NHL Rumours: Montreal Canadiens Trade Deadline Plans

Analysis: As LeBrun explains, while speaking with Arpon Basu and Marc Antoine Godin on Friday, the word Kent Hughes chose to use to describe his approach to the deadline was “prudent”. Hughes does not want to mortgage the future for a quick fix this season. And rightfully so. The Canadiens window for contention is just opening. They’re the youngest team in the NHL and just completed what looks to be a very successful rebuild after making the playoffs a year early last season. Now, sitting in a wild-card spot and in striking distance of the division lead, Hughes needs to be careful not to make any rash decisions.

Offensive Help On the Horizon

What we have to remember about these Canadiens is that they still have some offensive firepower working their way back into the lineup. They played the majority of the season without Kirby Dach, Patrik Laine and Alex Newhook. Dach just returned on January 20th, while Laine and Newhook are also skating and working their way back to return in the near future. Without even making a trade, the Canadiens will have a much-improved lineup when they are 100% healthy. Just another reason Hughes doesn’t feel the pressure to take any massive swings at the bigger names on the trade block in-season.

Hockey Trade Incoming

Though LeBrun says the Canadiens are not going to risk the future and overpay to help the present, he did mention that the Canadiens would be entertaining making a hockey trade. Something along the lines of the work he has already done, such as the deals he made for Dach, Newhook, Alexandre Carrier, Laine and Noah Dobson. Deals that aren’t going to have a major impact on the future of the club by giving up their top prospects, but something that can help them not just now, but well into the future.

One would suggest that improving the struggling goaltending would be something the Canadiens desperately need to do. However, with Jacob Fowler waiting in the wings and already after putting together a successful first stint in the show, you can just add that to another one of the aforementioned reasons why Hughes can be patient heading into the deadline. Moreover, current goaltender Jakub Dobes may not have Vezina worthy numbers, he does, however, do the most important. Win games. Dobes currently holds a record of 16-5-3 and is earning himself some more starts going forward.

If Hughes sees an upgrade that makes sense without risking the future of the team, he’ll pull the trigger. If not, it’s status quo for the Canadiens as they enter the final push for the playoffs.