Approaching
the half way mark of the season the Montreal Canadiens are suffering the same
ills that they have all season, despite a somewhat noticeable improvement in
the play of starting goaltender Garret Sparks. They’re simply allowing too many
high quality chances. Without being a top-5 offense in the FNHL this season might
have already been over.
Of course, the heaviest trade winds in a couple years have been swirling the
city, with un-denied rumors of forward Tyce Thompson having been shopped to
multiple teams. Since then, the 25 year old potential star has experienced a
surge, with 14 points in 12 games, after starting with just 10 points in 22
games.
He is either trying to play himself out of – or into a trade.
It’s no doubt that a player with his skillset has trade value, and that is
doubly true when statistics begin backing it up. He has played all over the
Montreal lineup this season, with this recent surge coming from the second line
right wing position.The problem?
Montreal has still lost six of these games, and ties in two others. They still
can’t seem to play above the .500 mark.
So with this recent surge in his production, expect the trade winds to kick up
a second time. You don’t need more than a cursory look to know that the Habs
will likely want to trade him for a defenseman. Deeper conversations reportedly
occurred with one team, but they apparently didn’t want to sacrifice any
defensive depth.
More dance partners could open up in the coming weeks, but will that be too
late for the Habs?
Another player that is on the market after a stellar start is Matthew
Highmore.After a wild start as one of
the deadliest shooters in the league—11 goals in 19 games, the winger/center
has just one point in the last 16 games, and has seen his ice time cut to just
minutes a night as things in Montreal start to get a little desperate.
Like Thompson on a smaller scale, a decent set of offensive skills could see
him pop high in the lineup of another team, and Montreal would seek to deal him
for another player who is deemed to be struggling.
9/11/2025 - 342 words
