shootout loss versus the Detroit Red Wings, registering an assist on a goal scored by Alex Newhook. ^[23]

Career statistics

				Regular season						Playoffs
Season	Team	League		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM		GP	G	A	Pts	PIM
2018–19	Toronto Marlboros	GTHL		32	9	11	20	24		—	—	—	—	—
2019–20	London Nationals	GOJHL		48	18	50	68	94		5	2	2	4	24
2019–20	London Knights	OHL		4	0	0	0	2		—	—	—	—	—
2020–21	SK Lejon	Div.1		19	7	8	15	32		—	—	—	—	—
2021–22	London Knights	OHL		12	3	6	9	13		—	—	—	—	—
2022–23	London Knights	OHL		59	25	28	53	77		21	8	16	24	45
2023–24	Laval Rocket	AHL		72	14	33	47	91		—	—	—	—	—
2023–24	Montreal Canadiens	NHL		1	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—
NHL totals				1	0	1	1	0		—	—	—	—	—

Awards and honours

Award	Year	Ref
OHL
Second All-Star Team	2023	[15]
AHL
All-Star Game	2024	[20]
All-Rookie Team	2024	[21]

References

1. "Canadiens take Logan Mailloux despite defamation charge". Sportsnet.ca. July 23, 2021.
2. Rowe, Daniel (July 28, 2021). "I know I caused a lot of harm: Habs draft pick Logan Mailloux apologizes for sharing sexually explicit photos without consent". CTV News .
3. "Logan Mailloux on Elite Prospects". Eliteprospects.com.
4. Rowe, Daniel J. (July 27, 2021). "Prime Minister Justin Trudeau 'deeply disappointed' after Canadiens drafted Logan Mailloux". CTV News . Retrieved July 27, 2021.
5. Connolly, Amanda (July 27, 2021). "Trudeau 'deeply disappointed' after Habs draft Logan Mailloux despite sexual image charge". Global News .
6. Maratta, Alessia Simona (July 25, 2021). "Politicians, advocates denounce Montreal Canadiens' controversial Logan Mailloux draft pick - Montreal". Global News . Retrieved July 27, 2021.
7. Molson, Geoff (July 28, 2021). "A letter from Geoff Molson". Montreal Canadiens. Retrieved July 29, 2021– via NHL.com.
8. "OHL Announces Disciplinary Action". CHL.ca. September 2, 2021. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
9. Hickey, Pat (September 6, 2022). "Logan Mailloux still recovering from shoulder surgery". Montreal Gazette . Retrieved June 2, 2023.
10. "Three-year, entry-level contract for Logan Mailloux". Montreal Canadiens. October 5, 2022. Retrieved January 27, 2023– via NHL.com.
11. Cowan, Stu (March 31, 2023). "Canadiens' Geoff Molson learned lesson after drafting Logan Mailloux". Montreal Gazette . Retrieved June 2, 2023.
12. Pyette, Ryan (May 24, 2023). "What's next for London Knights blue-line star Logan Mailloux?". The London Free Press . Retrieved June 2, 2023.
13. Godin, Marc Antoine (April 4, 2023). "Canadiens prospect Logan Mailloux has showcased his talent on the ice and the work he has left". The Athletic . Retrieved June 2, 2023.
14. Pyette, Ryan (February 3, 2023). "In Logan Mailloux, London Knights find on-ice leader after adversity". The London Free Press . Retrieved June 2, 2023.
15. "OHL Announces 2022-23 All-Star and All-Rookie Teams". CHL.ca. June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
16. Pyette, Ryan (May 21, 2023). "OHL FINALS: Peterborough Petes clinch title with Game 6 win over London". The London Free Press . Retrieved June 2, 2023.
17. "Canadiens prospect Logan Mailloux has eligibility restored to play in NHL". Sportsnet.ca. August 23, 2023. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
18. Cowan, Stu (October 3, 2023). "Canadiens send defenceman Logan Mailloux to AHL's Laval Rocket". Montreal Gazette . Retrieved October 3, 2023.
19. Bernard, Franck (October 3, 2023). "Canadiens Prospect Logan Mailloux: A Tale Of Two Hockey Players". Montreal Hockey Now. Retrieved October 3, 2023.
20. "2024 All-Star Classic roster". Laval Rocket. January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
21. "2023-24 All-Rookie Team named". TheAHL.com. April 17, 2024. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
22. @CanadiensMTL (April 15, 2024). "Les Canadiens ont rappelé le défenseur Logan Mailloux du Rocket de Laval.
    
    The Canadiens have recalled defenseman Logan Mailloux from the Laval Rocket.
    
    #GoHabsGo" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
23. "DET@MTL: Game recap". Montreal Canadiens. April 16, 2024. Retrieved April 17, 2024– via NHL.com.

External links

• Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com , or  Eliteprospects.com , or  Hockey-Reference.com , or  The Internet Hockey Database

Awards and achievements
Preceded by Kaiden Guhle	Montreal Canadiens first round draft pick 2021	Succeeded by Juraj Slafkovský