The Montreal Canadiens may have missed their swing at Kirill Marchenko, but that doesn’t mean they’re done hunting for help up front. If GM Kent Hughes goes back into the trade market, the focus has to shift to another top-six forward, and Mark Scheifele is one name that keeps circling back.
Bleacher Report’s Adam Gretz believes the fit in Montreal makes plenty of sense. “They wouldn’t need him as a No. 1 center (Nick Suzuki has that spot locked down), but they do need an upgrade at their No. 2 center spot and with their depth down the middle. That might be the one big Achilles heel they have with the roster this season, and Scheifele would give them a pretty dynamic 1-2 punch down the middle.”
Cap space wouldn’t be the issue. The Canadiens have enough flexibility to make a deal work financially if they decided Scheifele was the target.
The harder part is everything else. Scheifele has not asked out publicly, he’s in his age-33 season, and his contract comes with a no-movement clause. Those are major hurdles, and every one of them would have to be cleared before Montreal could even start feeling good about its chances.
And the Canadiens would not be alone if Scheifele ever became available. The Minnesota Wild, Philadelphia Flyers, and Boston Bruins are all mentioned as possible destinations, and each would likely be prepared to make a strong bid. Montreal also has another problem: when it missed out on Marchenko, it did not have an obvious roster player to send back to Winnipeg.
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Leafs Got An Opening Ottawa Could Not Afford To Give Away
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The Leafs wasted little time taking advantage, scoring twice in a row after Sanderson exited to grab a 2-1 lead. In a game where every shift mattered, Ottawa could not afford to lose one of its top defensemen, and Toronto quickly showed why those kinds of openings rarely stay closed for long. [Read more 🡒]