Jayden Struble is becoming more and more talked about on the transaction market as the Montreal Canadiens sold him to the Laval Rocket for conditioning purposes.
This dismissal, which allows the Habs to avoid submitting him to waivers, occurs in a context where the young defender is struggling to find his place within the team.
Since the crushing 9-2 loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on December 12, Struble has been left out 15 times in 19 games.
His participation in the first four games of 2025, due to David Savard’s injury, was not enough to convince the coaching staff to give him a bigger role.
In his last game, he spent only 5 minutes and 9 seconds on the ice and received two penalties, reinforcing the impression that he is not yet at the level required for a regular role.
The arrival of Alexandre Carrier in a transaction involving Justin Barron changed the dynamic of the CH defense.
Carrier, known for his stability and reliability in the defensive zone, quickly took his place in the brigade, relegating Struble to surplus status.
The Canadian’s defensive depth, made up of Mike Matheson, Kaiden Guhle, David Savard, Lane Hutson, Arber Xhekaj and now Carrier, leaves little room for maneuver for Struble.
Trade rumors are multiplying around the young defender, who had already almost moved to the New York Rangers earlier this season.
There are reports that Struble was considered in a trade involving former Rangers captain Jacob Trouba, who was ultimately traded to the Anaheim Ducks.
Montreal fans breathed a sigh of relief upon learning that Trouba had refused to return to Canada, thus saving the Canadiens from having to give up valuable assets for an overpaid and losing player.
Uncertainty therefore reigns regarding Struble’s future in Montreal. His return to Laval for a period of up to 14 days could be a springboard to relaunch his career, but also an opportunity for Kent Hughes to explore trade options.
In the meantime, Struble will have to maximize his playing time with the Rocket to convince management that he deserves a place in the Montreal lineup.
For the Canadian, managing surplus players like Struble, Michael Pezzetta and Cayden Primeau, who all have to go through waivers to be sent to Laval, represents a real headache.
The trade deadline is approaching, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Hughes attempt to capitalize on Struble’s value on the trade market.
The team will have to make a decisive decision at the end of this conditioning period: recall Struble and keep him on the roster, or submit him to waivers, thus taking the risk of losing him for nothing. This is not an option.
-Until then, Struble has everything to prove on the Rocket ice.
In the meantime, the defenseman continues to be the talk of the town in New York, with mainstream media reporting that Rangers general manager Chris Drury was well and truly close to getting him before Jacob Trouba refused to waive his no-trade clause to join the Blueshirts.
This decision forced Drury to turn to another option, and it was ultimately Urho Vaakanainen from the Anaheim Ducks who was acquired to fill the sixth defenseman position.
This situation confirms one thing: the Montreal Canadiens clearly do not want to lose Jayden Struble for nothing.
The organization is aware of the value of the young defender and knows that he represents an interesting bargaining chip on the transaction market.
Especially since new opportunities could present themselves. The New York Islanders, dealing with Noah Dobson’s injury, were actively looking for depth on the blue line.
Struble, who has already proven that he can play on the right side, quickly became a name that circulated among Patrick Roy’s squad.
But the Islanders, who don’t have the luxury of waiting, finally signed the unloved Tony DeAngelo, whose adventure in the KHL ended prematurely.
Clearly, Struble’s future could well have been in the Big Apple. After being a stone’s throw from Manhattan, Long Island became a real possibility.
The Islanders, under pressure to remain competitive in the playoff race, were looking for an immediate solution and Struble could have been the missing piece of their defensive puzzle.
Finally, Roy’s troop will count on DeAngelo for the end of the season.
One thing is certain: Kent Hughes is not ready to give up Struble. The general manager of the Canadiens wants to maximize the value of his young defender and is carefully evaluating the options.
If Struble ends up leaving Montreal, it will only be if the return is worth it. For now, the defender is continuing his conditioning with the Laval Rocket, under the watchful eye of several NHL teams.
To be continued…
