- Canadiens defender Jayden Struble is questionable for tomorrow’s tilt against the Coyotes after what he called a “pinch” in his back during a game last week, Sportsnet’s Eric Engels says. He was a full participant in practice today and will likely re-enter the lineup Thursday against Florida at the latest. The 2019 second-round pick missed Saturday’s loss to the Devils but has otherwise put together a solid rookie season, notching three goals and seven points through 39 games while boasting some of Montreal’s best possession numbers, albeit in limited minutes (15:52 per game).
Canadiens Rumors
Jean-Guy Talbot Passes Away
Longtime Canadiens defenseman Jean-Guy Talbot passed away Thursday, per an obituary from NHL.com columnist Dave Stubbs. Talbot was 91 years old.
Born in Cap-de-la-Madeleine, Québec, in 1932, Talbot was the second-last surviving member of the group of 12 players who remained with the Canadiens during their NHL-record five consecutive championships from 1956 to 1960. Those were the first five full seasons of Talbot’s NHL career – he would go on to win the Cup twice more with Montreal in 1965 and 1966.
Talbot was among the Habs’ many key figures of the late Original Six era, playing over 800 games in a Montreal sweater between 1955 and 1967. While his career-best 1961-62 campaign didn’t result in an eighth Stanley Cup win, Talbot’s five goals, 42 assists, 47 points, and +30 rating in 70 games placed him third in Norris Trophy voting behind the Blackhawks’ Pierre Pilote and the Rangers’ Doug Harvey. He was also named to the year-end All-Star team for the only time in his career.
His Montreal tenure ended when the Canadiens left him unprotected in the 1967 Expansion Draft, where the Minnesota North Stars selected him. He was traded to the Red Wings just four games into the 1967-68 season, though, and switched teams for a second time that year when the Blues claimed him off waivers from Detroit in January. Talbot remained in St. Louis for most of the remainder of his career, closing out his playing days briefly with the Sabres after a trade in 1970-71.
After retirement, Talbot stayed in the game as a coach, taking over behind the Blues bench in 1972-73 after the team fired Al Arbour, who would win four straight Stanley Cups with the Islanders between 1980 and 1983. Talbot resigned from his post with the Blues late in the 1973-74 season and would coach the WHA’s Denver Spurs in 1975-76, which relocated to Ottawa mid-season before folding. He returned to the NHL as the coach of the Rangers in 1977-78 but only spent one season behind the bench.
Talbot resided in Trois-Rivières, Québec, and is survived by his wife of over 70 years, Pierrette, two sons, a daughter, and five granddaughters. PHR extends its deepest condolences to Talbot’s family and the Canadiens organization.
Canadiens Claim Colin White, Assign Brandon Gignac To AHL
Feb. 23: Gignac cleared waivers Friday, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports. The AHL’s Laval Rocket confirmed that Gignac had been reassigned to them by Montreal.
Feb. 22: The Montreal Canadiens have claimed forward Colin White off of waivers from the Pittsburgh Penguins. The team has placed Brandon Gignac on waivers in order to make space for White’s arrival. This move marks a reunion between White and general manager Kent Hughes, who represented White as a player agent before moving into a team role.
White will be moving to his fourth NHL franchise with this move, after just 11 games with the Penguins. The 27-year-old centerman signed a one-year, two-way, $775K contract with the Penguins before the season, earning the deal after signing a professional try-out. But his only scoring this season has come in the AHL, where he’s scored 10 points, split evenly, in 21 games. White was placed on waivers on October 8th and remained in the minor leagues until January 13th.
White has fallen a long way since being drafted 21st overall in the 2015 NHL Draft. He lived up to the high selection quickly, scoring 76 points across 72 games with Boston College before playing his rookie season in the 2018-19 season. And he looked the part in his rookie season as well, scoring 14 goals and 41 points in 71 games. But he has only broken 20 points one time since then, seeing a gradual decrease in his production every season since. He will likely step immediately into the Montreal lineup, in place of Gignac who was operating as the team’s fourth-line center, though injuries to Rafael Harvey-Pinard and Christian Dvorak could offer a chance for White to see expanded opportunity.
