Logan Mailloux is coming!!

[stlblue06]

Teams win with depth. I looked at our 3 young recent 1st round wingers all “hitting” as a good thing. It meant we had the ability to build a really strong 3rd line. We just needed a strong 3C.

There are sooo many prospects that simply freeze once they play in the NHL. There was no desperate need to trade a player that has already proven himself to be an NHL player for one that has failed so far.

If this is the Blues only major move then what a let down

[skilles]

I absolutely hate this move. I don’t like it from a hockey perspective. Bolduc is an established NHLer while Mailloux is still trying to fully make the jump. Only played 7 games for the Canadiens this season and was caved in defensively. He’s far from a sure bet IMO. I just absolutely hate it. I know he’s a RD and that’s a more valuable position than a winger but that doesn’t make up for the gap in value IMO. They were taken in the same draft - Bolduc was taken 14 spots higher and he’s shown he should’ve gone higher to date.

And then add in the off ice baggage/PR issues they’ll now have to deal with and…yuck. I just absolutely hate it on first reaction.

If he needs to spend half of the season in Springfield that puts him on the Broberg path age-wise. Lots and lots of really good defensemen didn't blossom in the NHL at his age.

On paper, this looks like a trade from strength in numbers that potentially fills a huge hole with an emerging young cost-controlled player. For roughly similar value. A trade with an eye for the future.

I get this but what if he needs more time than half a season? What if the brain farts just never go away? Then what? He’s maybe a flawed 3rd pairing RD for some years? I just value Bolduc much much higher as of now.

What if Bolduc's 2nd half of last season is an aberration. If we are basing everything on playoff performance we'd be driving Bolduc to the airport. Remember its a numbers game, cant keep them all. I am glad it wasnt Neighbours, Snuggerud or even Stenberg

You like Stenberg more than Bolduc? Why?

Stenberg has out performed Bolduc at the AHL level for sure IMO.

[Harry S Deals]

Not really. We have 2 RHD that we can easily run out there for the entire year.

Mailloux can come in, play 3rd RHD, learn the game and get better as the season progresses.

We can afford for him to make mistakes in the 12-14 minutes a game he'll get.

Montreal needs goals and needs them this year. They weren't going to get that with someone who is a year away from the NHL.

Idk. If all of this is the case, I would’ve rather kept Bolduc than trade for MTL’s undesirable projects. Bolduc is an established NHLer at this point. The Blues just developed him for another team and took on their developing guy.

I just don’t see Mailloux as the guy to trade a Bolduc for

How are you able to ascertain this as of today

Because Bolduc is an established NHLer. LM is not and may not even be this year. Pretty simple

How many games have you seen LM play Harry? My guess is zero. Same as almost all of us

Its still a stretch to claim Bolduc is "established" he had 1/2 of a season

And i fully trust Army and co. evaluation of younger players. Tony Feltrin's guys would have been all over this kid they know what they are doing they rarely have made miscues.

[MiamiLaw]

Not really. We have 2 RHD that we can easily run out there for the entire year.

Mailloux can come in, play 3rd RHD, learn the game and get better as the season progresses.

We can afford for him to make mistakes in the 12-14 minutes a game he'll get.

Montreal needs goals and needs them this year. They weren't going to get that with someone who is a year away from the NHL.

Idk. If all of this is the case, I would’ve rather kept Bolduc than trade for MTL’s undesirable projects. Bolduc is an established NHLer at this point. The Blues just developed him for another team and took on their developing guy.

I just don’t see Mailloux as the guy to trade a Bolduc for

How are you able to ascertain this as of today

Because Bolduc is an established NHLer. LM is not and may not even be this year. Pretty simple

How many games have you seen LM play Harry? My guess is zero. Same as almost all of us

Its still a stretch to claim Bolduc is "established" he had 1/2 of a season

I guess what I mean is Bolduc is an NHL roster player right now. You are relatively sure what you are getting. It is much less risk than LM. LM seems to, at best, get you Evan Bouchard and he is a very polarizing player for good reason. And that's if everything hits.

[TheJackBurton]

Teams win with depth. I looked at our 3 young recent 1st round wingers all “hitting” as a good thing. It meant we had the ability to build a really strong 3rd line. We just needed a strong 3C.

There are sooo many prospects that simply freeze once they play in the NHL. There was no desperate need to trade a player that has already proven himself to be an NHL player for one that has failed so far.

If this is the Blues only major move then what a let down

failed? C'mon now

[MiamiLaw]

I absolutely hate this move. I don’t like it from a hockey perspective. Bolduc is an established NHLer while Mailloux is still trying to fully make the jump. Only played 7 games for the Canadiens this season and was caved in defensively. He’s far from a sure bet IMO. I just absolutely hate it. I know he’s a RD and that’s a more valuable position than a winger but that doesn’t make up for the gap in value IMO. They were taken in the same draft - Bolduc was taken 14 spots higher and he’s shown he should’ve gone higher to date.

