Latest news with #Mailloux
Montreal Gazette
07-07-2025
- Sport
- Montreal Gazette
Todd: The Alouettes juggernaut is looking more like a naught
Montreal Alouettes It was a game the Alouettes blew, one paper cut at a time. If Charleston Rambo didn't fumble a gorgeous pass that McLeod Bethel-Thompson dropped softly into his hands, if Bethel-Thompson didn't run like a middle-aged commuter tiptoeing his way through a crowded train station when he's forced to take off, if Pier-Olivier Lestage didn't pick the exact wrong time to take a 15-yard misconduct penalty — well, you get the point. A 21-20 loss to the B.C. Lions on a field goal by former Alouette Sean Whyte wrote the wrong ending for the Als Saturday night at Percival Molson Stadium. A fifth straight loss to the Lions and the second of this young season, following a loss to Hamilton on the road. Even with Lions quarterback Nathan Rourke still trying to find his rhythm after returning from the NFL, the Alouettes juggernaut is looking more like a naught. It's a shame because the defence played so well, from Kabion Ento's early interception in the end zone to Lwal Uguak swatting down a late pass from Rourke on a play that should have effectively ended the game. Without the dynamic edge that Davis Alexander gives the offence, even the efforts of tailback Sean Thomas Erlington and the stellar play of receiver Tyson Philpot were not enough. Bethel-Thompson throws some beautiful passes, but under defensive pressure he becomes a statue — and not the kind you put up to honour a great player. Happy trails and good luck: To goaltender Cayden Primeau and defenceman Logan Mailloux, both given a chance to play elsewhere by Kent Hughes when it appeared there would not be a spot for them with the Canadiens in the coming season. After years of close-but-no-cigar with the Canadiens, Primeau was dealt to the Hurricanes for a seventh-round pick. The return on the Primeau deal doesn't amount to much, but the trade that sent Mailloux to St. Louis for Zachary Bolduc looks brilliant. Whether Mailloux's career in Montreal was stalled by his defensive weaknesses or by his background following a controversial draft, we had the sense that Mailloux was never going to make the leap to the big club on a permanent basis. In return, the Canadiens got a defensively tough young winger coming off a 19-goal season and (not coincidentally) another French-speaking player following the retirement of David Savard. Add the trade that sent draft picks and Emil Heineman to the Islanders for Noah Dobson and the drafts of Alexander Zharovsky, Hayden Paupanekis and another mighty mite in L.J. (Little John) Mooney and fans had reason to be pleased with the work of Jeff Gorton, Kent Hughes and the scouting staff. Now about that second-line centre… One World Cup too many: If ever there was a shining example of the wretched excess of sporting events on the global calendar, it's the Club World Cup — especially when that event is held in the United States, which is not and never will be a genuine soccer nation. The glut of year-round soccer appears to have caught up with the sport at last, despite some elegant play on the pitch. Tickets for the Club World Cup's first semifinal dropped to $13.40 (yes, the decimal point is in the right place) after being priced at $473.90 less than 72 hours earlier. As my mentor Patrick Hickey points out, the Club World Cup was a misbegotten idea from the beginning — especially going up against the Gold Cup in the U.S. The final is to be held in beautiful downtown East Rutherford, N.J., next Sunday, July 13 — and play in the major European leagues begins in mid-August, barely a month later. It's too much for the athletes, too much for the fans, too much for everyone except the billionaires who run the clubs and can never get enough. Pure gold at the Gold Cup: Meanwhile, if you forget the bizarre chicanery that somehow allows Saudi Arabia to migrate roughly 13,000 kilometres west to compete in CONCACAF and the organization's strange feud with Team Canada coach Jesse Marsch, the Gold Cup had its moments. But the crowning glory came Sunday in steamy Houston when Edson Alvarez scored the winning goal to give Mexico a 2-1 victory over the USMNT at a time when anyone with Mexican or Central American origins is in the crosshairs of the controversial ICE agents operating in the U.S. And I'm off to Leaf land: No column next week, gerbils and beans, because I'm off to the home of the greatest team in the history of hockey for an event I must attend — not to worship at the altar of the Leafs, Jays, Raptors, etc. Back with the usual lies, rumours &&&& vicious innuendo on July 21 in digital format, July 22 in print. Heroes: Kabion Ento, Lwal Uguak, Tyrice Beverette, Tyson Philpot, Sean Thomas Erlington, Edson Alvarez, Victoria Mboko, Gabriel Diallo, Laura Siegemund, Esther Gonzalez, Tim Mayer, Alex Delvecchio, Zachary Bolduc &&&& last but not least, Kent Hughes. Zeros: The Club World Cup, Victor Montagliani, Dana White, UFC, Shedeur Sanders, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, Wayne Gretzky, Bud Selig Jr., Claude Brochu, David Samson &&&& last but not least, Jeffrey Loria. Now and forever.
