The Montreal Canadiens could look to make a move to fill the void from Patrik Laine’s injury.
Laine is out 3-4 months as he underwent surgery to repair a core muscle injury in late October. It’s a big blow to the Canadiens’ offense, and with Montreal in its Stanley Cup window, the Habs could look to make a move to replace him.
NHL insider Jeff Marek believes Montreal will look to acquire Steven Stamkos from the Nashville Predators, which would be a massive move.
“It’s not a good fit, it’s not working,” Marek said on Sekeres and Price. “I know life away from (Brayden) Point and (Nikita) Kucherov is tough. I still have a hard time believing what I’m seeing. Considering he left Tampa scoring 40 goals. I know he’s 35, and when it happens, it can happen suddenly. I just never saw it with Stamkos.
“That’s why I thought, not for the full ticket, we are talking a $4 million Stamkos, I could wonder about the Canucks, and I could wonder now that Patrik Laine is out, I could wonder about the Canadiens too, with Steven Stamkos. But, something probably has to give here.”
Stamkos is in the second year of his four-year, $32 million deal with the Predators. Since signing with Nashville, he has struggled, and if the Predators retain money, the Canadiens should be all over him.
Stamkos would be a perfect second-line center for the Canadiens and add some secondary scoring to the lineup, despite his slow start.
Canadiens Have Been Linked to Adding a Second-Line Center
Montreal entered the offseason with a need for a second-line center, but the Canadiens never made a move.
Instead, the Habs were expecting Kirby Dach to fill the second-line center. But, NHL insiders Darren Dreger and Chris Johnston confirmed the team is looking for a second-line center.
“I think (Canadiens’ GM) Kent Hughes…he’s going to try and do something. He’s still looking for that number two center,” said Darren Dreger on Barn Burner. This has been present because Kirby Dach can’t seem to stay healthy, is out with a lower-body injury, and is in the last year of his contract. Oliver Kapanen has been a welcomed surprise, but he is not the second line center Montreal is looking for this season.”
Meanwhile, Johnston said on Insider Trading, also confirmed that the Canadiens are looking for a second-line center.
“The most pressing need certainly is for another centerman,” Johnston said. “Montreal has been on that file for a while now. It was a market they were exploring over the summer. I do think at some point…you’ll see them make that kind of move.”
The Canadiens are 9-3-0 to begin the season.
Montreal Off to Hot Start
The Canadiens have the second-best record in the Eastern Conference and fourth-best record in the NHL.
Montreal rallied to beat the Ottawa Senators on Saturday for the Canadiens’ third win in a row and five of their last six.
“It’s crazy how we just keep doing this and our star players step up for us every time,” defenseman Jayden Struble said postgame. “When we’re down it doesn’t feel like we’re down. It’s like: All right, someone’s going to score and send it to OT and then someone’s going to win it. It’s a crazy thing to be a part of right now. It’s very fun and I love the way that we’re playing.”
The Canadiens will return to the ice on Tuesday at home against the Philadelphia Flyers.
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