Kaiden Guhle’s return to full practice is giving the Canadiens something they haven’t had much room for lately: another logjam on the blue line.
Montreal has already had to juggle bodies on defense this season, sending David Reinbacher to the AHL because there weren’t enough roster spots. Adam Engstrom has also started the year in the press box as the extra defenseman. So even before Guhle was back in the mix, the numbers were tight.
That’s why the trade chatter is starting to build.
David Pagnotta of The Fourth Period reported that other teams are watching Montreal closely as a possible trade partner, and he pointed to three Canadiens defensemen who could draw interest: Jayden Struble, Arber Xhekaj and Adam Engstrom.
Xhekaj has been in the rumor mill for months. He was a restricted free agent over the summer and didn’t sign until a day before training camp.
He’s looking for a more permanent spot in a team’s Top 6, and Montreal may not be able to give him that. Even after signing, he only got a one-year deal, which means he’ll be a restricted free agent again after the season.
The same contract timeline applies to Struble and Engstrom, too. All three are in the final year of their deals, and if the Canadiens don’t see them as part of the long-term picture, moving them now starts to make sense.
Pagnotta also identified three teams that could be in the market for defense help early in the season: the Philadelphia Flyers, Anaheim Ducks and Nashville Predators. There’s no confirmation any of them are actually talking to Montreal, but they’re clubs to keep an eye on.
Still, the bigger question for the Canadiens is what kind of return would actually move the needle. Dealing one of these defensemen probably won’t bring back a true difference-maker. If Kent Hughes is going to make a real splash, it may take a package built around some of these players, along with Samuel Montembeault and prospects, to land a star.
Montreal could still use a second-line center, but those players are tough to find, and teams aren’t likely eager to part with one this early in the season.
For now, it looks like the Canadiens are simply a team other clubs are monitoring. The blue line is crowded, and at some point Montreal may have to move a defenseman or two. The trick will be waiting for a deal that actually improves the roster, not just one that clears space.
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The larger picture is familiar for Canadiens fans: the team is trying to stay aggressive without forcing a move that does not match its timeline. Larkin is only one piece of a busy league landscape, with other notable situations still unresolved around the NHL, but Montreal remains the one that matters most here because of the fit and the cost. For now, it is the kind of rumor that keeps a fan base engaged, even if the real answer is still waiting somewhere farther down the line. [Read more 🡒]
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Zarys recent production also invites the kind of comparison Montreal fans have been making all season, especially when looking at Kirby Dachs uneven stretch. Even with injuries thinning the roster and adding pressure on the depth chart, the Canadiens still let the chance go by, which makes the choice feel even more curious in the moment. Whether that turns out to be prudence or a miss is the part that will keep hanging over it. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Make A Desperate Lineup Shakeup After Back-To-Back Losses
After back-to-back losses and some obvious defensive strain, the Canadiens are making another round of adjustments for their game against Nashville. Adam Engstrom is stepping into the lineup, and Jacob Fowler is also dressed, giving Montreal a different look as it tries to steady things and stop the slide.
Jakub Dobes will back up Fowler in goal while Samuel Montembeault remains day-to-day, leaving the Canadiens to juggle a situation they would much rather have settled. Jayden Struble was scratched to create room for Engstrom, a sign that the club is still searching for answers as it looks to clean up its own end. [Read more 🡒]