Canadiens Looking to Trade for ‘Someone with Edge’ at Forward: Report
With the Montreal Canadiens struggling early in the season, GM Kent Hughes is actively exploring options to strengthen the lineup, particularly seeking a forward with grit. The Habs, for what’s worth, lost their main offseason acquisition in former Columbus Blue Jackets winger Patrik Laine, who they traded for in the summer.
The sniper suffered a knee sprain in the preseason and won’t be available for a few months, although for now he’s avoided surgery. According to Elliotte Friedman, appearing on Hockey Night in Canada on Saturday, Hughes is prioritizing physicality but remains adamant about protecting the team’s long-term goals.
“It’s been widely reported that the Canadiens are looking at defensive help,” Friedman said. “We can also add that they have started peeking around for a forward, too.
“Particularly someone with edge.” Friedman’s comments about the Habs’ willingness to add players follow similar insights from NHL insider Frank Seravalli, who reported on Friday that the Canadiens are also searching for a top-four, right-handed defenseman.
“[The Canadiens] are checking prices to add a top-four, right-shooting defenseman,” Seravalli wrote on X. “With the future well arranged, it’s expensive for a stopgap solution, but Canadiens also recognize this current situation isn’t ideal.”
Although Hughes is aiming at addressing Montreal’s current needs on both the forward and defense corps, he’s clear about not derailing future plans for short-term fixes. “One thing the Canadiens are telling everybody is that they will not do anything that interferes with their long-term planning,” Friedman said. Hughes appears to be targeting a strong and physical type of forward who can pressure opponents in the offensive zone-a quality that Montreal currently lacks.
While defensemen like Arber Xhekaj and Jayden Struble have provided physical play, Hughes is seeking a similar edge up front. The challenge, obviously, lies in finding the right player without compromising future assets and trading away neither draft picks nor prospects, including the likes of Lane Hutson, Logan Mailloux, and David Reinbacher. The Habs are coming off a weekend win on Sunday as they beat the Philadelphia Flyers 4-3 on the road to even their record on non-overtime games to a 4-4 split with an overtime loss added to that, making it 4-4-1 through nine games.
