The Canadiens have continued to be linked to multiple agencies
Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period was on TSN Radio in Montreal on Tuesday and was asked about the New Jersey Devils and Nico Hischier. Could he be a target for the Montreal Canadiens as they continue to search the market for center help?
Writing for NHLRumors.com
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Host: “As for Montreal, who do you think will target them? And do you think there’s a fire in the smoke surrounding Nico Hischier, in the final year of his contract with New Jersey?”
Dave Pagnotta: “Yeah, that’s what I was going to bring up right away. I think Kent Hughes is monitoring that situation and wants to understand where that will go if, and he still has one year left on his contract. He can’t officially sign an extension until July 1. But they’ve started a conversation with Sunny Metta and Hischer’s agent that might look like an extension, so you might be able to look at what the extension is like, so you can signing an extension until July 1. I’ve seen them explore the possibility of moving him, and I think Kent Hughes will be first in line to try to make it happen.
I’m not sure what they will give up. I think it would be too early to speculate right now, because we don’t know for sure if this will go down for the Devils. What direction do they want to go in, and do they want young assets? Do they want a hockey-type trade, because they want to stay competitive?
Because that’s another thing in all of this. The Devils, their goal is to be competitive next season, playoffs plus, plus, plus. So you know for sure Hischier’s future will be impacted one way or another. But it’s a wait and see mode, and I think that’s where the Habs are.
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I think they are doing their job in testing the market to have as many conversations as possible to see what is out there. I mean, Kent Hughes is as active as anyone in gauging the market, making sure he’s on top of things. He’s one of the leaders right now in trying to pull that out, gather all that information and see if there’s an opportunity to jump.
That’s been the Canadiens’ MO since Hughes came on board. He and Gorton are simply monitoring the market, staying on top of things, and sticking to their guns for this team. I think that is what they will continue to do.
Look at the market, see what the options are besides Hischier, and if they can go in with other guys, young players that we understand where their minds are from early to mid-20s, the preference, they will, that those are the types of pieces that they want, and that fit their mold, right now. “
NHLRumors.com Note: This wouldn’t be the first time Nico Hischier and the Montreal Canadiens have been linked. We know the Canadiens need a second line; from last season. Hischier is a perfect fit for that role behind Nick Suzuki. However, the Devils and Hischier want to complete the extension.
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But he’s not the only one to choose from. Even with Robert Thomas off the board at the moment, the Canadiens have been linked to Mason McTavish of the Anaheim Ducks. McTavish may have fallen out of favor in Anaheim and is no longer Pat Verbeek despite signing a new extension last year. Are they looking at Vincent Trocheck? How likely is that, given the history between Jeff Gorton and the New York Rangers?
Is Kent Hughes trying to trade Dylan Larkin despite his trade list request? The Canadiens know their needs, and management will look to swing this offseason again.
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