The Montreal Canadiens are off to a challenging start this season. Although some forwards, especially Cole Caufield, have been excelling and scoring crucial goals, Martin St-Louis’ squad ranks low in the NHL for goals allowed.
While some fans might point fingers at the goaltenders, Kent Hughes should consider bolstering the defensive lineup. According to RDS, there are a few defensemen that could be appealing options for the Canadiens. Notably, insider Frank Seravalli mentioned a few weeks ago that Hughes is seeking an established top-four defenseman to strengthen the team.
Potential trade targets for the Canadiens include Simon Nemec from the New Jersey Devils and Bowen Byram from the Buffalo Sabres.
Nemec’s situation is particularly interesting as he is a longtime friend of Juraj Slafkovsky, and pairing them in Montreal might be beneficial. This is especially true since Nemec has only managed 1 point in nine games this season and has seen limited ice time with the Devils, even spending some time in the AHL. However, as a second overall pick in 2022, his high potential could come with a steep acquisition cost.
The same applies to Bowen Byram from the Sabres. Selected fourth overall by the Colorado Avalanche in 2019, he was traded to Buffalo for forward Casey Mittelstadt. While Mittelstadt has established himself as a second-line center, Byram has struggled to find his footing, often overshadowed by Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power, which raises questions about his contributions to the Sabres’ defense. However, being only 23, it’s premature for Buffalo to make any concrete judgments about his value.
Other defensemen mentioned by RDS include veteran Cam Fowler from the Anaheim Ducks, along with Damon Severson and Will Borgen. Additionally, David Jiricek from Columbus, drafted 6th overall in 2022, is rumored to be on the move, and recent reports have highlighted his price tag.
Insider Chris Johnston confirmed that the Montreal Canadiens are among eight teams interested in Jiricek, though they are not currently the frontrunners.
