Canadiens’ Impressive Blueline Pipeline

Saying nobody saw Luke Mittelstadt coming probably isn't accurate; the Montreal Canadiens' scouting department drafted him in the seventh round of the 2023 draft, but he’s likely developed beyond expectations. In his draft year at the University of Minnesota, he put up 21 points in 38 games, the same as his senior year, which was a career high. Over four years in the NCAA, he has scored 80 points in 152 games, for a point-per-game average of just 0.53.

Last season, when he joined the Laval Rocket late in the season, he picked up five points, a goal and four assists, in nine games, which was pretty much par for the course. This season, after an impressive performance at training camp, he has 15 points in just eight games, leading all AHL players.

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He’s been so impressive that on Friday night, with captain Lukas Condotta missing the game, Mittelstadt wore an A on his jersey, no small feat given Laval’s tendency to rely on experience in its leadership group.

It will be interesting to see how Mittelstadt performs, especially once the injured Bryce Pickford, another offensive dynamo on the blueline, returns. Pickford, who’s slightly taller and bigger (6-foot, 190-pound) than Mittelstadt (5-foot-11 and 187-pound), missed all of training camp after shoulder surgery.

A third-round pick in the 2025 draft, Pickford is a CHL product who spent four full seasons in the WHL with the Seattle Thunderbirds and the Medicine Hat Tigers. In his first two years, he put up only 17 points per year, but in his draft year, his total jumped to 47 points. Then, last year, he had a breakout year with 83 points, including 45 goals, in just 55 games. That’s the second-most goals scored by a defenseman in a single WHL season (Greg Hawgood scored 48 in 63 games in 1987-88). It remains to be seen how well his game will translate to the pro level.

Thankfully, Mittelstadt is a left-shot defenseman while Pickford is a right-shot blueliner. Their arrival in Lavallee is timely, since Adam Engstrom hasn't played a single game for the Rocket this season, and David Reinbacher is also knocking on the Canadiens’ door. The Canadiens’ defensive pipeline is impressive, and while there may not be room for everyone ultimately, Kent Hughes could have valuable assets to use in the trade market if it comes to that.

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