Snapshots: Canadiens, Valimaki, Maroon

It appears that clearing their logjam on the back end isn’t the only thing the Canadiens are looking to do with their defense corps.  Sportsnet’s Nick Kypreos reports (video link) that they may be eyeing a veteran left-shot player to add to their blueline, suggesting that the Blues and Kings could be potential targets.  Montreal has a collection of inexperienced youngsters and depth players on that side and if they plan to hang around the playoff picture, adding a proven top-four defender would certainly help their chances.  In the meantime, with Shea Weber expected to return on Tuesday, they will need to make a roster move between now and then.

Elsewhere around the league:

• Flames defenseman Juuso Valimaki is day-to-day with a lower-body injury, the team announced (Twitter link). The injury was sustained on Friday against Vegas and kept him out of the lineup earlier today in their win over Arizona.  The 20-year-old has fared well in his first professional season as he made the team out of training camp and has held down a regular spot in the lineup while averaging a little over 15 minutes per night of ice time.
• While Blues winger Patrick Maroon was viewed as an early extension candidate when the calendar turns to January, that’s looking more unlikely at this point and if the Blues continue to struggle, he could be dealt as a rental. With that in mind, Kevin Paul Dupont of the Boston Globe notes that a trade would be a lot easier to accomplish beginning in February when his full no-trade clause drops to an eight-team one.  The 30-year-old has just a single goal along with seven assists in 16 games this season and carries a cap hit of $1.75MM which will be of interest to some teams that have limited salary cap space.