Montreal faces the Penguins on Thursday evening, giving White the rare chance for a revenge game on the same day as his team-change. The Canadiens also have Michael Pezzetta recalled to the NHL roster, offering depth in the event that White isn’t ready to go. Either way, he’ll kick off his search for the first point of his season, and his Canadiens career, when he slots into the lineup.
Jordan Harris Cleared To Return From Concussion
- Canadiens defenseman Jordan Harris has been cleared to return, notes RDS’ Luc Gelinas (Twitter link). The blueliner also confirmed that the upper-body injury he was dealing with was a concussion, the second of his career. Harris has played in 31 games so far this season, picking up a goal and five assists while averaging a little over 17 minutes a night.
Trade Deadline Primer: Montreal Canadiens
With the All-Star break in the rearview, the trade deadline looms large and is now just a month away. Where does each team stand, and what moves should they be looking to make? We continue our look around the league with the Montreal Canadiens.
An early season-ending injury to top-six forward Kirby Dach derailed the Montreal Canadiens season nearly as soon as it got started. The mantra has followed Montreal, who have also faced significant injury to Christian Dvorak and Rafael Harvey-Pinard. That’s left the team without much bite this season, destined to spend the year focused on developing young talents rather than pushing for the playoffs. But Montreal is prepared for this, boasting one of the youngest lineups in the league and providing ample opportunity to AHL standouts. This includes calling up top prospect Joshua Roy for the first 10 games of his career, signing Brandon Gignac to an extension after AHL success, and rotating a trio of goalies to find their future fit. In a season of failures on the scoresheet, Montreal is still finding ways to improve, and the Trade Deadline could be their chance to really lean into prioritizing the future.
Record
22-25-8, 7th in the Atlantic Division.
Deadline Status
Sellers
Deadline Cap Space
$5.654 MM on deadline day, 2/3 retention slots used, 45/50 contracts used, per CapFriendly.
Upcoming Draft Picks
2024: MTL 1st, WPG 1st, COL 2nd, MTL 3rd, MIN 3rd, MTL 4th, MTL 5th, SJS 5th, MTL 6th, MTL 7th, EDM 7th, WSH 7th
2025: MTL 1st, CGY 1st, MTL 2nd, PIT 2nd, MTL 3rd, VAN 3rd, MTL 4th, DET 4th, MTL 5th, MTL 6th, MTL 7th
Trade Chips
Montreal’s trade chips begins with their goaltenders. General manager Kent Hughes recently shared that the team will need to move out one goaltender, leaving fans to speculate which is likeliest to go. Sam Montembeault seems to have the safest spot, largely thanks to the three-year, $9.45MM
contract extension he signed on December 1st. He’s since become Montreal’s de facto starter, setting 12 wins and a .903 save percentage through 26 games. Montembeault is primarily backed up by veteran Jake Allen, who’s set a .894 save percentage in 19 games of his own. Allen likely offers the best trade market value, largely thanks to the experience he’s gathered over 11 years and 414 games in the NHL. Allen also brings championship prowess, winning the Stanley Cup with the St. Louis Blues in 2019. But if teams are dissuaded by the 33-year-old Allen’s $3.85MM cap hit next season, they could also find depth in 24-year-old Cayden Primeau. Primeau – the youngest of any Canadiens goalie – has yet to come into his own in the NHL, totaling 33 games since making his NHL debut in 2019 but managing just eight wins and a .884 save percentage. He does seem to be on good pace this year though, with a .903 save percentage in 12 games of his own. Primeau is signed to a sub-$1MM deal through the end of the 2024-25 season, offering a lot of potential to teams looking for a potential difference-maker.
