The Montreal Canadiens could look to make a bold move to address the goalie position.
Montreal is holding onto a playoff spot, but the Canadiens’ goaltending has not been good. Samuel Montembeault has been an issue, while Jakub Dobes has been inconsistent. Although Jacob Fowler could be the team’s future goalie, the team could look to address the goalie position ahead of the March 6 NHL trade deadline.
Ahead of the deadline, former NHL general manager and now TSN analyst Craig Button believes the Canadiens could pursue Florida Panthers star goalie Sergei Bobrovsky.
“Montreal Canadiens. You look at the Montreal Canadiens this year, their goaltending has not been strong enough,” Button said on TSN. “As recently as their last game versus the Islanders, Samuel Montembeault wasn’t good enough. When I look at Sergei Bobrovsky, as recent as last June when he led the Panthers to the Stanley Cup, that’s the type of player (Montreal needs). Been there, done that, won that. The Montreal Canadiens could benefit from Sergei Bobrovsky.”
Button believes Bobrovsky makes a ton of sense for the Canadiens, as it would be a pure rental as the Russian is a pending free agent.
Yet, whether or not the Panthers plan to be sellers and trade Bobrovsky is to be seen. The Russian has been a key part of Florida winning back-to-back Stanley Cups and solidified himself as a Hall of Famer once he retires.
Bobrovsky is 22-17-3 with a 3.08 GAA and a .874 SV% this season. But he’s shown throughout his career that when he gets to the playoffs, he locks it down.
Bobrovsky Could be Trade Candidate
Florida may not make the playoffs this season after winning the Stanley Cup in back-to-back years.
If the Panthers decide to sell ahead of the deadline, Bobrovsky could be one of the top names available. Top NHL insider Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet said on 32 Thoughts that the Russian could be on the move if an extension isn’t reached before March 6.
“I think the challenge there is that Bobrovsky saw a lot of guys get paid last year,” Friedman said. “(Aaron) Ekblad got a big extension — he’s 30. (Sam) Bennett got a big extension — he’s 29. But the other guy who got a big extension: (Brad) Marchand at 37. Bobrovsky is 37. And even though he’s had a tough year at times this year, he’s still a future Hall of Famer who was the backbone of a two-time defending Stanley Cup champion.
“The Panthers, I would suspect they have a limit of where they’re willing to go, but it’s not always easy when a player who’s a key player on a team like that sees other guys get paid — especially one player who’s right around his age — and they say, ‘Well, we may not be able to do that for you.’ Florida gets things done when they want to get things done, they’ve proven that to us. Don’t doubt them. … But, clearly, they haven’t gotten to a zone yet that Bobrovsky is comfortable with.”
Bobrovsky is a two-time Vezina Trophy winner and two-time Stanley Cup champion.
Canadiens to Employ Intriguing Deadline Strategy
Although Montreal is in a playoff spot, the team isn’t letting on what they might do at the trade deadline.
The Canadiens would need to trade Patrik Laine before any move gets done. Yet, Friedman believes the Canadiens want to make moves in stealth and wait in the back before making their move.
“They like to be seen as the stealth guys,” Friedman said. “I see them waiting in the weeds. We got things people want, and like I said, they like to be stealth.”
The Canadiens are 32-17-9 and holding onto the top Wild Card spot in the Eastern Conference.
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