What will the Montreal Canadiens defense look like in the first game of the season? If the question might seem premature, the fact remains that it arouses passions.
It was among the essential topics in Jean-Charles Lajoie’s debate with Tony Marinaro during the segment “The Coliseum”Monday, at the fall premiere of the show JiC at TVA Sports.
The facilitator already has an idea of the rear brigade that will start the regular schedule: “I think there will be three Canadiens rookies in uniform against Toronto in the top 6 in defense. We can name them. Justin Barron, Jordan Harris and Kaiden Guhle.
On the side of Tony Marinaro, the new collaborator of TVA Sports argues that the CH will soon have a Big Three. Of course, we are talking here about size and not players of the caliber of the legends of the 1970s Serge Savard, Guy Lapointe and Larry Robinson, who were nicknamed that.
“I think the ‘Big Three’ will be Guhle, Arber Xhekaj and Logan Mailloux. We are talking about big guys. We’re talking about 6-foot-3, 6-foot-4 and 6-foot-5. I didn’t even mention Jayden Struble.”
Photo credit: Pierre-Paul Poulin / Le Journal de Montréal / QMI Agency
What place for Mailloux?
Mailloux did not attend rookie camp as he is slowly recovering from a shoulder injury. For those who would have liked to see him compete against other hopefuls of the Habs, it’s only a postponement. But when? In fact, what is the plan for the product of the London Knights, first round choice of the CH in 2021?
Since that controversial selection, there has been much talk about the off-ice incident in Sweden that sparked controversy and for which the 6-foot-3 skater remains in therapy.
“I would have liked him to be healthy and to be able to see him in this camp, laments Jean-Charles Lajoie. It’s time we started talking about hockey again and I think Logan Mailloux can have a career in the National Hockey League.
Tony Marinaro told what an internal person whispered in his ear in the moments following the pronunciation of his name by the ex-director general Marc Bergevin. An intriguing comparison at the time.
“When Mailloux was drafted, I was in communication with someone in the Canadiens organization who was in the room. I said “Mailloux? Really?”, then he said to me “Tony, this is the next Shea Weber”.
“He has quite a slap shot. The guy may have the best shot in the National League and he hasn’t played a game yet!
Above, see the complete “Le Colisée” segment with Jean-Charles Lajoie and Tony Marinaro.