Photo credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images
Let’s just say the St. Louis Blues are seriously starting to regret their trade for Logan Mailloux.
With the arrival of Noah Dobson, the Habs had too many defensemen and wanted help elsewhere.
On paper, it made sense, but the other side of the trade is becoming hard to watch. Mailloux has just one goal and one assist in 27 games, for two points.
The worst part is the plus-minus.
He sits at minus-20, the worst in the NHL, even though he has played fewer games than many regulars.
This is literally the worst-case scenario that is unfolding for Logan Mailloux with the St. Louis Blues
His most recent game did nothing to help. In just 8:52 of ice time, he finished at minus-3.
When a defenseman has a night like that, ice time becomes a message, and it’s rarely a pleasant one.
It also explains why his average of 13:24 is the lowest among the Blues’ regular defensemen.
There was a stint in the AHL earlier this season, and the question is already coming back.
Is another demotion inevitable?
The Blues repeated all summer that they viewed Mailloux as an NHL player, but the league does not forgive when the numbers stay in the red for too long.
Meanwhile, Bolduc is having a decent season in Montreal without being overwhelming, with 10 goals and 17 points in 40 games so far.
That doesn’t change the fact that, in a trade, fans often focus on the player who is struggling the most.
And right now, the Mailloux line is a big red neon sign.
In the end, Mailloux is not the only problem in St. Louis, but he is becoming a symbol because his differential is extreme and his usage is limited.
If he doesn’t turn things around soon, the Blues will have to choose between patience and a quick decision, and in the NHL, that can happen fast.
Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics