The Montreal Canadiens have been on a quest to upgrade their roster in any way they can. That much was evident when the club shipped two first-round picks to the New York Islanders for defenseman Noah Dobson this offseason.
The Habs also made an interesting trade by sending Logan Mailloux to the St. Louis Blues in exchange for Zack Bolduc.
These moves highlight how much the Canadiens want to improve this upcoming season. GM Kent Hughes and VP Jeff Gorton aren’t content with just making the postseason. They are bent on making the Canadiens a perennial playoff club.
Gorton had this to say about the team’s plans as quoted by TSN’s Kenzie Lalonde:
“We’re always open to adding, it’s pretty well documented that we went into the summer trying to improve our skill level, to try to add to our core, I think we were able to do some of that, but we’re always going to look to get better…. we’ll see what could be out there, but more encouraged in the now and how camp is going to go.”
“We’re always open to adding, it’s pretty well documented that we went into the summer trying to improve our skill level, to try to add to our core, I think we were able to do some of that, but we’re always going to
The comments signal that a move by Montreal could come at any time. However, the hardest part of this entire situation is timing. Like any other business, timing the market is one of the most difficult tasks. As a result, the Canadiens could be in a holding pattern until a viable trade comes up.
Canadiens Could Fill Holes Internally
The biggest need for the Montreal Canadiens this season is a second-line center. Kirby Dach is the choice for now. But that may change depending on his performance and injuries. Given his history, the Habs are not overly confident he can step in and play a full season.
While the best-case scenario would be a healthy season from Dach, the fact is that the Canadiens will be looking to fill holes any way they can. Hopefully, the Habs could plug those holes with internal candidates.
Ivan Demidov, Zack Bolduc, and Joe Veleno could all take over regular slots in Montreal. Bolduc and Demidov are seeming locks for the top six. Veleno, meanwhile, could be part the bottom six. If he can rekindle his former play, he could be a solid fit.
Jake Evans will hopefully continue to build on his development. The 29-year-old has been somewhat of a late bloomer. But if he can replicate the performance he showed last season, the Canadiens could have a solid 3C for the foreseeable future.
If things go according to plan, the Habs may not need to splurge on the trade market. They could patiently wait until the right deal comes along.
Montreal Has Options in the Pipeline
The forward pipeline for the Canadiens looks promising. Several rising stars could make a push for a lineup spot sooner rather than later. Players like Joshua Roy, Owen Beck, and Luke Tuch could push for various roles.
If these players can make a strong case for themselves, the Canadiens may opt to bring them up while they scour the market for other opportunities.
Ultimately, the Canadiens will need to figure out every potential opportunity to upgrade given the barren conditions of the current trade market.
Canadiens’ Next Move Could Come at Any Time