It’s no secret that the Habs have an excess of defensemen in their lineup. In an ideal world, they’d trade them for additional forwards, which they desperately need.
In a perfect scenario, the Habs would draft a forward. Trade up if Cayden Lindstrom (or Ivan Demidov) is no longer available at No. 5.
The question now is which defenceman will move. We know that a number of teams, including the Flames, are interested in Arber Xhekaj, but the Habs have no plans to trade him.
However, David Pagnotta (The Fourth Period) clarified the situation in his piece of the day. According to him, the club does not want to trade Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Logan Mailloux, David Reinbacher, or Lane Hutson. Jordan Harris, Jayden Struble, Justin Barron, Adam Engström, and Mattias Norlinder are among the “defensemen the Habs don’t want to trade but who seem less untouchable” in the second group.
Yes, the same Mattias Norlinder who was out of Laval’s plans at the end of the season and was expected to return to Europe this summer.
Today's piece hits on the #GoHabsGo, which D could move, Draft activity & who they may target. Plus:
– #GoKingsGo coach
– Drouin & #GoAvsGo
– #GoBolts Stamkos, then Hedman
– Swayman deal with #NHLBruins
– #Isles & Lee
– #Flames #LeafsForever #CauseChaos https://t.co/1tdgMQuhzv— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) May 20, 2024
In actuality, Pagnotta’s classifications make sense. The top five players will only go if the Habs receive their prize, and the second group is plainly inferior to the first. However, finding Norlinder among the players who, as Pagnotta explains, “the Habs don’t want to trade” is shocking.
Is Kent Hughes still optimistic that the 24-year-old defenceman will eventually establish himself in the NHL? He may have had a nice training camp just under a year ago, but the months that followed were disastrous, and he was in the stands in Laval at the end of the season after scoring nine points in 50 games (a -14 differential).
I still believe Norlinder will return to Europe in a few weeks, given he is a restricted free agent this summer. On the other hand, if Pagnotta is correct, you have to wonder whether the club is not willing to give him one more shot next year.
Because, frankly, Norlinder must have no market worth. If a team offers anything for his services, I hope the Habs take advantage of the opportunity.
We’ll have to wait and see, but according to Pagnotta, the Habs haven’t given up on Norlinder yet.
I find it difficult to believe… However, he must have a rationale for naming Norlinder specifically (rather than Johnathan Kovacevic or William Trudeau, for example).
In bursts
– Gabriel Landeskog and Valeri Nichushkin play a significant role.
L'Avalanche sous un nuage d'incertitudes en prévision de la prochaine saisonhttps://t.co/jYM0VZQDeX
— RDS (@RDSca) May 20, 2024
-Sweden continues its strong run with a victory over France.
Personne chez les Canes ne voulait voir partir Rod Brind'Amourhttps://t.co/CGNVhFsJAj
— RDS (@RDSca) May 20, 2024
– Of course.
Personne chez les Canes ne voulait voir partir Rod Brind'Amourhttps://t.co/CGNVhFsJAj
— RDS (@RDSca) May 20, 2024
– Oops.
Un propriétaire passionné s'adresse aux médias après une saison record, exprimant son souhait de conserver l'entraîneur, principal artisan de ce succès.
Quelle chance ont-ils à Bologne d'avoir Joey Saputo 😅 https://t.co/wV1eEOTdIJ
— Nilton Jorge (@NiltonJorge) May 20, 2024
– What a story.
L'audience à la cour de Scheffler reporté au 3 juinhttps://t.co/4PMsSzdCAq
— RDS (@RDSca) May 20, 2024
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