Canadiens Had Potential Trade Put on Hold, Still Working on Something?

According to Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic, the Montreal Canadiens might not be done making moves before the deadline. Sure, we’ve heard this story before, but this time, LeBrun believes the Canadiens could have something cooking because they might have had a deal in the works that was put on hold.

Somehow connected to the acquisition of Eric Staal, LeBrun writes, “My sense is that they were working on another move Friday on the same day they got Staal but that move either fell through or got put on hold.” He adds that it shouldn’t shock anyone if GM Marc Bergevin has a deal in his back pocket and pulls it out before April 12th.

Speculation — and it makes sense — is that the deal would be one that clears out some cap space for the Canadiens. This could be what Bergevin was working on before he made his trade with the Buffalo Sabres. Who that is remains unclear, but LeBrun wonders if Artturi Lehkonen is a name to watch closely. He’s RFA after the season, still only 25 years old and could draw some interest from other teams. The NHL insider does admit, however, for “those same reasons, the Habs may want to keep him.”

Related: Seattle Kraken Starting to Play Role in 2021 NHL Deadline Deals

Expect the Canadiens to Have Multiple Conversations

While the Habs may not ultimately pull off another deal, the buzz is they will remain one of the busier teams in terms of conversations heading into the deadline. LeBrun’s report that the other move either fell through or got put on hold suggests there could be at least one more move coming.

“I think a lot of the teams talking to Montreal seem to want to wait closer to April 12 to make a decision,” LeBrun writes. This is especially true if it comes to be a cap space deal as the later a move is made, the less the cap becomes a factor for an acquiring team.

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