Montreal Canadiens reportedly have a new target at the trade deadline
Photo credit: James Carey Lauder-Imagn Images
The search for a second-line center in Montreal is over, but Kent Hughes isn't done hunting for a game-changer on the wing.
Reports from insiders like David Pagnotta suggest the Habs are now fixated on landing a top-line right winger before the deadline.
It is a massive shift in philosophy that changes the entire landscape for this rebuild.
And it raises one burning question: what happens to the mountain on the roster?
Patrik Laine has been injured for most of this season.
He has only managed 1 point in 5 games while carrying a massive $8.7 million premium price tag.
But Hughes is clearly ready to make room for a new elite weapon.
Hughes prepares to clear the deck for a major roster shakeup
The roster is getting crowded with bodies returning from the shelf, and someone has to go.
So, the focus is shifting away from the middle of the ice to the scoring flanks.
Names like Jordan Kyrou or Jonathan Marchessault are already floating in the rumor mill as potential upgrades.
And we know the Habs were already willing to retain salary just to move Laine’s money out the door.
Yet, finding a partner for a guy with a -3 rating and zero goals isn't easy.
Hughes isn't going to deviate from his long-term plan, but he’s definitely active.
He is looking to exploit the market while the team sits in a playoff spot with 72 points.
If the right deal for a top RW comes along, expect the trigger to be pulled fast.
Will Laine still be in the building when the dust settles?
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