Report: Montreal Canadiens’ Logan Mailloux cleared to play in NHL

It appears we have some clarity on the controversial future of 2021 Montreal Canadiens’ first-round pick Logan Mailloux. According to a report from TVA Sports’ Renaud Lavoie Tuesday afternoon, “multiple sources” have confirmed that Mailloux has been cleared to play in the NHL should he earn a roster spot with the Canadiens.

The Habs raised many an eyebrow in 2021 when they selected the defenseman 31^st overall despite the fact that he had renounced himself from the draft. Mailloux had been criminally convicted in Sweden in 2020 for sharing a photo of a woman performing a sex act without her consent and claimed he “hadn’t demonstrated strong enough maturity or character” to be drafted when eligible. Nevertheless, the Habs picked him.

Mailloux was suspended indefinitely by the OHL after news of the incident broke and reinstated by January of 2022. This past season, he broke out for 25 goals and 53 points patrolling the London Knights’ blueline and ended up playing in the Memorial Cup. Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis recently graded Mailloux, 20, as the Canadiens’ No. 6 prospect, singling out his size (6-foot-3, 212 pounds) and raw offensive ability as his greatest strengths.

It’s entirely possible or even probable Mailloux ends up reporting to AHL Laval out of camp to receive his first North American pro hockey experience, but playing in the NHL is now officially in his range of outcomes. He’d signed an entry-level pact with the Habs last fall, but GM Kent Hughes had expressed uncertainty over his NHL eligibility earlier this offseason.

Mailloux has consistently expressed remorse and made public efforts to better himself in the years since his conviction. He attended therapy and in 2022 he participated in the team’s Respect and Consent Program, helmed by Canadiens’ vice-president of community engagement and Canadiens Foundation general manager Genevieve Paquette, which included a $1 million investment from the team.