On cusp of cracking Habs lineup, Adam Engstrom hones game with Rocket

In another time, and with another team, Adam Engstrom probably would be playing in the NHL.

But the 21-year-old Swedish defenceman is in a Canadiens organization deep in blue-liners. That means Engstrom is back playing in the AHL with the Laval Rocket. But his time in the minors shouldn’t last more than this season if things go according to plan.

“Of course, I had a good camp (with Montreal), but there’s a lot of good defencemen up there,” Engstrom said Thursday after team meetings at Place Bell. “It’s hard to take a spot from one of them.

“It’s the same coming back to Laval,” he added. “You go out there and play your best, try to be the best out there every practice and game. Sooner or later, you get chances, hopefully up there. I’ll play every game hard, so I’m ready when it comes.”