Renewed trade chatter has put the Canadiens and Bruins back in the same conversation, and Jayden Struble is the name that keeps surfacing.
Boston’s interest in the Montreal defenseman is not new. Marco D'Amico reported last fall that the Bruins had real interest in acquiring Struble, and that curiosity still appears to be there.
For a Bruins team still trying to shore up its blue line, Struble checks a lot of boxes: he’s 24, he plays a physical and mobile game, and he put up 12 points in 59 games. His contract also doesn’t create much of a problem.
Montreal, though, may have an even clearer reason to listen.
The Canadiens’ defense is getting crowded fast, and that congestion could leave someone on the outside looking in. David Reinbacher’s rise changes the picture, and if he makes the team, Struble could wind up as the extra man. Adam Engstrom is another name that could push for attention at training camp.
That’s before even getting to the rest of the group. Lane Hutson, Noah Dobson, Mike Matheson, Kaiden Guhle and Alexandre Carrier are already in the mix, with younger options like Arber Xhekaj and Reinbacher adding to the squeeze. The roster spots are starting to disappear.
If Montreal does decide to move Struble, the return would likely be built around either helping at another position or adding to the draft-pick pile. That kind of deal fits the way Kent Hughes has operated, turning surplus into something useful.
It also fits what Don Sweeney may be looking for in Boston. The Bruins general manager wants to rebuild a defense that has shown weaknesses, and Struble could be part of that fix.
For now, the situation may simply be waiting on training camp to sort itself out.
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For Montreal, that matters because this is the kind of situation where every possible move gets examined through the lens of fit and flexibility. The Canadiens have been tied to Kirill Marchenko as a possible target, but any real pursuit would have to line up with the clubs cap picture and its current roster crunch, which makes the path forward more complicated than simply identifying a name they like. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Risk Chasing The Wrong Upgrade With Kirill Marchenko
Kirill Marchenkos name is starting to surface in trade chatter again, and for clubs like Montreal the appeal is obvious. He is young, productive and still has room to grow, which is exactly the kind of profile that can tempt a team looking to add offense without waiting through a full rebuild. But the conversation around him is not just about talent, it is about fit, and that is where the Canadiens have to be careful about what kind of upgrade they are actually chasing.
The bigger question is whether Marchenko addresses the right need for Montreal at all. He brings a scorers touch and the kind of game that can help a lineup, but some of the analysis around him points to a broader roster issue for the Canadiens, one that goes beyond adding another skilled winger. If Columbus and Don Waddell decide to move him, the market could get interesting fast, yet Montreals challenge will be resisting the urge to solve one problem while leaving the more important one untouched. [Read more 🡒]