The Canadiens could also bank on veteran talents, finally finding a trade partner for Josh Anderson or moving away from hometown pro David Savard. Both players have been apart of trade rumors for a while, though Anderson would fetch much, much more of a return than Savard. The 29-year-old winger has just 15 points in 51 games this season, also setting 51 penalty minutes and a -21. It’s a far cry from the 27 goals and 47 points he managed in 82 games in 2018-19. Anderson hasn’t scored more than 32 points in a season since joining Montreal in 2020 but could still offer top-six value thanks to his sturdy frame and drive towards the net. Any trade of Anderson would almost certainly require Montreal to retain salary, using their last salary retention slot. But, with Anderson signed through his age-32 season in 2026-27, any return would be beneficial for the youthful Canadiens lineup.
Team Needs
1) Go Window Shopping – Montreal has the luxury of being able to explore all options at the Trade Deadline. The team is not in a position to win now, but they have all of the draft picks, prospect capital, and role players that a seller could ask for. This could give the Canadiens a lucrative opportunity to go after big names like Pavel Buchnevich or Jakob Chychrun. Both players are under 30 and on generally cheap contracts. While the remainder of their 2023-24 season might end up a bit fruitless, adding a big-market name could be enough to propel the Canadiens into success sooner than they planned for. The NHL is currently witnessing the ascension of the Philadelphia Flyers, who sit comfortably in a playoff spot after the All-Star Break, and Montreal could look to mimic that success next season with a healthy lineup and high-profile additions. The Canadiens likely wouldn’t have to sacrifice much for the additions either – boasting seven picks in the first or second round of the next two drafts. Their wallet is plenty big enough and they shouldn’t be frugal if that means they can bring in a point-per-game veteran forward or an ever-rising young defenseman.
2) Buy Up the Youth – Montreal is, first and foremost, a seller this year thanks to their insistence
on a goalie trade and long list of veteran talents. But that position could open them up to sneaky deadline deals. There is plenty of high-profile young talent on the open market, including Trevor Zegras, Arthur Kaliyev, Kaapo Kakko, and Philip Broberg. While each of these players carries with them varying degrees of certainty, they would all make stellar additions to a Montreal lineup that’s already full of young talent. It’s also easy to see the fit that many of them would have with skillful head coach Martin St. Louis. Edmonton’s desperate need for goaltending depth, or New York’s desire for forward depth, could be enough for them to take lesser value in favor of solidifying their lineups now. Montreal could be in the perfect spot to exploit those positions and add major, major value to their future outlook.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Jordan Harris Still Not Ready To Return
- Capitals veteran blue-liner Trevor van Riemsdyk draws in tonight against the Canadiens, The Washington Post’s Bailey Johnson reports. The Middletown, New Jersey, native had missed the last four games with an illness and has only played in four of Washington’s last 11 games due to a handful of healthy scratches. He’s fallen down the depth chart after the team picked up Ethan Bear in free agency, a concerning development given he has two years remaining on a deal carrying a $3MM cap hit. He has eight assists and a -11 rating while averaging 18:30 in 40 games.
Brendan Gallagher Returns, Goalie To Be Traded
- Brendan Gallagher is eligible to return to the Montreal Canadiens lineup after serving out a five-game suspension for a hit on New York Islanders defenseman Adam Pelech. It was the first suspension of Gallagher’s 12-year career. He’s scored eight goals and 16 points through 48 games this season, ranking sixth on the team in scoring. Montreal went 2-2-1 during Gallagher’s suspension.
- Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes shared on Pierre LeBrun and Ryan Rishaug’s Got Yer’ Back podcast that the team is seeking to trade a goaltender. The Canadiens currently have three goalies on their NHL roster – Jake Allen, Sam Montembeault, and Cayden Primeau. They recently signed Montembeault to a three-year, $9.45MM contract extension, suggesting he may be the team’s preferred keeper, though he’s no stranger to being involved in trade rumors.
