At least nine teams have dropped defensive prospect Logan Mailloux from their draft list in advance of next week’s NHL Draft based on a criminal conviction following an incident that occurred in November when he was playing in Sweden for SK Lejon, The Athletic has learned.
While playing in the northern town of Skelleftea, Mailloux was investigated after he disseminated a picture of him and a woman engaged in a sexual act. That photograph, which was taken without the woman’s consent, was circulated among his new teammates. When the woman became aware of the photograph and its circulation, she went to police, several sources confirmed.
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The news was first reported by Daily Faceoff on Friday afternoon.
After the woman went to police, Mailloux was investigated and issued a fine for “Kränkande fotografering” (photographic activity constituting an invasion of privacy) and “Förtal” (defamation). Though confidentiality laws prevent the Swedish Police from naming Mailloux (he was also not named in articles about the incident in the Swedish press because he was a minor at the time), a legal adviser for the Swedish Police confirmed to The Athletic that a SK Lejon player was investigated for these acts and was subsequently issued a fine.
The representative told The Athletic via email that “a summary punishment by fine has the same legal effect as a guilty verdict, i.e. conviction from a court.”
Even after Mailloux was fined in Sweden, he continued playing for SK Lejon, a decision that prompted scrutiny from the local press (according to the club, that was to prevent him from leaving so he could be prosecuted.) Swedish news outlet Norren reported that shortly after the club found out about the incident, its hockey director, Lars Westermark, met with the woman’s family to discuss the situation. Further complicating matters is the fact that Westermark was also the Head of Local Police District Skelleftea.
The Athletic reached out to the woman to request comment but is not naming her because she is the victim of a sexual-based crime.
According to Daily Faceoff’s report, which details an investigative report from Swedish Police, the woman confronted Mailloux and his teammates about what happened and said her reputation has been damaged by the incident.
“What happened affected (me) much more than he thinks,” the woman told investigators, according to Daily Faceoff’s report.
A number of teams have told The Athletic that the organization will pass on Mailloux in the draft because of the conviction in Sweden.
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One Western Conference scout said that once he provided a written report of the information to his superiors, management for his team said they wanted no part of it. “It wasn’t a long discussion,” the scout said.
One Eastern Conference scout labeled Mailloux a “no-fly zone” for his team.
Mailloux, who’s now 18 and the 23rd-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting, told the Daily Faceoff:
“Personally, this is a huge mistake I’ve made. A stupid, childish mistake … I was selfish. I want the victim and her family to know how sincerely sorry I am and how remorseful I am. I know now how it can affect their family. I regret doing it, but there is nothing I can do about that now. I hope they can forgive me one day.”
The London Knights, Mailloux’s current organization, released the following statement on Friday:
“The London Knights became aware of a situation involving Logan Mailloux that occurred when he was loaned from the team and playing in Sweden during the pandemic. It is our understanding that the situation has been resolved in Sweden and the player has apologized. Team staff are working with Logan, ensuring that he is accessing the supports that are in place to help him better understand his actions, the ramifications of his actions and ensuring that this does not happen again. The team and the (Ontario Hockey) League will continue to closely monitor the situation.”
(Photo: Mike Stobe / NHLI via Getty Images)