In their last game before the trade deadline, the Montreal Canadiens were in San Jose on Tuesday night to face the Sharks. The result was a 7-5 loss.
Here’s what got me thinking.
Askarov was solid, the Habs still scored five, and the Habs still lost.
These are not the days where Carey Price could allow no more than a goal or two if he expected to win. These Montreal Canadiens can score. They finished five in San Jose, and Askarov made some big saves to hold them at that many. He robbed Caufield a few times in the first period, never mind the rest.
Offence doesn’t seem to be the issue.
Kaiden Guhle had a rough night. Alexandre Carrier’s night was rougher. The coach played Jayden Struble just 8:47 and that was a few minutes too many.
But it wasn’t just the D who pinched too recklessly and were too soft in front of their own net on this night. The fourth line looks old, because they are. Kirby Dach, who has been solid since returning from injury, missed a few assignments in San Jose. Juraj Slafkovsky had a big gaffe that gave the Sharks life. The list could go on.
Whatever GM Kent Hughes is considering ahead of the deadline, strengthening their defensive side of the game has to be on his radar.
I wonder who the Blues are scouting.
It’s been going on for weeks, and it was Scott Melanby’s turn to have a look against the Sharks. He’s a senior advisor to the GM in St. Louis and we’d all like to know who he’s advising about.
With the Habs rumoured to be in the running for centreman Robert Thomas, he could be looking at any number of guys. If he was watching Guhle or Dach, last night wasn’t ideal. If it’s Newhook or Kapanen on the Blues radar, they showed better.
Is it time for HuGo to sell futures to land the big fish?
That’s the multi-million dollar question. I’m on Team Hage, for the record, but I can’t say I’m certain I’m right. A buddy reminded me yesterday of an old debate about whether the Canadiens should trade Galchenyuk for Malkin. We were both on Team Chucky at the time, and we were both wrong. But he looked so very promising,
That’s the gamble. Going for the sure thing means you risk giving up a higher ceiling.
Robert Thomas is a sure thing. We know he can be a top-six centreman for the Habs, and he can do it within their team-friendly salary structure. But should the Habs do it if Hage is the price they pay, with other significant parts thrown in?
Here’s how I see it.
If Hughes passes on Thomas to hold Hage and Zharovsky, he has to be all but certain one of them will become a legitimate 2C when the window is wide open. It’s opening now, but I am on record saying it will be wide open when the Gallagher and Anderson contracts are gone. We can add Danault to that list now.
Can one of Hage or Zharovsky be a legitimate 2C to start the 2027-28 season? If Hughes feels good about that possibility, Thomas becomes less important. But if there are doubts that changes things.
Buckle up for the deadline.
Hab At Her 