Mid-season is fast approaching in the National Hockey League (NHL), and already, trade rumors are intensifying all over the Bettman circuit.
The staff of the Montreal Canadiens will certainly hold the attention by the date of February 20, 2023.
What decisions will Kent Hughes make in the files of Jonathan Drouin, Sean Monahan, Joel Edmundson and Evgenii Dadonov, among others, who will all post the status of free agent without compensation at the end of the current campaign.
“Sean Monahan attracts attention,” analyst Yvon Pedneault first said.
“I’ve been told that the Boston Bruins are currently on the Monahan case.”
“Several other teams could be tempted to acquire it. Sean Monahan is an interesting rental player candidate,” he added.
“The center position is always highly coveted at this time of year.”
The Alexis Lafrenière file
New York Rangers head coach Gerard Gallant did not fail to fuel the rumor machine by leaving out Quebecer Alexis Lafrenière on Thursday night.
From the Amalie Arena press gallery, the Rangers’ first overall pick of 2020 saw his teammates go down 2-1 in a shootout at the expense of the Tampa Bay Lightning.
“A player selected first in total who finds himself in the stands, that raises several questions”, still according to Pedneault.
“Alexis Lafrenière is not a power forward as the Rangers seem to claim, but a passer.”
“Rangers are going to be in the hunt for the services of Patrick Kane. Could Lafrenière be a hook?”
A call from the Habs?
“Did Jeff Gorton phone the GM in New York about Lafrenière? It must be remembered that Gorton, currently employed by CH, was the big boss of the Rangers when the Quebecer was selected in 2020.
A lot of
“Joe Sakic’s target could be on the Chicago Blackhawks side, a certain Jonathan Toews.”
“The Vancouver Canucks will have to decide if it’s time for a facelift.”
“Are the Habs certain that Kirby Dach is a center player? If we are uncertain among the leaders of the Canadiens, we could inquire about Bo Horvat in Vancouver.
Yvon Pedneault provides an update in the main video above.