Many Montreal Canadiens fans somewhat expected a defenseman trade this offseason. Although David Savard would have been an ideal candidate, trading Johnathan Kovacevic to the New Jersey Devils made sense due to his impending unrestricted free agent status in 2025 and the promising prospects within the Habs organization.
Despite the opened spot and contrary fan opinions, there’s no guarantee that prospects David Reinbacher, Lane Hutson, and Logan Mailloux, even after an all-star AHL season, will secure a spot with the Canadiens out of training camp. General manager Kent Hughes didn’t necessarily need to make a trade.
It’s likely that Savard, Mike Matheson, and Kaiden Guhle will be lineup staples to maximize trade value. Jordan Harris, versatile on either side, could rotate with Arber Xhekaj on the left and Justin Barron, now waiver-exempt, and Kovacevic on the right. With Kovacevic gone, the Canadiens need to decide which single defenseman to promote to ensure everyone gets ice time.
A rotation strategy still seems sensible since none of the latter three Canadiens or the prospects have solidified their positions. However, promoting a typical seventh depth defenseman who rarely plays makes little sense. So, who’s the most likely candidate for the “seventh” defenseman role in 2024-25? Here’s a look at the top contenders.
5) Adam Engstrom (L)
Adam Engstrom is included in this list more as a formality and a red herring since he hasn’t been mentioned yet. While he’s not the top player (and readers can see that by scrolling), his inclusion is justified due to his significant role on the team’s depth chart. Recently signed to an entry-level deal, Engstrom is projected to become a top-four defenseman.
However, his low ranking here highlights the team’s successful recent drafts, which have placed many left-handed defensemen ahead of him on the depth chart. This raises concerns about the 20-year-old’s ability to break into the lineup, particularly in the upcoming season as he joins the Canadiens without any North American professional experience. In contrast, everyone else on the list has played at least a few games within the organization.
4) David Reinbacher (R)
It’s easy to overlook that David Reinbacher is the youngest on this list due to the high expectations placed on him as a fifth-overall draft pick in 2023. The Canadiens’ decision to develop him in the AHL is logical, given his position. Defensemen generally require more time to mature compared to forwards, which might explain why the management chose to play Juraj Slafkovsky in the NHL at 18—a move that didn’t immediately pay off. Hopefully, they’ve learned from that experience.
Though Reinbacher will nearly be 20 when the season begins, his 11 pro games in North America with the Laval Rocket last season suggest he’s not yet ready for the NHL, despite his professional experience overseas. Savard is expected to play a significant role on Reinbacher’s right side with the Canadiens. Barron, a right-handed player, is also securing a spot on the team, and both Guhle and Harris have played there as well. Reinbacher is poised to gain more ice time with the Rocket, likely for at least another season.
3) Lane Hutson (L)
Some might argue that Hutson’s two games at the end of the season indicate the Canadiens are set on having him make the team out of training camp in 2024-25. However, when he signed his entry-level deal, he was ineligible for the AHL. To start him with the Rocket, he needed to be on the AHL roster by the NHL trade deadline, which he wasn’t, so it wasn’t possible. It’s straightforward.
Although Hutson impressed with two assists in those two NHL games, he’ll need to perform exceptionally well in training camp to surpass Matheson, Guhle, Harris, and Xhekaj on the depth chart. It’s more logical for the Canadiens to start him with the Rocket, where he’s expected to play every game as their most offensively dynamic defensive prospect since P.K. Subban, who himself only reached the NHL after a full AHL season, three years post-draft.
This illustrates that playing in the AHL isn’t a reflection of a player’s abilities but part of the development process. If Subban could go on to win the Norris Trophy as the league’s best defenseman, the Canadiens can adopt a similar approach with Hutson. Patience from all involved is essential.
2) Logan Mailloux (R)
Mailloux might have been an AHL all-star and got called up for one game at the end of the 2023-24 season. This suggests the Canadiens thought it worthwhile to give him a taste of the NHL in a relatively insignificant game. However, he hasn’t earned a permanent promotion yet, especially since he’s still exempt from waivers and has a full training camp ahead where he’ll compete with others. Most importantly, he still needs to improve his defensive game.
Mailloux’s first professional season was impressive, with 14 goals and 33 assists in 72 games. However, it’s worth noting that Barron, another right-handed defenseman expected to make the team unless something unforeseen happens, had a similar points-per-game rate with 16 in 25 AHL games in 2022-23. Despite his older age, Barron still shows significant deficiencies in his game. Both players have similar styles, and Mailloux could face similar ups and downs in his NHL career, possibly needing more development time.
Barron, despite his flaws, has found a place in the organization, evidenced by his 18:38 average ice time last season, ranking him fourth. There’s a need for him, and eventually, there will be for Mailloux too, just not now. One right-handed, offensively inclined defenseman needing defensive improvement is enough for the time being. Given Barron’s prolonged path to a permanent NHL spot, Mailloux will likely need even more time.
Mailloux ranks high partly because he’s a right-handed shot, and with Kovacevic’s trade, he has a better chance to fill an open spot. However, this isn’t the deciding factor, especially since Guhle and Harris have played on their off sides, potentially creating room on the left side instead.
1) Jayden Struble (L)
Like Kovacevic before him, Jayden Struble is arguably the overlooked player on defense for the team, which is surprising given the significant media attention his rookie season received. He played 56 NHL games last season, though his performance visibly declined as the season progressed. This decline is understandable for a 22-year-old, soon-to-be 23-year-old player. However, his impressive initial performances upon being called up allowed the Canadiens to keep Xhekaj in the AHL after his injury to further develop his game, giving Struble a strong chance to secure a permanent spot.
When Xhekaj was sent down, he played 17 games before ultimately playing 44 total with the Canadiens last year. Two key points emerge:
It’s important to note that Xhekaj could technically become the “seventh” defenseman in terms of deployment. However, for simplicity, this discussion focuses on the players most likely to solidify the team’s defense by advancing to the NHL. Struble, having finished his season with the Rocket and played in the Canadiens’ last game before being sent down for the Rocket’s playoff push, fits this category.
Thus, while Struble’s position might seem like a technicality, he is clearly part of the team’s long-term NHL plans. Despite the buzz around Reinbacher, Hutson, and Mailloux, who haven’t yet made the team, Struble appears to be the closest to securing a permanent spot.
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