And then add in the off ice baggage/PR issues they’ll now have to deal with and…yuck. I just absolutely hate it on first reaction.

If he needs to spend half of the season in Springfield that puts him on the Broberg path age-wise. Lots and lots of really good defensemen didn't blossom in the NHL at his age.

On paper, this looks like a trade from strength in numbers that potentially fills a huge hole with an emerging young cost-controlled player. For roughly similar value. A trade with an eye for the future.

I get this but what if he needs more time than half a season? What if the brain farts just never go away? Then what? He’s maybe a flawed 3rd pairing RD for some years? I just value Bolduc much much higher as of now.

What if Bolduc's 2nd half of last season is an aberration. If we are basing everything on playoff performance we'd be driving Bolduc to the airport. Remember its a numbers game, cant keep them all. I am glad it wasnt Neighbours, Snuggerud or even Stenberg

You like Stenberg more than Bolduc? Why?

Stenberg has out performed Bolduc at the AHL level for sure IMO.

OK that's good to know. I wasn't incredibly impressed from watching him at the WJCs but that is a small sample.

[BluesDom]

Im not too concerned about his past. It was 4 years ago. Its in the past imohttps://www.sportskeeda.com/us/nhl/news ... s-prospect
I cant throw stones as I live in a glass house.



Seems like a decent trade. Stings a bit. Hopefully it works out.
Loved Bolduc. Didn't like his playoffs. Had minor concerns.

[IsDurbanodoingtime]

At the end of the season presser, Armey made several references to guys who were going to pushing for nhl jobs and mentioned kasimaki twice. He put up nearly identical ahl numbers as Bolduc at the same age. The braintrust clearly thinks bolduc is replaceable and used him as a chip. I will wait to see what they do next in fa or trades to assess the short term impact of this deal. Clearly the Habs are ahead on this deal now but the potential downstream rewards would be sizable.

[MiamiLaw]

Bolduc was one of the guys that really had me excited for next season. Him being gone without a replacement that is (in all likelihood) going to be in the Opening Night roster has certainly been a disappointing start to the true offseason for me.

Right now, the NHL roster is worse today than it was last season. Hope more moves are in the works.

[Frank Barone]

Watching video of Mailloux he definitely has high end skills. But the video is all highlights and doesn't show any miscues or defensive play. Chances are Blues fans will need to be patient as he learns the NHL game and can work through his inconsistencies.

I am a big fan of Bolduc, so I hate to see him go. His being from Quebec was probably big for Montreal.

But this trade is huge for Stenberg, Kaskimaki, Stancl, and Pekarcik. One or more of these guys will grab a job at some point due to this trade. This trade is a reminder Army is still in the rebuild mode in spite of last year's success.

[Smith2Herr]

We have wingers galore...we filled a huge need and you have to give to get. Bolduc will never be able to control a game like Mailloux will be able to in the near future.

Pierre, is your considerable optimism (in the face of much forum pessimism) based on actually having seen the kid play? If yes what is it about his game that leaves you feeling so positive? Thanks

[zamadoo]

I think what can be said about Mailloux is that he fits the style of play we have here with Monty with the defensemen pinching and getting up in the offense.

Blues also covet the outlet pass, which he is very good at. Great shooter and seems to have PP ability.

Higher PPG than Bolduc in the AHL.

This is me trying to be optimistic after we traded away a young player I'd become a fan of after hoping Kyrou would be the one going out to clear up the log-jam and bring in pieces we need.

[stlblue06]

Bolduc was one of the guys that really had me excited for next season. Him being gone without a replacement that is (in all likelihood) going to be in the Opening Night roster has certainly been a disappointing start to the true offseason for me.

Right now, the NHL roster is worse today than it was last season. Hope more moves are in the works.

Exactly! As a fan you are excited about watching a prospect break through and show potential to really surprise people or turn into a star. Bolduc over the next 2 seasons has that potential.

[succinct712]

Watching video of Mailloux he definitely has high end skills. But the video is all highlights and doesn't show any miscues or defensive play. Chances are Blues fans will need to be patient as he learns the NHL game and can work through his inconsistencies.

I am a big fan of Bolduc, so I hate to see him go. His being from Quebec was probably big for Montreal.

But this trade is huge for Stenberg, Kaskimaki, Stancl, and Pekarcik. One or more of these guys will grab a job at some point due to this trade. This trade is a reminder Army is still in the rebuild mode in spite of last year's success.

Good post!

[TheJackBurton]

only in blues land do we lament the trading of a player who scored 19 goals and would prefer that we trade someone who scored 30+ goals 3 consecutive seasons and 27 the year before that.

Don't ever change Blues talk.

[stlblue06]

only in blues land do we lament the trading of a player who scored 19 goals and would prefer that we trade someone who scored 30+ goals 3 consecutive seasons and 27 the year before that.

Don't ever change Blues talk.

Only a loud minority wanted to trade Kyrou and it wouldn’t have been for a prospect/picks if we did.