The Montreal Canadiens boast one of the NHL’s deepest prospect pools, and one of their top blueline pieces is finally getting more recognition. Adam Engstrom was named to the 2025-26 AHL Top Prospects Team after his spectacular season, which saw him earn a call-up to the Canadiens at points this season. Engstrom’s play has boosted his stock around the league and should earn consideration to be on Montreal’s roster next season. However, with the Canadiens looking to be active in the trade market this offseason, Engstrom's increase in trade value could make him an interesting piece if they were to make a move.
Engstrom went from unknown to top prospect
Engstrom was the Canadiens' third-round pick back in the 2022 NHL Draft. Following the draft, he spent two seasons with Rogle BK in the SHL, amassing 10 goals and 28 assists in 94 games. Following the end of the 2023-24 season, Engstrom signed his entry-level contract and was reassigned to the Laval Rocket. His first season with the Rocket is when his stock really started to rise. He finished his first season in the AHL with five goals and 22 assists, finishing sixth in rookie scoring by a defenceman.
Engstrom took a giant step forward this season with the Rocket. He tied a franchise record for most points in a game with five in the team’s win against the Belleville Senators. Three days after that performance, he made his NHL debut in the Canadiens game against the Utah Mammoth. He played 10:42 in his debut, recording a single shot. He played a total of 15 games with the Canadiens this season, recording an assist in the game against the Florida Panthers, and averaged just over 13 minutes a night.
The majority of his game time this season was with the Rocket. He played 45 games, recording 10 goals and 24 assists, leading the AHL defencemen in game-winning goals (5) on his way to being named to the 2025-26 AHL Top Prospects Team. He was an integral part of the Rocket, helping them win the North Division title. After two impressive seasons in Laval, Engstrom looks ready to make the jump to the NHL full-time, but there are a couple of things standing in his way.
Is there room for Engstrom in Montreal?
After the season he just had, Engstrom is definitely ready to become an everyday NHL defenceman. The only problem is Montreal already has too many left-handed defenders. Lane Hutson, Mike Matheson, Kaiden Guhle, Arber Xhekaj, and Jayden Struble are all lefties, with the only two right-handed defencemen on the Canadiens roster being Noah Dobson and Alexandre Carrier. With Montreal being left heavy, for Engstrom to be a regular on the Canadiens roster, he would either have to outperform both Xhekaj and Struble in training camp, or the team would have to move one via trade. It appears Montreal would be active in the trade market, which increases the likelihood that one of their defencemen is moved. The only thing is that Engstrom likely holds more trade value than Xhekaj or Struble, meaning if the Canadiens do make a trade for someone like Nico Hischier or Dylan Larkin, he could be going the other way.
Montreal spent a high draft pick on David Reinbacher and likely will not be willing to give up on him so soon. He is also a righty, making him more valuable to the Canadiens because the team does not have many of them on the roster right now. Reinbacher has dealt with injuries since being drafted by Montreal, which means Engstrom likely holds more trade value than the Austrian defender. The Canadiens could be selling high on Engstrom, something we saw last season with Logan Mailloux after he was named to the AHL Top Prospects Team. The abundance of left-handed defencemen makes him expendable, and Montreal could move him for a second-line centre, something the team desperately needs. A lot can change, but as of now, there just is not enough room for Engstrom to be an everyday defenceman with the Canadiens.
