When it comes down to the NHL trade deadline, a team has to protect its assets before the trading deadline. If I’m the Canadiens the two most important are Jake Evans and David Savard, and they’re playing tonight against the Buffalo Sabres. Should they play any part of the two games afterward? 

When you play in a home-and-home situation, those games get nasty and that’s when things can go off the rails. Jake Evans is one of the most sought-after players and Kent Hughes is certainly trying to drive up the price. I just don’t know what the benefit is to play him and risk injury. The Canadiens aren’t going to make the playoffs so they are playing for a better draft pick and they are trying to get players or picks or a combination on or before March 7th.

The Rangers got two draft picks for Ryan Lindgren in a multi-player deal with a lot of retention. With good retention, Savard is worth more and now it just depends on what the Canadiens can get. A conditional first isn’t out of the question and that would be fine in my eyes. As I said in a previous article, you can’t always get players this time of the year for a rental and that’s what Savard is. 

Injuries happen. Play it safe. Canadiens fans will certainly be looking to see if players get pulled from the lineup or if an insider posts a trade is imminent. It’s that time of the year.