Snapshots: Pelletier, Guhle, Rempe, Romanov
Rookie Calgary Flames forward Jakob Pelletier left the team’s Monday night game after receiving a hit from New York Rangers defenseman Jacob Trouba. Pelletier is being listed as sustaining an upper-body injury, though the hit seemed to specifically hit Pelletier’s left shoulder.
Pelletier started the season on season-opening injured reserve with a shoulder injury that required surgery. The injury has limited him to just eight games on the season – split evenly between the AHL and NHL. The 22-year-old winger has scored three points in the AHL and one point in the NHL on the year. Calgary acquired Pelletier in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft. He has become a popular name on the Flames, injecting a burst of speed and energy that’s been missing form the 25-23-5 Flames lineup.
Other notes from around the league:
- Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle is expected to make his return to the lineup on Tuesday. The 22-year-old defenseman suffered an undisclosed injury on Sunday and was questionable to miss time. That won’t be the case, though, as Guhle will look to build on the four goals and 12 points he’s managed through 48 games this season.
- The New York Rangers have sent down centerman Matt Rempe, who was recalled to the NHL roster for a few days of inactivity. The move is largely a paper transaction, likely to get Rempe experience with the NHL club and NHL payroll. The 21-year-old forward has eight goals, 12 points, and 96 penalty minutes in 43 AHL games this season. He ranks in the top 10 of the league, and leads the Hartford Wolf Pack, in penalty minutes.
- New York Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov has returned to the team’s practices as a full participant after missing their Saturday game. Romanov, 24, has appeared in 51 games this season and averaged over 22 minutes of ice time each game. He’s managed five goals and 13 points – a slightly lower scoring pace than the 22 points he managed in 76 games last season, his first year with the Islanders.
Canadiens Issue Multiple Injury Updates
The Canadiens announced Sunday that winger Rafaël Harvey-Pinard will miss four to six weeks with a lower-body injury after placing him on injured reserve earlier in the day. The team also said that defenseman Jordan Harris is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury, and Kaiden Guhle is being evaluated for an undisclosed injury. Both Guhle and Harris were injured during Sunday’s 7-2 loss to the Blues.
It’s been a trying campaign for the 5-foot-9 Harvey-Pinard. He’s already missed over half the season with multiple lower-body injuries – sidelined for 27 of Montreal’s 51 games – and will miss another 12 to 18 contests if his recovery timeline holds true.
He’s also scored just once in 24 games this season after scoring 14 in only 34 games in 2022-23. The 25-year-old’s limited showing in a top-six role in the absence of Cole Caufield in the back half of last season earned him some All-Rookie Team consideration, but he hasn’t been able to carry that momentum into his first full NHL campaign.
Harvey-Pinard’s extended absence could translate to a long look at rookie Joshua Roy in the team’s top nine. Roy, who was recalled Saturday for the second time this season, suited up in a third-line role against the Blues today and has a goal and an assist through his first six NHL contests. The 20-year-old was a fifth-round pick less than three years ago and has been one of the best players at the minor-league level for Montreal, notching 32 points in 40 games with AHL Laval.
Harris left today’s game early on, while Guhle was injured late after a collision with Blues defenseman Marco Scandella. If both are not cleared to play in Tuesday’s game against the Ducks, Montreal will need to make at least one recall from Laval. Arber Xhekaj is the only extra defenseman on the Canadiens’ roster.
Canadiens Place Rafaël Harvey-Pinard On Injured Reserve
- The Canadiens moved winger Rafaël Harvey-Pinard to injured reserve Sunday, according to the NHL’s media portal. The 25-year-old left Saturday’s game against the Stars with a lower-body injury and will now miss a minimum of seven days, ruling him out of Montreal’s next four games. The diminutive winger has seen his ice time dip to exclusively bottom-six minutes since the middle of January and has missed a combined 27 games this season with previous lower-body injuries. A seventh-round pick in the 2019 draft, Harvey-Pinard has one goal and seven points in his 24 showings this season.