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Key Canadiens Defensive Prospects To Be Tested In AHL Playoffs

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7 months ago

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montreal canadiens via screenshot

The Montreal Canadiens are in summer mode, but several of their most important prospects are currently set to begin the third round of the AHL playoffs.

We’ve already discussed the impact some of the forward prospects bring to the table for the Laval Rocket, however, the greatest test is about to take place, centring on the play of defencemen and goaltenders.

It remains to be seen which goaltender head coach Pascal Vincent will use in Game 1, but as it stands, there are very healthy chances he will give Cayden Primeau the first opportunity to prove his worth. This will surely frustrate the fans who are expecting to see Jacob Fowler, the heir apparent, as Laval’s No.1 goalie, but we do have to remind ourselves that Primeau was arguably the best AHL goalie during the regular season, and he was a driving force behind their franchise-best record.

That being said, if Primeau is indeed given the net in Game 1, it won’t be a permanent assignment, as Fowler will quickly take over should the 25-year-old netminder falter.

Seeing as they’re set to face one of the highest scoring teams in the AHL, the Rochester Americans, having two quality goaltenders in place is a great problem to have for the organization.

With 238 regular-season goals to their credit, Rochester scored more often than Laval, indicating that Rocket goaltenders will truly be put to the test for the first time in this postseason. Don’t get me wrong, Fowler was excellent in the second round versus the Cleveland Monsters, but we’d be delving into intellectual dishonesty if we suggested he was a busy goaltender. More than anything, Laval put together dominant defensive performances whenever Fowler was designated as their starter.

Montreal Canadiens Defensive Prospects

The third-round series will also represent a significant hurdle for a few key defensive prospects, including David Reinbacher, Adam Engstrom, and Logan Mailloux.

On top of scoring more frequently than Laval, Rochester spends much less time in the penalty box, connoting that special teams will end up playing a crucial role in the North Division Finals.

Okay, to be perfectly fair, every team in the AHL takes fewer penalties than Laval, but the discrepancy between both teams is impossible to ignore. Laval accumulated over 1100 penalty minutes during the regular season, whereas the Americans spent fewer than 800 minutes in the penalty box. That’s a difference of over 300 penalty minutes, and while some of those were fighting majors, it’s safe to say the Rocket will have to keep a close eye on their discipline, or risk giving Rochester’s powerplay ample opportunities to dictate the flow of the game.

The top pairing is currently being filled by Tyler Wotherspoon and Gustav Lindstrom, and you’d be hard-pressed to argue they haven’t done a fantastic job in the playoffs. The second pairing has seen a few changes, with the last combination featuring Mailloux and William Trudeau, while the third pairing featured Engstrom and Reinbacher.

Reinbacher has struggled at times in the playoffs, but before anyone loses any sleep, it’s a matter of timing, and that is resolved by giving a player as many opportunities as possible. Simply put, Reinbacher will hesitate at times, which means his speed of execution isn’t always perfect.

It’s not a game-breaking issue in the AHL, but it does need to be ironed out before we can consider Reinbacher a legitimate option in the NHL. On that note, while Reinbacher faltered slightly, Mailloux did a remarkable job picking up the slack, a good reminder that every action has a reaction.

Regardless of where Reinbacher, Mailloux, and Engstrom ends up playing, the series versus Rochester should serve as a good barometer as to the NHL readiness of several key Montreal Canadiens defensive prospects.

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