The Canadiens’ latest trade may have been about more than clearing one roster spot.
Arpon Basu says Montreal’s decision to deal Jayden Struble for a second-round pick fits into a larger plan being assembled by Kent Hughes. The logic is simple: a second-rounder is a more flexible trade chip than Struble, and draft picks are the kind of currency just about every NHL team will take in a deal.
That’s why Basu sees Hughes and Jeff Gorton methodically building toward something bigger.
Interesting!
The timing only adds fuel to that idea. According to David Pagnotta, Hughes and his staff are chasing a major star, with Dylan Larkin and Mark Scheifele among the names getting more mention as possible targets.
Montreal got Vegas’ 2027 second-round pick back for Struble. The defenseman had gone scoreless in three games and was scratched to make way for Adam Engstrom.
And Struble isn’t the only piece Hughes could put on the table.
Kirby Dach has two assists in 10 games and a minus-4 rating, yet there are still teams around the league interested in him. Frank Seravalli reported that multiple clubs were willing to send a second-round pick for Dach back in June.
Of course, the next move doesn’t have to be Larkin, especially since he still won’t include Montreal on his approved list of destinations. It could be Scheifele, a Flyers winger, or someone else entirely.
But when a general manager keeps stacking assets like this, it usually isn’t for decoration. Not at this stage.
In Other News...
Canadiens Found An Encouraging Response In Their First Game Without Suzuki
The Canadiens opened their four-game road trip with a 4-1 win over the Blackhawks at the United Center, and the response was exactly the sort of one they needed after losing captain Nick Suzuki to injury. Montreal did not just get by without its top center, it found a useful spark from the bottom of the lineup, where Jake Evans stepped into a bigger role and helped steady the group in a game that could have gone sideways.
Lane Hutson also found himself in a new kind of spotlight, taking on ironman status for Montreal after Suzuki's long streak came to an end. The bigger-picture concern is obvious enough, because the Canadiens will have to keep answering questions about life without their captain while navigating the rest of the trip, and the early signs from this one were encouraging even if the lineup picture is still unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Face A Tough Zach Whitecloud Decision On Blue-Line Help
Montreals search for blue-line help has turned into a familiar midseason balancing act, with Zach Whitecloud among the names tied to the Canadiens as they weigh whether to add reinforcements or stay patient. The Calgary Flames are holding firm in those discussions, and Whiteclouds $2.75 million cap hit gives the price tag some bite for a player who has yet to record a point this season and sits at minus-5.
For the Canadiens, the real question is whether the upgrade is worth paying up for when other defensive options remain in play. Montreal has been linked to additional targets as well, which gives the front office some room to compare fit, cost and urgency while Calgary shows no sign of moving Whitecloud at a discount. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Prospect Is Suddenly Looking Like A Real Draft Steal
Brayden Klimpkes rise with the Saskatoon Blades is starting to make Montreals long-term hold on his rights look a lot more intriguing. The 19-year-old Canadiens prospect has piled up 15 points in 10 WHL games, a sharp burst for a player who has become the Blades captain and now looks much more comfortable driving play from the back end after a major physical growth spurt.
At 6 feet, Klimpke has clearly changed the look of his game as much as his frame, and his next step only adds to the interest around him. He is committed to the University of North Dakota, while Montreal will keep his NHL rights through 2031, giving the Canadiens plenty of time to see whether this early offensive jump is the start of something bigger. [Read more 🡒]