The Canadiens cleared a spot on defense when they moved Jayden Struble, and that almost certainly means another roster decision is right around the corner.
With Struble out of the picture, Montreal is expected to bring in reinforcements, according to Marco D’Amico. The question now is which direction the team goes: Kaiden Guhle could be ready to come back, or David Reinbacher could be the one getting the call.
Nicolas Cloutier sees the move as basically inevitable. With Guhle close to returning, he said a trade on defense had to happen, and the Canadiens can now keep Adam Engstrom in the lineup without any issues. D’Amico is on the same page, pointing to Guhle’s near return and Engstrom’s strong play as the factors that forced Montreal’s hand.
There’s also the business side of it. D’Amico called getting a second-round pick for Struble solid work from Kent Hughes, while noting that Nashville is taking a swing on a young defenseman.
Struble didn’t record a point in three games, and his cap hit was roughly $1.4 million.
Right now, Montreal’s blue line sits at six defensemen: Lane Hutson, Alexandre Carrier, Noah Dobson, Michael Matheson, Engstrom, and Arber Xhekaj. That leaves one opening, and adding a seventh body would give the Canadiens more options.
If Guhle is ready, he would step right into that spot. If that happens, there’s not much reason to bring up Reinbacher unless injuries start to pile up.
It won’t solve everything, but adding Guhle or Reinbacher would give Martin St-Louis more room to adjust his pairings and manage the defense differently.
“The impending return of Kaiden Guhle and the efficacy of Adam Engstrom meant a decision was inevitably coming in Montreal.
Getting a 2nd rounder for Jayden Struble is a good bit of business nonetheless.
And if you're Nashville, that's a young player worth taking a bet on.”
The Canadiens have two options and only one spot to fill.
In Other News...
Adam Engstrom Just Gave Canadiens A Tough Blue Line Decision
Adam Engstroms season debut for Montreal came in a 5-2 loss to Nashville, but the rookie defenseman still gave the Canadiens something to think about on a night when their blue line was under the microscope. He skated just under 12 minutes and was not on the ice for any goals against, and his work helped steady a third pairing that had looked shakier in previous games.
Engstrom also stood out in a quieter way by leading Montreal defensemen in turnovers, though none of them turned into dangerous chances for the Predators. For a team trying to sort out its back end, that kind of performance makes the next lineup decision a little more interesting, especially if the Canadiens are looking for signs that a young defender can handle more responsibility. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Face A Delicate Dylan Larkin Test At Bell Centre
The Bell Centre crowd has a way of turning routine visits into something a little more complicated, and Dylan Larkins next trip to Montreal is already carrying an extra layer of intrigue. The Red Wings captain is off to a steady start with two points in two games this season, and with an $8.7 million cap hit, he remains the kind of player who draws attention wherever he goes.
What makes this one stand out is the backdrop around his arrival, which has turned the Canadiens home date into more than just another test on the schedule. TVA Sports reporter Anthony Martineau noted the growing conversation around how Larkin might be received in Canada, and whether the atmosphere inside the building could end up mattering beyond one night at the rink. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Blue Line Shakeup Raises Big Questions About Their Defensive Depth
Montreals blue line took another turn this week when the Canadiens moved Jayden Struble to Nashville, parting with a 25-year-old left-shot defenseman who had appeared in three games this season. The deal was announced by both teams and brings back a 2027 second-round pick that originally belonged to Vegas, a return that at least gives Montreal another future asset as it continues sorting out its defense group.
Strubles exit also says plenty about where the Canadiens stand on the back end, where roles have been shifting and opportunities have been harder to come by. For Nashville, it was the kind of add that should give Struble a larger opportunity, while for Montreal it adds one more layer to a depth chart that already has some moving parts and, clearly, some unanswered questions. [Read more 🡒]