When the clock struck 3:00 p.m. Eastern on NHL trade deadline day, it was pretty clear that fans of the Montreal Canadiens were disappointed in their general manager — but they weren’t without hope.
There were still insider reports floating around on broadcasts that Montreal might have something in the NHL’s trade queue, even though the deadline had technically passed.
Meanwhile, there was nothing but crickets from the Canadiens’ communication staff. No ‘we’re done for the day’ message like we’ve sometimes seen in the past — nothing to really signal that the day was over.
It would take nearly 90 minutes after the deadline before the Habs’ GM finally addressed the media. And when he did, the news was simple: for the second straight trade deadline, Kent Hughes had been unable to complete a move to help his team.
While teams like the Sabres, Red Wings, Islanders, and Blue Jackets — all clubs battling with Montreal for playoff positioning — found ways to improve their rosters, the Canadiens stood pat.
This Week’s Show
So the question now becomes: what does that mean? Was this patience and discipline from the front office, or did Montreal miss an opportunity in a competitive playoff race? These questions guide our discussion in this week’s episode of the Canadiens Connection podcast.
We also discussed these important topics on this week’s episode of the podcast:
- Head coach Marty St. Louis makes changes to most of his forward lines.
- Montreal prospect is on a scoring tear, and he’s a defenseman.
- Canadiens’ rivals bolster rosters at the NHL trade deadline.
CC Question of the Week: After this deadline, are you more or less confident that the Montreal Canadiens will make the playoffs? And win a round?
It is our eighth season, with a new episode of the podcast dropping every Saturday afternoon. Be sure to subscribe using your favorite podcast app! Or watch our episodes on YouTube!
Canadiens Connection Podcast: Did the Habs Miss an Opportunity?
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