That sound you hear at the Bell Centre may just be Adam Engstrom stating his case to be the next defenseman to line up for the Montreal Canadiens. Or maybe he will make his debut wearing a different uniform.
Either way, according to Marco D’Amico, it shouldn’t be long before the 21-year-old Swede is playing somewhere in the NHL.
“Adam Engstrom isn’t just knocking on the door. He’s yelling into the intercom,” said D’Amico. “Like, he’s right there.”
Well, not quite yet, but during Tuesday’s episode of “The Starr & D’Amico show,” the senior news editor for RG Media stressed confidently that less than a week into the regular season, Engstrom is already forcing the Canadiens to make some difficult roster decisions.
“Whether he’s included in a trade or he bumps somebody out of the lineup that gets included in the trade, something’s going to have to give sooner or later, right?” he said.
Adam Engstrom Has Scouts Talking at Montreal Canadiens Training Camp
A third-round pick in the 2022 draft, Engstrom played his first season with the AHL Laval Rockets in 2024-25, finishing with five goals and 22 assists over 66 games. D’Amico said there was a buzz around Engstrom heading into training camp.
“I know for a fact that scouts really liked his game, going back to the preseason and walking by a few, you know, and [they are] talking about Angstrom’s ability,” he said.
The Rockets split the first two games of the season, with Engstrom recording one assist in both games. D’Amico said he showed that “he’s close to ready” for NHL action.
“I thought Adam Angstrom was the best defenseman on the ice, and just, that mobility is there,” D’Amico said.
But with the Canadiens’ depth on defense , it will be hard for Angstrom to grab a spot any time soon. Mike Matheson has one year left on his contract and will likely not return, but the development of Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj seemingly has the top six set for at least one more season.
And that doesn’t even include fellow prospect David Reinbacher .
Adam Engstrom Could Be Key in Canadiens’ Trade Efforts This Season
The No. 5 overall pick in the 2023 draft, Reinbacher has had an injury-riddled start to his professional career. After a late-season audition the previous year, Reinbacher only played 10 games last season before a season-ending knee injury , and he recently suffered a broken metacarpal that will likely sideline him until late in October.
Just 20 years old, Reinbacher is still considered one of the top prospects in a highly regarded Montreal farm system. D’Amico acknowledged the temptation to use Reinbacher as a trade chip, but he warned against “selling low on him right now,” suggesting the Canadiens should give him a short run of games when he’s ready and go from there.
“Get him up, get him a few games up and see where he’s at with his development and make a decision,” D’Amico said.
The Canadiens are widely expected to be aggressive in the trade market this season, with a No. 2 center at the top of their shopping list. There could be a few nice options available, and a top defenseman would look good in any trade package. Given the concerns around Reinbacher, Engstrom appears to be the more valuable chip.
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