Video: Watch Red Wings Prospect Pasquale Zito Fill In Logan Mailloux

Pasquale Zito is a longshot to play for the Detroit Red Wings. The intention of this statement isn’t meant to be knocking the 18-year-old left-winger as a player. However, considering he was the 166th player chosen in the 2021 NHL entry draft, the odds are not on Zito’s side.

That’s just the reality of the situation, as Red Wings coach Jeff Blashill likes to say.

Today, it’s easy to be making the case that Zito is in with a fighting chance of being a Red Wings player some day. Certainly, Logan Mailloux of the London Knights might cast a ballot in favor of that possibility.

Sunday, Zito scored his 20th goal of the Ontario Hockey League season. His Windsor Spitfires downed the London Knights 6-4. He may have also achieved Canadian icon status.

Zito Pummels Mailloux

Late in the second period, the 6-foot, 176-pound Zito absolutely destroyed Mailloux in a fight, pummeling the London player into submission. Mailloux didn’t return to the game.

Holy what a tilt, Pasquale Zito Detroit’s prospect is gonna fit right in with the Goon Squad pic.twitter.com/6d2hxpSbcL

— Spittin' Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) March 7, 2022

Mailloux was the 31st overall selection by the Montreal Canadiens ln last year’s draft. He spent first half of the OHL season under league suspension. The OHL ended up reaching this decision following Mailloux’s conviction in a Swedish court in December 2020 for taking a photo of a woman performing a sex act without her consent and then circulatiing it among some of his teammates.

The selection of Mailloux by the Habs was found to be dismaying by many people. Among those critical of the choice was a notable Canadiens fan, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Considering the vitriol that’s been heading Mailloux’s way, Zito’s fists were likely speaking for a lot of people.

Firstly, Sunday’s fight ended with Zito knocking Mailloux to the ice. Secondly, an animated Pasquale Zito appeared to be taunting the London bench. According to people in attendance at the WFCU Centre, Mailloux had been chirping the Windsor players all game long.

Comparable To Tkachuk Brothers

Scouts viewing Zito’s style of play find it comparable to that of the Tkachuk brothers. That would be Matthew of the Calgary Flames and Brady of the Ottawa Senators. In Windsor’s 7-3 victory over the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds on Saturday, Zito tallied a shorthanded goal.

Zito lights it up🚨

Less than a minute into the penalty kill, Pasquale Zito scores short-handed to extend the lead for @SpitsHockey 🎥 pic.twitter.com/y4o6byCO1i

— OntarioHockeyLeague (@OHLHockey) March 6, 2022

“He wants to be a hard player to play against,” Red Wings director of amateur scouting Kris Draper said of Zito. “He wants to compete against the other team’s top players. And he wants to make a tough net-front presence. Those are the things you like.”