Montreal Canadiens fans have been speculating whether defensive prospect Logan Mailloux will ever be allowed to play in the NHL.
But it looks like that debate may soon come to an end.
The 20-year-old, who infamously sent a sexually explicit photo of a woman to his teammates without her consent when he was 17 years old, was the subject of controversy when he was selected by Montreal in the first round of the 2021 draft — despite requesting not to be drafted.
Since then, both Mailloux and the Canadiens organization have taken measures, including an apology and the launch of an initiative to combat cyber sexual violence, to address the situation.
According to a Tuesday report by Renaud Lavoie of TVA Sports, Mailloux, who was suspended for the first half of the 2021-22 OHL season for his actions, will be allowed to join the NHL if/when he is called up by the Habs.
“Hearing from multiple sources that Logan Mailloux received the green light from the NHL to play for the Montreal Canadiens when his time will come,” Lavoie wrote on Twitter. “This is the end of all speculations regarding his future.”
Hearing from multiple sources that Logan Mailloux received the green light from the NHL to play for the @CanadiensMTL when his time will come. So this is the end of all speculations regarding his future.
— Renaud Lavoie (@renlavoietva) August 22, 2023
This summer, the Lakeshore, Ontario, native reportedly met with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman to discuss getting reinstated to the NHL. Bettman discussed Mailloux’s situation back in January during a press conference.
“We haven’t dealt with that issue because we haven’t been asked to,” the commissioner explained. “We’ll have to evaluate his situation if and when the Canadiens decide they want to bring him up [to] the NHL level.”
If things work out for the 6-foot-2 blueliners, he should make the leap to the pros this year, either with the Canadiens or the Laval Rocket, their AHL affiliate.
Mailloux netted 53 points, including 25 goals, in 59 games with the London Knights this past season. He added 24 points, including eight goals, in 21 playoff games.
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