Things are happening in Montreal. And not just on the ice. In the transaction market too.
According to information obtained by journalist Maxime Truman, the Montreal Canadiens are actively looking for a robust forward to help Arber Xhekaj and relieve the pressure currently resting on his shoulders.
Since the start of training camp, Xhekaj has found himself alone defending his teammates, often at the cost of penalties that leave the team in trouble.
To avoid finding themselves in this delicate situation night after evening, CH management obviously wants to strengthen its fourth trio with a player capable of protecting his teammates while bringing a physical style of play and making the opponent pay the price.
The name of Nicolas Deslauriers naturally comes up as a potential first choice.
Deslauriers is a player known for being one of the most formidable “goons” on the ice, but the problem lies in Daniel Brière’s desire to keep him in the Flyers’ lineup to protect young Matvei Michkov.
But be careful. Deslauriers is out of the Flyers’ starting lineup as we speak.
With his annual salary of $1.75 million until 2026, Brière could find it tempting to send his strong man to Montreal, especially since he is far from being a favorite of John Tortorella.
Mathieu Olivier, another robust Quebec player, could be an interesting alternative for the Canadian.
But the Columbus Blue Jackets forward is firmly anchored on the fourth line and GM Don Waddell has always liked physical players, just like his coach, Dan Evason.
Olivier remains less accessible than Deslauriers due to his well-established position within the Columbus lineup and his lower salary. ($1.1 million).
But Olivier remains a free agent next season. It’s not like he’s essential to the Blue Jackets. We should therefore not rule out a Montreal-Columbus transaction.
This search for a tough player does not appear to be a simple coincidence in Kent Hughes’ office.
CH’s last matches, particularly during the preparatory matches, highlighted a lack of robustness against opposing teams.
Above all, we see a blatant lack of courage from the CH players when one of their teammates is the victim of a vicious blow.
Only Xhekaj has the courage of his ambitions. Michael Pezzetta also has the heart of a lion, but he doesn’t scare anyone.
According to information from Georges Laraque, Martin St-Louis would also have mentioned to Xhekaj that he approved his efforts to defend the team during the last two matches, although he was aware that this left CH in difficulty when the defender is kicked out of the match or sent to the penalty box.
This support from St-Louis marks a turning point, especially for a team which, until now, had tried to play hockey based on speed and finesse rather than robustness.
Martin St-Louis understood that he could no longer afford to play the role of a “soft” coach with a team that was physically humiliated night after night.
Better late than never. To think that he shouted Xhekaj in front of the entire locker room last season when the latter took penalties to defend his teammates.
Martin St-Louis can no longer simply turn a deaf ear to the harsh reality: CH is a team that plays with fear in its stomach.
So, Nicolas Deslauriers or Mathieu Olivier in Montreal?
If a transaction with the Flyers or the Blue Jackets is impossible, it will be interesting to see if the Canadian manages to fill this need by claiming a player via waiver.
The Montreal Canadiens do not want to find themselves in a situation where only Xhekaj must constantly take on the role of protector to the point of constantly putting his team in hot water.
A goon on the fourth line is the solution to allow Martin St-Louis’ team to become men.
Because right now, it looks like a ringette team afraid of its own shadow. Arber Xhekaj can no longer play vigilante alone.
It’s up to Kent Hughes to play.
