The Habs Are Going Top 6 Forward Hunting

According to a story written by Marco D’Amico of RG Media, the Montreal Canadiens are reportedly working hard to find a top 6 forward to improve their offence. While it’s clear that the Habs need a 2nd line centre, their search isn’t limited to help down the middle. A Western Conference executive told D’Amico that the Canadiens are not done and have been working the phones really hard in recent days after signing Alexandre Texier for their bottom six.

https://twitter.com/mndamico/status/1993323281013760024

The main reason that the search for a top 6 forward is reportedly related to the fact that injuries have been mounting in Montreal over the past few weeks. Therefore, Hughes is speaking to teams to discuss the cost of various players throughout the league. D’Amico was told that the Habs are leaving no stones unturned and are searching hard for a piece that can help them for the long haul.

In particular, there are multiple scouts from around the league, especially from the Western Conference teams, following the Canadiens closely in regard to potentially completing a deal in the near future.

The same Western Conference exec told D’Amico that two others that are really busy with trade talks around the league are the Nashville Predators and the St. Louis Blues. However, unlike the Habs, those two teams are more likely looking to trade veteran players and may be willing to move pieces that could interest the Canadiens.

https://twitter.com/NHLRumourReport/status/

One player that has continuously been linked to the Habs and fits the bill of being able to help them for the long haul is Blues forward Jordan Kyrou. There was apparently a big deal discussed in the summer between the Habs and Blues, which would have surrounded Kyrou coming to the Habs, but it fell through and ended up just being a Logan Mailloux for Zack Bolduc deal in the end. With the fact that the Blues have struggled early in the season, it’s a wonder if these two teams end up discussing another deal that revolves around the Blues sniper.

Kyrou’s no-movement clause kicked in as of July 1st, and he has reportedly expressed no desire to leave the Blues, but if things don’t get better, that may change in the near future. With that being said, the Habs will surely be suitors if he does end up being dangled around the league. Currently Kyrou has 6 goals and 13 points in 22 games, tied for the most points on the team with Robert Thomas.

As for what the Canadiens have to offer, it is a plethora of young talent and some defensive depth that could entice teams around the league. Another NHL source told D’Amico that many scouts around the league are extremely interested in young defenseman Adam Engstrom, who has continued to garner attention with his play in the AHL with the Laval Rocket.

https://twitter.com/JhanHky/status/1993319502407245930

Engstrom just got called up, and this apparently doesn’t mean he’s being showcased around the league, but rather it will allow Kent Hughes to see what he has at his disposal with his young defenseman. This call-up could end up leading to a trade in the near future, as that same NHL source mentioned there is not only interest for Engstrom but also for both Jayden Struble and Arber Xhekaj, who could help complete a trade package for a potential top 6 forward. Either way, if Engstrom impresses enough to take a role in the Habs’ top 6 defensemen, the Habs may need to move a defenseman to avoid having too many defensemen on the roster.

It sounds like there is a lot going on behind the scenes, and if the things D’Amico is hearing from around the league are any indication, we could see a trade before the roster freeze on December 20th to December 27th, similarly to how we saw the Justin Barron for Alex Carrier trade last December.

Do you think the Habs will make a trade before the roster freeze on December 20th?