Ottawa Citizen
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Belle River's Mailloux poised for full-time NHL role after trade to Blues from Canadiens
Article content Belle River's Logan Mailloux now has a chance at a full-time NHL role. Article content The Montreal Canadiens traded the 22-year-old Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues for 22-year-old forward Zack Bolduc. Article content Article content 'We think he's NHL ready now,' Blues' general manager Doug Armstrong said in a post-trade media session. 'He has a job now. It's his job to come into camp and keep it.' Article content Montreal took Mailloux in the first round of the 2021 NHL Draft with the 31st pick overall while Bolduc was taken 17th overall in the same draft by the Blues and appeared in 72 NHL games last season. Article content Article content A six-foot-three, 213-pound defenceman, Mailloux posted two goals and four points in seven games with the Canadiens last season, but spent much of his season in the American Hockey League with Laval. Article content Article content Mailloux played in the AHL All-Star Classic his first two seasons and was named the AHL all-rookie team in 2023-24, but is looking forward to the chance at a full-time role in the NHL with the Blues. Article content 'I'm really excited to come to St. Louis,' Mailloux said during a media conference call. 'They're giving me a chance here trading for me. They gave up a good player. I think I'm NHL ready as well. I think I'm ready to make that jump full time and hopefully come in here be able to contribute to some wins and some success next year.' Article content
Miami Herald
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Miami Herald
Canadiens Close Sordid Chapter, Continue To Kill It In The Off-Season
The chance to acquire a 20-30-goal scorer for a depth defenseman is the kind of deal a good GM is going to make seven days a week. And it's exactly the trade Montreal Canadiens GM Kent Hughes made on Canada Day when he acquired winger and Trois-Rivieres native Zach Bolduc from the St. Louis Blues for defenseman Logan Mailloux. It's not that it was a bad trade for St. Louis – Mailloux has all the markings of a solid NHL defenseman – as it was a great trade for the Canadiens, acquiring a potential top-six forward for a guy who didn't really fit into their long-term plans because of the logjam on the Habs' blueline. And, if anyone recalls the circumstances under which Mailloux was taken 31st in 2021, you'll also know this closes a rather sordid chapter for them. It's another sign that the rebuilding phase is over in Montreal and that this team has – and should have – designs on making noise in the Eastern Conference. Now that they've made the playoffs and meekly bowed out in the first round, next on the docket is being competitive in Round 1 and possibly even winning it. Then you continue the process until you're a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, meaning you're a threat to advance to the conference final every year. So far, the Canadiens have made moves that suggest they're on that path. Watch today's video column for more. Get thelatest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News and bysubscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here. And share your thoughts by commenting belowthe article on Copyright 2025 The Hockey News, Roustan Media Ltd.
Ottawa Citizen
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Ottawa Citizen
Cowan: Canadiens' rebuild takes another step in right direction
You have to think the Canadiens would have selected Zachary Bolduc if he had been available when they had the 31st overall pick at the 2021 NHL Draft. Article content Bolduc, a right-winger, was ranked 17th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, and the St. Louis Blues took the Trois-Rivières native with the 17th pick. Article content Former Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin ended up taking defenceman Logan Mailloux, who had been ranked 23rd by NHL Central Scouting, with the 31st pick. That created a firestorm because Mailloux had renounced himself from the draft, saying he didn't deserve the honour or privilege of being selected that year after secretly photographing an 18-year-old woman engaged in a sexual act with him while in Sweden in 2020 and sharing the picture and her identity with his teammates. Mailloux was charged in Sweden with defamation and offensive photography and was fined about $2,000. Article content Article content On Tuesday, Canadiens GM Kent Hughes got Bolduc from the Blues in exchange for Mailloux. The trade involving two 22-year-olds could be looked at like the Canadiens moving up 14 spots at the 2021 draft. Article content Bolduc had 19-17-36 totals in 72 games last season with the Blues, while Mailloux had 12-21-33 totals in 63 games with the AHL's Laval Rocket and 2-2-4 totals in seven games with the Canadiens. Mailloux became expendable after Hughes acquired 25-year-old defenceman Noah Dobson — also a right-hand shot — from the New York Islanders last Friday in exchange for the 16th and 17th overall picks at that night's NHL Draft and 23-year-old forward Emil Heineman. Article content Article content Hughes said it wasn't a case of things not working out with Mailloux — who has struggled with the defensive side of the game — but after acquiring Dobson, it allowed him to look for some much-needed offensive help at the forward position. Article content Article content Hughes likes Bolduc's offensive potential, noting he almost hit the 20-goal mark last season while averaging only 12:48 of ice time per game. Hughes added that the 6-foot, 187-pound Bolduc is a good skater and improved a lot last season with his physical play and forechecking. Bolduc also has 97 games of NHL experience, during which he has posted 24-21-45 totals. Mailloux has played only eight games in the NHL, with 2-3-5 totals. Article content 'I think when you can add experience and keep it young, that would be the ideal,' Hughes said when asked about the mix of youth and experience as the Canadiens head into Year 4 of their rebuild after becoming the youngest team to make the playoffs last season. 'I think that's the case in Noah Dobson's situation, where you get a young guy who played in the NHL as a teenager. He's 25, but he's got a significant amount of experience and, at the same time, can grow with our group. So that's important.'
