The Winnipeg Jets have put themselves in a tight spot, and that has opened the door for the Montreal Canadiens to keep watching the market.
On Wednesday, Winnipeg announced that Connor Hellebuyck had been suspended indefinitely after failing to report to camp. GM Kevin Chevaldayoff is scheduled to speak to the media on Thursday, and the situation now makes the Jets a team to monitor in the days and weeks ahead.
For Montreal, the timing is worth noting. Kent Hughes recently benefited from the Anaheim Ducks’ cap crunch, and the Canadiens could be in position to act again if Winnipeg’s mess creates another opportunity.
Hughes has already said he was comfortable opening training camp with three NHL goaltenders, but not the regular season. That matters, because Jacob Fowler could be sent back to Laval, though that would hardly be the ideal outcome.
The Canadiens’ camp roster suggests they’re preparing for more than one scenario in goal. Montreal has seven goaltenders in camp: Montembeault, Jakub Dobes, Fowler, Kaapo Kahkonen, Hunter Jones, Francesco Lapenna and Hunter Jones. That gives the Habs enough bodies to cover NHL, Laval Rocket and Trois-Rivières Lions needs, with one extra in the mix.
If Winnipeg can move Hellebuyck in a deal that brings back an NHL-caliber goaltender, the problem changes quickly. The Jets have been trying to move him for some time, and a number of netminders have already changed teams this offseason.
Still, this is a difficult place for Winnipeg to be, especially after Hellebuyck said in 2023 that he could see himself "being a Jet for life." What a difference an Olympic gold medal makes...
In Other News...
Arber Xhekajs Deal Puts His Canadiens Future Under A Brighter Spotlight
Arber Xhekajs new deal with the Canadiens has put his place in the organization under a sharper lens, especially after a season in which his playing time was limited. Nicolas Cloutier reported that the one-year contract was not a mandate from Montreal, but a choice made by Xhekaj and his agent after weighing their options through the summer.
The thinking, as described in the report, was to wait and see whether a trade might thin out the competition on Montreals blue line, with other contract lengths also discussed along the way. For Xhekaj, the path ahead is fairly clear even if the stakes are high: a stronger season would give him much more leverage next time around, and the Canadiens will be watching closely to see whether he can seize the opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Trade Watch Just Got More Interesting With Kirill Marchenko
Kirill Marchenko has suddenly become one of the more intriguing names to watch as the trade chatter around Montreal keeps building. The Columbus forward reportedly told general manager Don Waddell he would give his best effort on the ice this season, but he stopped short of promising any long-term future with the club, which is hardly the kind of answer that settles a market already paying close attention.
A pending unrestricted free agent status always invites speculation, and the noise only grew louder after Marchenko was absent from a team event. A last-minute meeting with Waddell followed, but it did not appear to clear up much, leaving plenty of room for teams like the Canadiens to keep monitoring where this is headed. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Camp Already Hinted At St-Louis Biggest Early Lineup Calls
The Canadiens first official training camp practice offered an early glimpse at how Martin St-Louis is sorting through his lineup choices, and the opening look was telling. Team A was set to face the Toronto Maple Leafs in the upcoming game, with the forwards grouped in a way that suggested the staff is wasting no time testing combinations that could matter once the games start counting.
One of the most interesting wrinkles came in the middle of the forward group, where Kasperi Kapanen was centered on the second line. The workout also included defensive pairings and goaltender groupings, giving St-Louis a fuller picture of how the roster fits together, while the split between Team A and Team B quietly hinted at just how many early decisions still need to be made. [Read more 🡒]