In the latest edition of the popular 32 Thoughts podcast, Sportsnet’s insider Elliotte Friedman discussed the teams that are currently the most active: the Utah Mammoth, the Seattle Kraken, and the Montreal Canadiens.

He reports that the Canadiens have been active in trying to get an upgrade up front. They are reportedly after a player they feel could play with Ivan Demidov for a while, a player who would be a match and allow both players to develop together.

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Friedman explained how Demidov is “The guy” for the Canadiens, and they want to put him in a winning position, provide him with stability. It’s no secret that Montreal is trying to acquire a new second-line center, but hearing an insider confirm that he has heard some chatter about it is reassuring.

It’s important not to read too much into it, however. No matter how eager Kent Hughes may be to upgrade his top-six and put his prized rookie in a winning position, the Habs are not the only rebuilding team looking to take the next step. There are other teams around that have been accumulating assets and are now hoping for a big season, so they need to make a splash on the trade or free agent market this Summer.

Furthermore, given how they have been accumulating young assets and futures, they are likely to try to offer picks and prospects on the market, just like Montreal, so there will be intense competition on the market for the most sought-after players.

It seems evident that the Canadiens could be willing to move one or both of their first-round picks if they can get immediate help, but that will take some time. I can’t see Hughes flipping his most high-value picks for some veteran help that will only be around for a couple of seasons. Hughes is in it for the long haul; he cannot afford to think about the here and now. He believes in organic growth, and that will most probably dictate the way he acts on the market.

Photo credit:  Eric Bolte-Imagn Images

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