Right now, it looks like the Montreal Canadiens are crushing the St. Louis Blues in their recent summertime trade. In case you need a refresher, the Blues got Logan Mailloux, but they traded away a budding star in Zack Bolduc to land him.
Lopsided even on paper, right? That has also become the case in action, especially with Mailloux scratched in the Blues' 3-1 win over the Dallas Stars. But Blues and Hockey Hall of Famer Chris Pronger took time to remind fans that they can't start jumping to conclusions, especially since it's a longer learning curve in the NHL for defensemen.
Pronger knows the process, so he's more than qualified to air out his opinions on the issue. But he also offered valuable advice to the young blueliner, saying in an interview with Lou Korac of The Hockey News, "So I think for me, it’s more get off social media, focus on the things you can control: your work ethic, how you can prepare, how disciplined you are, your habits, all these things that are within your control, your dedication, what are you willing to sacrifice and how good do you want to be and then how are you going to get there. It’s a slow progression."
If there is anyone's words Logan Mailloux needs to listen to, it's Chris Pronger's
It wasn't face-to-face advice, but if Mailloux is listening, or if he came across that interview, it would be in his best interest to take it. Social media, especially, can be brutal, and while you may know fans are talking, when you don't see what they're saying and when you work on making yourself a better hockey player, you have already risen above the talk.
That said, it's easy to understand the fans' frustration, since it all but looked like Zack Bolduc was a young, rising star in Arch City. If nothing else, he was a proven player while nobody knew what kind of player Mailloux would be.
This trade was never intended for immediate results
You can't blame the fans and their feelings toward this trade, but it's also worth listening to all of what Pronger had to say when he quipped, "It's a slow progression." So, it wasn't a trade the Blues were going to win off the bat, given Mailloux's inexperience in the NHL and the way Bolduc put himself on an upward trajectory.
It's one of those trades you can't grade for at least three seasons. If Mailloux is still playing bad hockey three years from today, then yeah, this was a bad trade and a major swing and miss for Armstrong.
But if Mailloux progresses to the point he transforms into a top-four defenseman for the Blues and becomes a key contributor to the rotation, then everyone will forget about what Bolduc's doing in Quebec. Still, it will be up to Mailloux to decide on whether he's ready and raring for the challenge.