Canadiens continue to search for a trade partner
It’s no secret the Montreal Canadiens want to get bigger and more offensive, but it’s taking GM Marc Bergevin a little longer than he’d like to acquire some outside help.
After an impressive 11-1-2 run, the Canadiens have lost three of their last four games and have only managed to score three times in this stretch.
Bergevin has been scouring the league looking for a scoring winger to add to his top-six — preferably the team’s top line — but has found it difficult trying to complete a move that also works within the team’s salary cap.
The Canadiens have roughly $3.5 million in available cap space.
According to multiple published reports by different media outlets, the Habs have shopped the likes of winger Rene Bourque and captain Brian Gionta in an attempt to free up cap space and bolster their roster.
Bourque, 32, has two-years left on his contract beyond this season at an annual cap hit of $3.333 million, while the 34-year-old Gionta is in the final year of his deal, which pays him $5 million.
Bourque also owns a limited no-trade clause, while Gionta has a full no-trade clause, and both players would likely need to sign off on any deal the Canadiens attempt to make.
The Habs have been continuously linked to Winnipeg Jets sniper Evander Kane, and while interest is there, it’s unclear how in-depth trade talks have been.
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