On the Montreal Canadiens …
Eric Engels of Sportsnet: Sources are saying that the Montreal Canadiens are actively shopping defenseman Mark Streit. Streit signed a one-year deal this offseason for $700,000 and potentially $300,000 more in bonuses.
Streit has played in two of the Canadiens four games.
David Schlemko is close to returning to the lineup. Schlemko’s return means the Canadiens need to make a roster move. Victor Mete can be sent to the OHL, or the Canadiens could waive or trade one of Streit, Brandon Davidson or Joe Morrow.
L.A. Lariviere: “He’ll be a waiver commodity before a trade asset.”
Chris Nichols of FanRag Sports: The Montreal Canadiens are off to a 1-3-0 start and have around $8 million in salary cap space. Bob McKenzie was asked on TSN 690 if they can take advantage of the cap space.
“Perhaps. It really depends on a lot of other factors,” cautioned NHL Insider Bob McKenzie during a Wednesday morning radio hit on Montreal’s TSN 690. “The Montreal Canadiens at various times have had interest in Matt Duchene. I haven’t had the sense lately that that’s been a front-burner thing for them or the Colorado Avalanche. But when you look at Duchene’s money, $6 million, you’re thinking, ‘Okay, well there’s an above-average offensive hockey player in the National Hockey League who can probably help Montreal, but what do you have to give up to get him?’
“And I just don’t necessarily see a trade fit. So it’s great to have the cap space, but you’ve got to have a dance partner where it fits more than just on your side of it from a financial perspective. You don’t just get to add a $6 million player who can score goals or generate offense, and not give up something else. And right now I don’t see the Montreal Canadiens having what the Colorado Avalanche are looking for, or being willing to beat that price – like a lot of teams, I guess, which is part of the reason Duchene hasn’t been traded yet.”
