Adam Engström has signed a new contract with the Montreal Canadiens.

Another one of Montreal's riches

Engstrom is so slept on, he's a fantastic prospect. Montreal has so many great young defenders

It's sad because Montreal is so deep at defense. I'm hoping his progression isn't like Norlinder's. Very, Very bright future stunted by the many top end Montreal prospects.

How many young defencemen do Montreal have :


Yes

Norlinder was never that great. Habs overhype their prospects. Sometimes ppl just don't pan out.
Engstrom will get top4 minutes in Laval with Reinbacher which is great for him.

Norlinder put up 10 points in the SHL as a 20 YO and was one of the best defenders ever night for Frolunda. Montreal absolutely wrecked his confidence the following year and he's never been the same. Now he's playing 3rd pairing in the AHL and looks like a shell of himself. He wasn't overhyped, he was just that good.

Not sure how you think he's going to play top 4 time in Laval

Matheson
Hutson
Xhekaj
Harris
Struble
Enstrom
Trudeau

He's definitely not the 5th best defender there.

Defense depth is packed but there's no urgency to make a move because there isn't any waivers issue.

NHL:
Matheson-Ghule
Harris-Savard
Xhekaj-Barron
Kovacevic

AHL:
Strubble-Mailloux
Hutson-Reinbacher
Engstrom-Trudeau

IMO KH will still try to trade Harris or Barron (draft) + Savard and Kovacevic (TDL), Reinbacher and Mailloux being called up. Nothing wrong with letting youth develop in Laval another year.

I wonder why no one slot him as a LHRD ...!???

I don't think Laval will roll 6 guys in the AHL that are all under the age of 22. (5/6 being 20 or younger).

They probably bring Paquette-Bisson back as a mentor

That's fair, however, we had 2 this year (With Brady Keeper). Fair to say they'll do the same this year.

Well I'm assuming you meant to put the LD depth on that list. So going with that...there will be changes next season. This is my depth at LD
NHL:
Matheson
Guhle (move him to LD where he belongs)
Hutson
Xhekaj

AHL:
Strubble
Engstrom

Harris and/or Barron will be moved before Game#1.
I can't remember if Strubble has to clear waivers, but I javelin him in AHL. If he has to clear than he'll stay up until he's traded too to make room for others.

Struble is waivers exempt until 2026-2027 unless he plays 17 more NHL games (likely)
But I agree, he should start in Laval to keep him waivers exempt
He would be the first call up in case of injuries

But I don't think they will trade two defenseman this offseason
You need players in case of injuries and Savard & Kovacevic deals expires after next season
You could find a dcore like this in 2025-2026

Matheson-Guhle
Hutson-Reinbacher
Xhekaj-Mailloux
Struble-Barron
(going 8th dman for the next 2 years)
I do think one of Struble or Harris will be traded before the start of the 2025-2026 season

We say the same thing. I wrote Harris OR Barron gets traded this summer.

Harris is the obvious expendable one. Good stats, no obvious quality. Just a good all around regular season player. His trade return would be limited though.

This is why Barron should be considered as a trade chip. An offensive RHD 1st rounder could allow to get a future top 6 piece.

As for trading Struble, I would keep him at least until he's close to be UFA. He would bring a lot of stability/physicallity for cheap. IMO you keep him until he's 26 y.o.

That's fair, I hope it's another Romanov type trade. Whoever you can oversell, do it. I don't think anybody would've thought we could get the 13th overall pick for Romanov, not to mention at the time, he was a fan favorite and looked like he would be a future top 4 defensemen in Montreal.

This 100%. Although he's a lefty, Engstrom played most of his seasons with Rogle at RD. Now, if he does the same in North America is up for debate, but his versatility will come in handy with the defensive logjam