Montreal Gazette
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Montreal Gazette
Cowan: Canadiens' rebuild takes another step in right direction
Montreal Canadiens By You have to think the Canadiens would have selected Zachary Bolduc if he had been available when they had the 31st overall pick at the 2021 NHL Draft. Bolduc, a right-winger, was ranked 17th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, and the St. Louis Blues took the Trois-Rivières native with the 17th pick. Former Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin ended up taking defenceman Logan Mailloux, who had been ranked 23rd by NHL Central Scouting, with the 31st pick. That created a firestorm because Mailloux had renounced himself from the draft, saying he didn't deserve the honour or privilege of being selected that year after secretly photographing an 18-year-old woman engaged in a sexual act with him while in Sweden in 2020 and sharing the picture and her identity with his teammates. Mailloux was charged in Sweden with defamation and offensive photography and was fined about $2,000. On Tuesday, Canadiens GM Kent Hughes got Bolduc from the Blues in exchange for Mailloux. The trade involving two 22-year-olds could be looked at like the Canadiens moving up 14 spots at the 2021 draft. Bolduc had 19-17-36 totals in 72 games last season with the Blues, while Mailloux had 12-21-33 totals in 63 games with the AHL's Laval Rocket and 2-2-4 totals in seven games with the Canadiens. Mailloux became expendable after Hughes acquired 25-year-old defenceman Noah Dobson — also a right-hand shot — from the New York Islanders last Friday in exchange for the 16th and 17th overall picks at that night's NHL Draft and 23-year-old forward Emil Heineman. Hughes said it wasn't a case of things not working out with Mailloux — who has struggled with the defensive side of the game — but after acquiring Dobson, it allowed him to look for some much-needed offensive help at the forward position. Hughes likes Bolduc's offensive potential, noting he almost hit the 20-goal mark last season while averaging only 12:48 of ice time per game. Hughes added that the 6-foot, 187-pound Bolduc is a good skater and improved a lot last season with his physical play and forechecking. Bolduc also has 97 games of NHL experience, during which he has posted 24-21-45 totals. Mailloux has played only eight games in the NHL, with 2-3-5 totals. 'I think when you can add experience and keep it young, that would be the ideal,' Hughes said when asked about the mix of youth and experience as the Canadiens head into Year 4 of their rebuild after becoming the youngest team to make the playoffs last season. 'I think that's the case in Noah Dobson's situation, where you get a young guy who played in the NHL as a teenager. He's 25, but he's got a significant amount of experience and, at the same time, can grow with our group. So that's important.' The Canadiens lost some experience when the NHL free-agent market opened Tuesday and centre Christian Dvorak, 29, signed a one-year, US$5.4-million contract with the Philadelphia Flyers, while winger Joel Armia, 32, signed a two-year, US$5-million contract with the Los Angeles Kings. 'Bolduc is a little bit younger, he's not a rookie, and he's coming from a team that had a lot of experience around him, which we think is certainly helpful,' Hughes said. 'But the reality is we're not going to put the perfect team together in the course of one summer.' The Canadiens' roster is loaded with former first-round draft picks, including Bolduc, Dobson, Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Juraj Slafkovsky, Patrik Laine, Ivan Demidov, Kirby Dach, Alex Newhook, Kaiden Guhle and Matheson. There's also Lane Hutson, a second-round pick. When Jeff Gorton, the executive vice-president of hockey operations, met with the media last Thursday, he said he wouldn't consider it a disappointment if the Canadiens missed the playoffs next season as management keeps the focus on its long-term goal of building a team that won't just make the playoffs, but be a legitimate Stanley Cup contender for several years in a row. 'This is a big weekend for us and it's a big summer for us, but we're not going to do anything that's stupid,' Gorton said. The Canadiens have made some very smart moves since that statement in acquiring Dobson and Bolduc, while keeping two top prospects in defenceman David Reinbacher and centre Michael Hage, along with veteran defenceman Matheson. 'I think we can get in the playoffs again next year,' Hughes said. 'I hope that we do. I think when you're asked if it's a disappointment (missing the playoffs) it's a tricky thing in terms of the messaging. There's a messaging to the public, there's a messaging to your team. I hope we make the playoffs. 'As a roster, we probably have a better chance than maybe what we did last year at this time,' Hughes added. 'But we found our way and then other teams that maybe were expected to didn't. So we still got to play the games. I think we still have work to do here from a management perspective to get to where we want to be, but I like the direction we're heading in.' With good reason.
