One thing is for sure, Logan Mailloux has a lot to prove to Blues fans this season.
In a blockbuster trade involving promising young forward Zack Bolduc, Doug Armstrong dealt from a position of strength to shore up the defense and inject some youth and upside into an aging defensive core. The trade was a big swing, and fans likely have high expectations for the young player as a result.
After sitting on it for some time now, I contend there is reason to like the Mailloux deal and see the thought process behind Doug Armstrong's thinking. Logan Mailloux could surprise with a big year in 2025-26.
The Blues had a need to fill
The quick turnaround of the defensive core ought to go down as one of the better marks in Doug Armstrong's career. While it was partially his fault they were in a bad situation, his ability to adapt and overcome adversity and find the right moves so quickly should not be forgotten.
That being said, the defensive core still missed a big piece when looking at the recipe for success around the league. Every great defensive core has at least one option that can truly score, and the Blues could only manufacture that production.
They did have Colton Parayko lead the way in goal scoring with a massive 16-goal season, but Parayko isn't typically thought of as a goal-scoring type. He was able to play close to the net and finish his chances, but there is always the chance Parayko can't find the same success.
While Parayko scored a lot of goals, he didn't score them like a prototypical goal scorer. He finished chances in tight but didn't offer much in the way of his wrist or slap shot. This is where Mailloux skates in.
Logan Mailloux has a real finishing and goalscoring ability. His slap shot is alright, but his wrister could be a lethal weapon for Jim Montgomery and the Blues to deploy. He profiles as much more of a typical goalscoring defenseman, a role the Blues did not previously have on the team.
This could lead to Mailloux having more opportunities and ice time, more chances to score, and more of an impact on the ice, all under a mutually beneficial Jim Montgomery system.
Jim Montgomery hockey
One of the stark differences in play under head coach Jim Montgomery versus his predecessor was the production from defensemen. Under Monty, the defensemen got more active in the offensive zone and made their presence felt on the play, often leading to points.
This was especially the case back when Monty was in Boston, where he had a #1 defenseman in Charlie McAvoy playing like maybe the best defenseman in the league. McAvoy has not seen the same level of success since Monty's departure.
Monty loves to use his defenseman to generate offense, so pairing him with a young and striking defenseman with legit offensive capabilities seems like a match made in heaven. We have already seen how Montgomery looks to use his defenseman with a season like Colton Parayko's last year; pairing that with an actually complementary player in Mailloux could mean a huge season is incoming for the young skater.
The system will allow Mailloux to flourish, who has already shown an impressive level of play at the AHL level. As a goal-scoring defenseman, a system like Jim Montgomery's might just be the catalyst he needs to have an impressive breakout campaign.