Needing to add a few reinforcements when injuries to Phillip Danault and Andrew Shaw wreaked havoc on the Montreal Canadiens roster, the team turned to the waiver wire to add Logan Shaw after the Anaheim Ducks attempted to move him to their AHL affiliate in San Diego.
Shaw had played just under 100 games for the Pacific Division team over two seasons before the move was made, with the Nova Scotian contributing 18 points in that time (5G, 13A). In 30 games with the Habs, he had six points (2G, 4A) in a bottom-line role as he was in and out of the lineup down the stretch.
He began his tenure with his new club alongside Jacob de la Rose and Byron Froese, producing a bit of offence when the Swede was swapped out for Nicolas Deslauriers in Shaw’s sixth game. He had his only two goals in a three-game span with that newly constructed line.
That trio was very effective right from the get-go, with the players buzzing around the opposition net on their shifts. When Shaw and Deslauriers were together, they produced a high-danger-Corsi-for percentage of 82.1%. Their effectiveness lasted only until the offence dried up, but it was one of the most prolific lines at the time for a team in dire need of a bit of excitement.
Without the offence to hide it, the possession game of Shaw and his linemates was exposed. Despite a deployment slightly skewed to the offensive zone, he had a Corsi-for percentage of just 45.3%. The brief offensive burst was undone by the fact that he was outscored 13-7 at five-on-five with the team, unable to have the net-positive effect a team is hoping to get from an energy player.
With Brendan Gallagher and Paul Byron as top-six players for next season, and the fact that Nikita Scherbak outperformed him in many areas as a rookie with a much higher potential, Shaw would be battling for a fourth-line role once again next season. The acquisition of a centre also likely places Andrew Shaw back in his normal spot on the right, leaving very little room for the waiver pickup to fit into the roster.
Other than that stint of a few games when his line could have been mistaken for the Habs’ top trio, Logan Shaw didn’t stand out in any meaningful way to make his case for a return. The Habs will have the option to offer the pending restricted free agent a qualifying offer or sign him to an extension, but with enough players to take spots on the right side, they will probably opt to part with the player brought in to be a stopgap solution midway through the season.
Related
Which restricted free agents should receive qualifying offers?
Stats via Natural Stat Trick
Grade Logan Shaw’s performance with the Habs
| A+ | 13 |
| A | 7 |
| A- | 6 |
| B+ | 36 |
| B | 60 |
| B- | 47 |
| C+ | 88 |
| C | 95 |
| C- | 55 |
| D | 36 |
| F | 13 |
