The Montreal Canadiens have recalled defense prospect Logan Mailloux from AHL Laval

The Montreal Canadiens have recalled defense prospect Logan Mailloux from the American Hockey League's Laval Rockets, the club announced Monday evening.

Mailloux, 21, leads all AHL rookies with 14 goals and 47 points in 70 games with Laval this season. He also has 89 penalties and a minus-7 rating.

The Canadiens selected Mailloux in the first round (No. 31 overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft. The Belle River, Ontario product spent his first two post-draft years with the Ontario Hockey League's London Knights before turning professional with the Rockets in the 2023–24 season.

Mailloux will join the Canadiens ahead of Tuesday night's season finale against the Detroit Red Wings at the Bell Center in Montreal.

The Canadiens drafted Mailloux in 2021 under controversial circumstances. Before being drafted that year, Daily Faceoff In November 2020, multiple teams announced that Mailloux had been placed on the “undrafted” list after he was accused of filming and distributing explicit photos of non-consensual sex while on loan at Swedish club SK Lejon.

Mailloux said before the 2021 NHL draft that he didn't want to be drafted, but the Canadiens selected him in the first round. He eventually returned to London and played two more years with the Knights, scoring 36 goals and 86 points in 92 games over two regular seasons and one playoff.

The Canadiens signed Mailloux to a three-year, entry-level contract before the 2022-23 season. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman subsequently declared Mailloux eligible to play in the league, paving the way for the Canadiens to watch him in training camp and eventually call him up from the AHL.

Mailloux introduced the Rockets at the 2024 AHL All-Star Classic in San Jose, California. He currently ranks third on the team in scoring (and leads all Laval defensemen) with 47, trailing only veteran forwards Brandon Gignac and Phil Maillet.

The Canadiens wrap up their 2023-24 schedule when they host the Red Wings for a key game in the Eastern Conference playoff race on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.