Logan Mailloux “NHL-ready next season”: forcing Habs’ into tough decision

Logan Mailloux has been shining even since he got back to playing in the OHL earlier this month. In six games, he’s put up three goals and eight points and fans are starting to believe his talent could forgive his past behaviour. Mailloux, of course, was suspended from the OHL and requested that he NOT be selected in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft (which then-Montreal Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin ignored) after having been charged in Sweden with defamation. Mailloux was ordered to pay a $1,650 fine after recording and sharing a video of an 18 year old performing oral sex on him without the women’s consent. Once news of Mailloux’s charge became public the backlash against him and the Knights has been swift. Mailloux himself apologized for his actions and paid his fine. Again, he requested that he NOT be drafted at the 2021 Draft so that he could have a chance to redeem himself this season. Then Canadiens GM Marc Bergevin drafted Mailloux anyways and faced even more backlash than Mailloux himself.

Bergevin is now gone and the Canadiens and new GM Kent Hughes could just turn the page on Mailloux, but he’s doing so well. Some sources have told Arpon Basu and Marc-Antoine Godin of The Athletic that the blue liner is said to be NHL-ready next season, pushing the Canadiens to make a decision sooner on what to do with their first rounder of 2021.

Mailloux is not under contract with the Canadiens, though they do hold his rights. If the Habs release him, Mailloux could be eligible for the 2023 NHL draft and you have to wonder if another NHL would want to select him. But are the Canadiens will to lose out on a great talent like Mailloux, especially after the horrendous season they’re having.
Not sure the fans would forgive that… From the Athletic:

“The other considerations, the terrible message it sent to their fans and the hockey world that essentially all is forgiven if you’re good at hockey, mattered much less. But the Canadiens are still dealing with the fallout from that decision, and it would probably be less of an immediate issue if Mailloux wasn’t performing as well as he has. What that will do, if it continues, is once again put the Canadiens in a situation where they are weighing their responsibilities as a hockey organization versus their responsibilities as members of society.

Are their fans ready for the day Mailloux is part of the organization? Are they ready to be proud of him? Are the Canadiens even ready?”

The OHL reinstated Mailloux because they were satisfied with the counselling he has undergone and that he committed to continue to never repeat his mistakes. Maybe the Habs will need to show the fanbase the work that has been done, and then let Mailloux handle the heat in a Canadiens’ jersey.