Sports Network: Elliotte Friedman and Kyle Bukauskas on 32 Thoughts: The Podcast – Put Gene in the Hall episode, on the Montreal Canadiens and the trade market.
**Transcript from NHLRumors.com
Bukauskas: “But you also said on Friedge’s weekend Hockey Night headlines that the Canadiens are one of the teams looking around the league for potential help to strengthen their roster, something to add over there ?
Friedman: “Well, it’s been reported in several places that they’re looking for another straight D. A top four straight D. Like who isn’t? Everyone is looking for a straight D in the top four. There isn’t enough to go around.
But they’re also looking for a striker, and they’re looking for a striker with some upside.
Eric Engels wrote an interesting column this week about how the Canadiens aren’t really that difficult to play against. And I think they’d like to approach this problem up front with a good forecheck, especially if they can.
The one thing they have made very clear is that they have a plan, especially for their young players. They have a lot and they don’t want to block any of them.
Now, if something fantastic comes their way, they won’t be able to say no. However, if it’s not something like that, the player they add will be compatible with what they’re going to do in the future, and who will have an opportunity in the future.
And so I think that’s something that they’re going to look at, and they might have to subtract a player to bring in a player. I think that’s the other problem they have here.
You know, one of the players, actually, I was thinking on defense, a right-handed shot, who I think is a pretty competent NHLer or who’s not playing right now, is Matt Benning in San Jose. And I thought he could be good for someone like Utah or someone like Montreal.
But the problem is that he has a year left. And I think Utah and Canadians prefer someone who doesn’t have a mandate. And you know, that’s what’s going to be the challenge here. I think a guy like Benning could easily find a home if he isn’t left this year.
But that’s the kind of thing Montreal is considering. They don’t want to hinder any of the young players they plan to add this year or maybe next year. It’s very important to them.
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