Jayden Struble hasn’t been playing his best hockey lately, and it’s fair to say he cost the Montreal Canadiens dearly in their matchup against the Minnesota Wild.

The young defenseman has been unable to recapture the form he showed last season or even during the most recent training camp.

Struble was outstanding last September, but his development seems to have plateaued slightly, a normal occurrence for a young defenseman. However, his mistakes are more frequent this season, and his decision-making on the ice has taken a noticeable hit.

His ice time has been dropping rapidly, raising the question: is a reassignment to the Laval Rocket his next step?

Could Jayden Struble’s struggles pave the way for Logan Mailloux?

While Struble faces challenges in Montreal, Logan Mailloux is proving to be a force in the AHL.

Mailloux has racked up 12 points in 8 games with the Laval Rocket, including four goals and a +6 rating.

Could Struble’s lack of discipline against the Wild, which led to a four-minute high-sticking penalty that the Wild capitalized on be the final straw? Coach Martin St-Louis publicly criticized his performance, further fueling speculation.

The Wild took full advantage of the four-minute power play (high stick) to score, and the Minnesota squad never looked back.

It makes me wonder: the Canadiens need to send a message to their defenseman. Whether it’s benching him or sending him to Laval for a few games, something needs to happen.

Marc-Olivier Cook

Adding to the equation, Mailloux is a right-handed shot, while Struble is a lefty.

This could be a logistical win for Martin St-Louis, while also rewarding Mailloux with a well-deserved NHL opportunity.

A situation worth monitoring closely.