Canadiens Daily
Habs Daily: Canadiens Playoff Odds, Struble’s True Value, Trades

Here are the Montreal Canadiens news items, highlights, and stories you may have missed on Friday.
Before we get going with the Hab-specific news items, we should note the Carolina Hurricanes, the Colorado Avalanche, and the Chicago Blackhawks completed a rather big trade late on Friday night. The Hurricanes acquired pending UFA Mikko Rantanen, as well as Taylor Hall, in exchange for Martin Necas and Jack Drury. For their troubles, the Chicago Blackhawks will be paid a third-round pick to absorb half of Rantanen’s salary.
Former Hab Jesperi Kotkaniemi was thought by some to be part of the deal at first, but it was quickly clarified that Drury was the other piece heading to Colorado.
Due to Rantanen’s contract situation, there’s a chance the Colorado Avalanche end up winning this deal, but if we’re basing it solely on talent, it feels like a clear win for the Hurricanes.
Big deal looks something like this:
Carolina: Mikko Rantanen, Taylor Hall
Colorado: Martin Necas, Jack Drury
Chicago: third-round pick, 50 per cent of Rantanen salaryThe big question becomes: can the Hurricanes convince Rantanen to sign? Sebastian Aho will lead the lobbying
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) January 25, 2025
Montreal Canadiens News
The Habs assigned defenceman Jayden Struble to the AHL. He will join the Laval Rocket for a conditioning loan, which means he gets to spend up to 14 days in the AHL, which will equate to four Rocket games.
Les Canadiens ont cédé le défenseur Jayden Struble au Rocket de Laval à des fins de conditionnement.
The Canadiens have assigned defenseman Jayden Struble to the Laval Rocket on a conditioning assignment. pic.twitter.com/vKVSdHv4La
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) January 24, 2025
Even though the prevailing narrative is that Jayden Struble has struggled this season, the truth is that he only struggled alongside one particular defensive partner. Coincidentally, or not, everyone that has played alongside David Savard has had a hard time producing decent numbers. But when Struble played alongside anyone else, including Arber Xhekaj, the results immediately improved. [Finding A Role For Canadiens Defenceman Jayden Struble]
The Canadiens are fighting for a playoff spot with several other Eastern Conference teams, which means it’s time to take a look at the famous strength of schedule (SOS). Unlike previous seasons, which featured a very difficult SOS down the stretch, 2024-25’s schedule is much kinder to the Habs, and should help them when it comes to earning a Wild Card berth. [Canadiens Playoff Odds Impacted By NHL Strength Of Schedule]
With Jacob Markstrom on the mend, it appears Jake Allen will face his former team as the Canadiens play the New Jersey Devils on Saturday night.
#NEWS: Goaltender Jacob Markstrom underwent imaging on Thursday, which indicated an MCL sprain. He will be out approximately four to six weeks.
Markstrom will miss the remainder of the club’s games leading into the Four Nations break.
He will begin a rehab program under the… pic.twitter.com/YjL67PYILH
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) January 24, 2025
Prospect Sam Harris won a National Championship with Denver last year, and he’s enjoyed a huge uptick in scoring this season.
He had 14 goals and 7 assists in 42 games last year, whereas he has 13 goals and six assists in 21 games this season.
Sam Harris started the play with a block in his own zone and finished with a goal on the other side of the ice.#GoPios pic.twitter.com/e3pjNAPAXp
— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) January 25, 2025
All of the defensemen on the Canadiens when interviewed rave about the great leadership qualities of Savard and his positive impact. So it seems odd that when they are paired with him they do not perform as well.
Those are in the room traits which do not necessarily translate on the ice.
I live in Moncton where savard played his junior hockey. He led the team in scoring one season and we played in the memorial cup that year which is no minor feat for a defenseman to lead a powerful team offensively. He was quite mobile then. Paired with mark barberio on a great blue line.
He has stayed in the nhl a long time despite being one of the poorest skaters because he is savvy. He defends well- bocks shots, battles hard and chips the puck off the wall, and he understands the game plus he won a cup. So yes, he is highly thought of in the room but based on skill set alone, he’s a fringe nhl player at this stage. Marty says it is savard that thinks the game most similar to him, he’s well respected
However, it’s time to move on. If we can trade him, I’d encourage it as he has contributed all he can at this point. Maybe hire him when he retires.
With trades looming , could HuGo and Davidson in Chicago be interested in a deal involving another Dach ?
What comes to mind is the possibility of bringing Kirby’s younger brother Colton to Montreal maybe in return for Joshua Roy who had great chemistry playing alongside Bedard in their WJHC tournament. Both Dach and Roy are wingers taken in the 2021 draft .
Roy in Laval this season- 14g- 13a- 27p in 33 games , named to AHL all star game
Dach- 12g- 13a -25p in 30 games with Rockford . With the Blackhawk’s 1g- 3a- 4p in 10 games
I would argue Dvorak needs to go more than anyone. The 3rd line is scoring most nights despite him (when they are scoring), that line was much better with Evans as pivot. Getting rid of Dvo and acquiring a decent but low cost center is a good idea if the goal is to make the playoffs. Dvorak looks bad no matter what line he is on, or who he plays with. We know what he is, and that is underwhelming.
As for Savard, Hughes severely overvalues him. I’ll be surprised if he gets traded, and if he is, I doubt we will get more than a 2nd for him. And a 2nd only due to the dearth of righties on expiring deals. They may be better off keeping him if the options to replace him don’t pan out–we have lots of picks already.
This team could surprise if they make the right moves at the tdl, and i don’t mean major surgery. It’s too early to trade any prime assets for what may be a blip on the rebuild radar, but the right moves aren’t always the blockbusters.