It’s time for a spooky edition of NHL rumours. We’re nearing the month of November and teams are trying to bolster their respective rosters. There are some teams that have made some early-season deals. One team that’s looking to make some moves is the Montreal Canadiens. This edition of NHL rumours deals with the Habs in the market for some reinforcements.
All NHL rumours come from the original source and are subject to change.
NHL Rumours
Montreal Canadiens Looking to Add Depth in Multiple Positions
Rumour: On the latest edition of the 32 Thoughts podcast, Elliotte Friedman mentioned that the Canadiens are looking to add a defenceman and a forward.
32 Thoughts Monday news, information and analysis podcast.
Links to your preferred platform, with B & E injury attorneys, here: https://t.co/io7Mr1QEpm
Enjoy!
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) October 28, 2024
Analysis: It’s been a rough start for the Habs on the injury front. A number of players have gone down due to injuries and general manager Kent Hughes is looking to add players to the squad.
Montreal was expected to finally take the next step in its rebuild. The team was looking to play meaningful hockey games late into the season. However, the roster has been decimated by injuries.
Friedman and co-host Kyle Bukauskas went back to a rumour first reported on the Headlines segment of Saturday’s broadcast of Hockey Night in Canada. The insider said that Montreal has been calling around the league to see what’s available. However, nothing has progressed at the moment.
What are the Canadiens Looking for?
It was mentioned that the Habs are looking for a right-handed top-four defenceman. However, plenty of teams are in the market for those types of players. That sort of defender is on top of a lot of team’s wish list.
Friedman also mentioned the Canadiens are looking to add another forward. However, they want one that has a bit of an edge to him. Sportsnet’s Eric Engels mentioned that the Canadiens aren’t really hard to play against. Engels brought up that Montreal would probably like a forward that’s a good forechecker.
These types of players won’t be the magic formula to turn the Canadiens around. However, it will help fill out a lineup that’s got some holes due to injuries.
Finding the Fit
Montreal may be looking to add players, but it will wait for the right deal to come along. Hughes and team president Jeff Gorton won’t force a deal to happen and will be patient.
Friedman brought up that former San Jose Sharks defenceman Matt Benning could be someone on the Habs’ radar. However, the Toronto Maple Leafs acquired the blueliner in the deal that sent Timothy Liljegren to Northern California.
The plan for the Canadiens is to acquire someone, but to not block the progress of their younger players. Montreal has a talented array of younger skaters. However, these players still need time to develop.
Adding someone will help, but there are players that will be ready to jump into the lineup when the time is right. It’s a tough situation to balance for Montreal. However, something needs to be done to fill some of the gaps in their lineup in both the forward and defensive parts of their group.
Main photo by: Dan Hamilton-Imagn Images
