Habs Daily: Oilers Trade Talk, Evans Contract Projections, Laine

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, highlights, and stories you may have missed on Thursday.

Montreal Canadiens News

According to Pierre LeBrun, the Edmonton Oilers are considering a trade to add a right-handed defenceman, while floating David Savard’s name as a possible target. He also said Edmonton could pivot and add a puck-moving defenceman on the left, which sounds a lot like Mike Matheson’s music. To be clear, LeBrun didn’t mention Matheson by name, but he does fit the bill. [TSN]

Seeing as teams such as the New Jersey Devils are interested in trading for Jake Evans, and the Habs have also expressed their interest in a contract extension, it’s time to take a look at some comparable deals that could serve as a baseline for negotiations with the impending free agent.  There’s no way to avoid it, his shooting percentage will lead to a big raise this summer, and that’s a risky proposal for a team offering a long-term deal.

While discussing the NHL trade market on the latest episode of Insider Trading, LeBrun suggested the Canadiens won’t break the bank for the 28-year-old centre. [Jake Evans Extension Discussion: Finding Comparable Contracts]

ICYMI: Trading Savard makes sense from a logistics standpoint, as he’s approaching the end of his career, but players such as Evans and Matheson still play a crucial role on the ice for the Habs. It’s the type of situation general manager Kent Hughes will have to navigate as the team heads into the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline in a rather delicate situation. [Canadiens In Unique Spot Heading Into NHL Trade Deadline]

Even though he has only played 13 games this season, forward Patrik Laine has scored more goals from his sweet spot than any other NHLer.

#GoBolts center Brayden Point leads the @NHL with 15 goals from the low-slot region, and watch out for #GoAvsGo wing Mikko Rantanen on the right side.

Here’s a look at all the top goal scorers by offensive zone region. pic.twitter.com/W3S2mmn45I

— NHL Fantasy / EDGE 🏒 (@NHLFantasy) January 9, 2025

Speaking of Laine, he and Paul Byron took some time to discuss mental health with youth hockey players from the region.

Patrik Laine and Paul Byron took part in a panel discussing mental health and anxiety with youth hockey players from Charles-Lemoyne College, organized by the Canadiens in partnership with @JeunesEnTete and @AideSport as part of the team’s #HockeyTalks initiatives 💚 pic.twitter.com/9aoiePxUxb

— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) January 9, 2025

Laine was present at practice on Thursday, but he will not travel with the team to face the Washington Capitals on Friday.

After missing last three games with flu-like symptoms Patrik Laine is on ice at #Habs practice this morning #HabsIO pic.twitter.com/Eg9SO2ED9c

— Stu Cowan (@StuCowan1) January 9, 2025

Thanks to his fantastic production, rookie Lane Hutson is starting to earn some well-deserve respect when it comes to his bid to win the Calder Trophy.

The Daily Faceoff’s Steven Ellis ranks Lane Hutson as his current Calder trophy favourite.

👇👇👇 pic.twitter.com/FT18SVex4Y

— /r/Habs (@HabsOnReddit) January 9, 2025