The Canadiens are still weighing how bold to get, the Predators are keeping tabs on the blue line market, and Drew Doughty says his next deal could be built to keep him in Los Angeles.
Frank Seravalli of Sportsnet reported that Montreal has stayed active in the trade market all season and into the offseason, but the team still hasn’t locked in how hard it wants to push. Part of that patience comes from possible internal answers already in the pipeline.
The Canadiens may want to wait on defenseman Luke Mittelstadt, Adam Engstrom, and forwards Alexander Zharovsky and Michael Hage. Mittelstadt is in the AHL, Engstrom is with the Habs, Zharovsky is in the KHL, and Hage is at Michigan in the NCAA.
Hage, though, won’t be available until the end of the season.
Nashville has also been busy, having acquired Jayden Struble from Montreal two weeks ago, but that hasn’t stopped the Predators from continuing to monitor the defense market. Teams are also watching forward Ryan O’Reilly as a possible target later in the season.
Another name drawing attention is Carolina defenseman Alexander Nikishin. Some teams around the league view him as a $6 million defenseman rather than a $9 million one.
Pierre LeBrun reported that with Nikishin re-signed for one year at $3 million, the Hurricanes and Nikishin could revisit a trade this offseason if he still wants out. Nikishin will also be eligible for an offer sheet next season, which he wasn’t eligible for this year.
Puck Pedia noted that he will be offer sheet and arbitration eligible next offseason.
On the other side of the country, Doughty made it clear he wants to keep playing in Los Angeles. Tom Gulitti of NHL.com reported that the Kings defenseman wants to re-sign with the team, and he believes general manager Ken Holland wants the same thing.
“He knows what I want. I believe he wants me to stay,” Doughty said.
“We just haven’t talked about it yet. I feel like I’m performing better than I have in my past two seasons.
So, I think that I’ll take a team-friendly deal and stay in L.A. That’s my plan.”
Doughty said he isn’t sure how an extension would be structured, but he intends to do what he can to give the Kings flexibility.
In Other News...
Oliver Kapanen Suddenly Has A Real Chance To Change Canadiens Plans
Oliver Kapanen is back from a lower-body injury and suddenly finds himself in a very different spot in the Canadiens lineup. After opening the season on the fourth line, he now has a chance to skate in a far more prominent role, the kind of opportunity that can alter how a team views a young center far beyond a short stretch of games.
Kapanen has yet to post a point in his four appearances this season, but Montreal has long liked the idea of what he could become as a reliable two-way center. With more responsibility now in front of him, the focus shifts from simply getting him back up to speed to whether he can show enough poise and skill to strengthen the clubs long-term plans down the middle. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Just Sparked A Trade Question Fans Wont Ignore
Adam Engstrom is back in the Canadiens lineup for the game in St. Louis, and the timing has only sharpened the attention around a situation that already had a few eyebrows raised. Arber Xhekaj is sitting out as a healthy scratch, which gives Montreal a different look on the blue line and opens the door to the kind of lineup discussion that tends to get louder when a teams roster decisions intersect with outside interest.
Adding to the intrigue, Red Wings executive Kris Draper was in attendance, a detail that naturally fed speculation about whether Detroit has Engstrom on its radar. There has been no official confirmation of any trade talk or scouting intent, but when a front office figure keeps showing up around a players team, it is the sort of thing fans notice right away, especially when the Canadiens are juggling personnel choices at the same time. [Read more 🡒]
Canadiens Suddenly Feel Closer To A Dylan Larkin Trade Watch
The Canadiens found themselves under a little extra scrutiny during their meeting with the Blues, with Red Wings assistant general manager Kris Draper in the stands as Detroit continued to do background work tied to Dylan Larkins trade market. It was a quiet but notable bit of scouting, the kind that can turn a routine regular-season game into a useful checkpoint for front offices looking ahead.
Darren Dreger reported that Detroit is keeping tabs on Montreal and St. Louis even though neither club is currently on Larkins list of preferred landing spots. For now, the Red Wings are simply gathering information and staying prepared in case that list changes, which leaves both teams in an interesting holding pattern as the conversation around Larkins availability continues to develop. [Read more 🡒]