The NHL waiver wire delivered a real jolt today, but the biggest name on it ended up staying put. Calgary Flames forward Connor Zary went unclaimed, a result that caught plenty of attention around the league.
That outcome was especially striking because of the player involved. Zary is 25, and the source of the surprise is simple: teams passed on a forward with that kind of offensive upside. Every club in the league passed, including the Canadiens, who chose not to make a move despite the injury suffered by Ivan Demidov.
Montreal general manager Kent Hughes opted for roster stability instead. Claiming Zary would have required an immediate spot on the NHL roster, which would have meant sorting out a more complicated personnel move afterward. For now, the Canadiens are sticking with what they have heading into the season opener.
Zary wasn’t the only Flame to clear waivers without a claim. Defenseman Brayden Pachal also went unclaimed, and New York Rangers defenseman Matthew Robertson found no takers either.
The waiver wire still isn’t done shifting. The Columbus Blue Jackets placed forward Mikael Pyyhtia on waivers, and the Tampa Bay Lightning did the same with forward Jansen Harkins. Both players could attract interest from teams looking for low-cost depth on the fourth line.
It sets up another interesting day of waiting, with the deadline coming tomorrow and the possibility that the next round of results looks very different. For Montreal, though, the flurry of rumors that had been building over the past few hours came to an abrupt stop.
In Other News...
Bruins Fans Have A Real Matthew Poitras Trade Question Again
A fresh round of trade chatter has put Montreal back in the mix for a name that would instantly change the conversation around the Canadiens. Dylan Larkin is being discussed as a potential fit, and the appeal is obvious for a team still looking to keep building around Nick Suzuki while adding more speed and edge down the middle. Nothing is close, but the fact Montreal is even being mentioned speaks to where the club stands in the market right now.
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 🡒]
Canadiens Fans Have Every Reason To Question This Connor Zary Decision
The Canadiens had a chance to take a swing on Connor Zary, and the decision to pass on him already looks like the sort of call that will be debated in Montreal for a while. Calgary was trying to turn Zary into a second-round pick before the situation shifted, and the Flames ultimately put him on waivers after no deal came together. For a Canadiens team that has spent plenty of time trying to deepen its young forward group, it was an opportunity worth noticing.
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 🡒]