Is Adam Engstrom Completely NHL Ready?

It’s been 3 games since Adam Engstrom returned to the NHL for his 2nd stint with the Montreal Canadiens. However, he is looking better than he did during his first two games a couple of weeks back. He looks a lot more confident in his limited 3rd pairing minutes, making sure not to do too much, which could lead to a mistake. With that being said, has Engstrom done enough to turn the page for good on the AHL, or could he benefit from some more time in Laval with the Rocket?

https://twitter.com/_AlFerg/status/2000367202361311491

Over the last few games, it has been Arber Xhekaj and Jayden Struble who have rotated in & out of the lineup since Engstrom was called up earlier this week. Despite his inexperience, he has managed to fit in well, playing 12-14 minutes a night in a 3rd pairing role, not doing anything flashy, and just playing a steady game that has been asked of him.

For those who know how he plays with the Rocket, usually some flashiness is a part of his game. It’s possible that he still doesn’t feel ready to do that at the NHL level just yet, but at the same time, it’s also possible that he knows his role at the NHL level is to play steady minutes when called upon by Martin St. Louis for a shift.

https://twitter.com/ChrisHabs360/status/1999914191323332791

It also seems that he’s gaining trust from his coaches at the NHL level each game, as the Habs are using him a little more each game. Engstrom even played more than Arber Xhekaj on Saturday, which may not mean much, but it shows his play is already making an impact on his coaching staff. With that being said, Engstrom is at least the 6th most favoured defenseman at the very least. Although, it’s known that St. Louis isn’t the biggest fan of Xhekaj’s game.

Nonetheless, with each passing game, Engstrom is looking calmer when he’s on the ice, and just like in the AHL last season, his game is steadily improving the more games that he plays. That is really encouraging, as eventually he may feel confident enough to take the puck up ice and hopefully show how good his stick handling really is. All the signs of his progression in the NHL, although only slight improvements, point to the fact that he doesn’t really need AHL seasoning anymore.