Montreal Canadiens Continue to Contend in Wild-Card Race Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTk0NDYzMjYyNDQ2NzI0NjEz/usatsi_19584568.jpg] The rebuilding Montreal Canadiens are expected to shop at least one of their pending free-agent forwards before the March 3 trade deadline. There's also speculation [https://thehockeynews.com/news/will-the-montreal-canadiens-re-sign-or-trade-sean-monahan] that they could be in the market to acquire a young winger. During a Dec. 9 appearance on the Sekeres and Price podcast, Vancouver Canucks insider Rick Dhaliwal claimed [https://montrealhockeynow.com/2022/12/10/canadiens-have-had-interest-in-brock-boeser-trade-for-years/] the Canadiens had a previous interest in Brock Boeser. The Canucks recently gave the 25-year-old winger's agent permission to speak with other clubs about a trade. Dhaliwal claimed the Canadiens' interest in Boeser goes back to former GM Marc Bergevin. He apparently pitched defenseman Alexander Romanov (now with the New York Islanders) and a draft pick and even offered to take back a bad contract in return. However, then-Canucks GM Jim Benning refused. Bergevin's interest in Boeser, however, might not be shared as intently by his successor Kent Hughes. The Canucks winger earns $6.65 million annually through 2024-25. His contract would eat up a significant portion of the Canadiens' payroll when they're attempting to sign rising star Cole Caufield. The 21-year-old winger is coming off his entry-level deal next summer and is in line for a substantial raise. On Dec. 11, Montreal Hockey Now's Marco D'Amico [https://montrealhockeynow.com/2022/12/11/montreal-canadiens-kicked-tires-on-puljujarvi-could-rekindle-talks-soon/] cited an NHL executive claiming the Canadiens also explored acquiring Jesse Puljujarvi from the Edmonton Oilers back in August. Over the weekend, Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman [https://thehockeynews.com/news/jesse-puljujarvis-future-with-the-oilers-remains-uncertain] reported the Oilers could trade the 24-year-old winger, who has just one goal this season and becomes a restricted free agent next summer. Puljujarvi would be a more affordable option for the Canadiens. However, his recent comments [https://ca.style.yahoo.com/oilers-puljujarvi-questioning-nhl-future-maybe-i-just-dont-have-it-223333469.html] regarding his offensive struggles could make Habs management reluctant to take him on as a reclamation project.
