Canadiens Free To Make Moves On NHL Trade Market

There’s been very little movement for the Montreal Canadiens in the last couple of works, as the NHL’s roster freeze kicked in on Dec.19, giving players a little stability to enjoy the holidays with their friends and family.

During the freeze, teams were not allowed to make trades, place players on waivers, or loan a player to another team. It’s a rather unique event in the modern sports landscape, but one that is highly appreciated by NHL athletes.

The holiday freeze was officially added to the collective bargaining agreement in 1993 and has created some issues when it comes to roster construction, particularly the salary cap, but for the most part, the freeze is highly appreciated by the members of the NHLPA.

As of Wednesday morning, the holiday roster freeze was lifted, giving every team in the NHL a carte blanche to engage in player movement at their discretion.

The Holiday Roster Freeze has expired. Transactions (waivers, trades and loans) are able to take place, again.

— David Pagnotta (@TheFourthPeriod) December 28, 2022

The last time the Canadiens made a move on the same day as the holiday roster freeze expired was on Dec.28, 2015, when they oft-maligned forward Zack Kassian to the Edmonton Oilers in exchange for goaltender Ben Scrivens.

The Rules.

(d) Holiday Roster Freeze.

(i) For all Players on an NHL Active Roster, Injured Reserve, or Players with Non-Roster and Injured Non-Roster status as of 11:59 p.m. local time on December 19, a roster freeze shall apply through 12:01 a.m. local time December 28, with respect to Waivers, Trades and Loans; provided, however, that Players may be Recalled to NHL Clubs during this period and, provided further, that if a Player is placed on Regular Waivers prior to the roster freeze period and is claimed during such roster freeze period, the roster freeze period shall not apply and the Player shall immediately report to the claiming Club. However, during the roster freeze period a Club can make any Player transactions necessary for the Club to come into compliance with Article 50 as a result of a Player being removed from the Bona-Fide Long-Term Injury/Illness Exception.