Options for the Canadiens blueline
Eric Engels of Sportsnet: Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber is returning to the lineup sooner than expected – possibly by next week according to a source.
With signs pointing to Noah Juulsen not being out long-term, the Canadiens will have an abundance of defensemen.
One option to move out a defenseman would be to put Karl Alzner on waivers and send him to the AHL if he goes unclaimed – no team would claim him a year into his five-year, $23.1 million deal. Alzner has been scratched for 16 of their 22 games.
Trading Jordie Benn is another option. Benn is a pending UFA at $1.1 million and could increase his trade value if he played well in a lesser role. Has struggled playing top-pairing minutes of late.
Trading David Schlemko is another option GM Marc Bergevin could look at. Schlemko has another year left on his contract at $2.1 million and has a history of injury issues.
Does keeping Xavier Ouellet as a depth defenseman have more value than trading him. Ouellet only makes $700,000 and the trade return may be marginal.
Victor Mete doesn’t require waivers to be sent to the AHL.
When Juulsen returns, thinks the Canadiens will put Alzner on waivers.
31 Thoughts rumor roundup
Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet: There is speculation that if the Edmonton Oilers make the playoffs this year, Ken Hitchcock’s option for next season becomes a guarantee. Official word is that it will be re-evaluated after the season.
St. Louis Blues GM Doug Armstrong said that his coaching search could take him to Europe. Two possibilities include Rikard Gronborg and Ralph Krueger.
The Pittsburgh Penguins tried to trade for Anaheim Ducks defenseman Brandon Montour, but doesn’t think the Ducks were interested.
Ducks pending unrestricted free agent forward Jakob Silfverberg could fit the Penguins profile.
Noah Juulsen’s injury may change the Montreal Canadiens plan for now about moving a defenseman as Shea Weber is about to return.
The Los Angeles Kings may wait to see how things play out for a bit after their coaching change and the Tanner Pearson–Carl Hagelin trade.
Brock Boeser, Patrik Laine, and Mikko Rantanen are among the pending restricted free agents that have made know that they’ll wait until after the season to talk contract extension.
Detroit Red Wings goaltender Jimmy Howard on his pending unrestricted free agency.
“There hasn’t been dialogue as of yet,” he said. “But everyone knows how I feel about the city and the organization. And how much it would mean to finish as a Red Wing.”