If the Habs are out of the playoff race at the NHL trade deadline on March 7, what would these players bring back in a trade: Mike Matheson, David Savard, Joel Armia and Jake Evans?
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NotSoSlimShady on X — @Momsfavourite66
I think Matheson, 30, and Evans, 28, would bring the most — but I’d be reluctant to trade either of them.
I believe the Canadiens are past the point in their rebuild where they have to trade veteran players in order to gain younger prospects and/or draft picks. They already have a lot of those. I think Matheson and Evans can continue to be key players, both on and off the ice, as the Canadiens move forward.
Since Armia, 31, is a veteran who can play up and down the lineup, is a very good penalty-killer and is in the last year of his contract, I believe another team might be willing to overpay for him at the trade deadline. Remember, the Canadiens were able to get a first-round draft pick from Detroit at the 2022 trade deadline when they dealt defenceman Ben Chiarot to the Red Wings.
The fact Armia is like a Swiss Army Knife is a big reason he was named to Team Finland for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament and it’s also what would make him valuable in the NHL playoffs.
Savard, 34, is also in the last year of his contract and is a solid veteran defenceman who can also kill penalties and block shots. The Canadiens should be able to get a mid-round draft pick and/or a younger prospect in exchange for him.
Is Kirby Dach injured, Stu?
Hockey Guy on X — @Hockeycrave1977
I don’t believe Dach has suffered another injury this season. I think it’s just a case of him still recovering both physically and mentally from the serious knee injury he suffered in the second game last year that ended his season.
Dach required surgery to repair torn ACL and MCL ligaments in his right knee, went almost full year without playing a game and it looks like he still lacks confidence in his knee. The 23-year-old appears to be more timid and less engaged both with and without the puck and has failed to get a shot in each of the last three games. His minus-21 rating was tied for the worst in the NHL after Thursday’s 3-0 win over the Nashville Predators.
Dach’s lack of offensive production — with 1-7-8 totals in 26 games — won’t be helping him mentally.
The good news is there are still 56 games left in the season for Dach to gain confidence and find his game. Head coach Martin St. Louis has shown he’s willing to be patient with Dach.
I wouldn’t give up on Dach yet.
Any updates on David Reinbacher? How is he progressing in his recovery?
Juten on X — @JutenB
The Canadiens haven’t provided any updates on Reinbacher since he had knee surgery on Oct. 1 and the team said his recovery period would be 5-6 months after being injured in a pre-season game.
I can report I saw Reinbacher walking quite comfortably in the media lounge at the Bell Centre on Thursday night without the crutches and big knee brace he had after the surgery. I wouldn’t expect the Canadiens to rush the 20-year-old defenceman back. Maybe we’ll see him play some games with the Laval Rocket if they make the AHL playoffs.
Why does Jakub Dobes not get a chance? A Cayden Primeau upgrade would be two or three more wins.
It will be interesting to see how much longer GM Kent Hughes is willing to be patient with Primeau, who has a 4.45 goals-against average and a .844 save percentage this season.
Dobes, 23, has an 8-3-1 record with the AHL Rocket, along with a 2.47 GAA and a .908 save percentage.
If Primeau doesn’t improve, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Dobes with the Canadiens at some point in the new year.
Who is your all-time favourite Hab — active or retired?
Daniel Huber on X — @Hubes28
My favourite player when I was a kid was defenceman Guy Lapointe.
I was also a defenceman as a kid and I loved the way Lapointe played the game. He also just seemed like a really cool guy.
I still remember saving my paper-route money so I could buy a white Canadien hockey stick like the one Lapointe used. I didn’t put any tape on the blade when I used it — just like Lapointe.
It was pretty cool when I got to cover the news conference at the Bell Centre in 2014 when the Canadiens announced they would be retiring Lapointe’s No. 5.
I was only 8 when Jean Béliveau retired, so I don’t have as many memories of him as a player. But I can say he is the classiest individual I ever had the privilege of meeting in my job. There will never be another Jean Béliveau.
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