Who Will Burn Year 1 of Their ELC? Image [https://thehockeynews.com/.image/c_fit,h_600,w_600/MTkzNTgxMzMyMjUxNTUxMTcx/usatsi_19241501.jpg] The Montreal Canadiens have been trying to move [https://thehockeynews.com/news/the-montreal-canadiens-could-soon-move-a-forward] one of their surplus forwards. There's speculation they were looking at the Washington Capitals as a possible trade partner. TSN's Pierre LeBrun [https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/insider-trading-is-ryan-reynolds-interest-in-buying-the-senators-real-1.1873072] reported last Thursday the two clubs had talked about a trade, but things hadn't advanced beyond the discussion phase. Injuries have decimated the Capitals' forward ranks with Nicklas Backstrom, Tom Wilson, T.J. Oshie, Connor Brown, Carl Hagelin and Beck Malenstyn currently sidelined. LeBrun indicated the Canadiens are trying to create a market for their glut of forwards, mentioning Evgenii Dadonov, Jonathan Drouin and Mike Hoffman as trade candidates. He also said they'd spoken with several other clubs. Washington Hockey Now's Sammi Silber [https://washingtonhockeynow.com/washington-capitals-injuries-incosistency-move/] reported the Capitals aren't ready to make a trade at this point. They're instead going to give playing time to Connor McMichael, call-up Sonny Milano and recent waiver acquisition Nicolas Aube-Kubel to see what they can do. Silber also doubted that the Capitals are enticed by the Canadiens' available forwards. She considered Drouin the best of the lot, suggesting the former 20-goal scorer could still have some upside. However, she thinks they'll consider other options around the league if they decide to test the trade market. Montreal Hockey Now's Marco D'Amico [https://montrealhockeynow.com/2022/11/05/potential-trade-partners-for-montreal-canadiens/] listed the Capitals, Ottawa Senators and Philadelphia Flyers as potential trade partners. He suggested center Christian Dvorak might be more enticing to those clubs given his strengths in the faceoff circle and on the penalty kill.
