Defenseman Jeff Petry might be officially back on the roster for the Canadiens, but how long will he remain there? Could the blueliner find himself on the move again in the coming weeks?
Fans and media members around the NHL sat up and took notice on Sunday, when the Canadiens, Sharks, and Penguins pulled off a massive three-team trade. Two pieces of that deal, both pertaining to defensemen, grabbed the majority of headlines: Erik Karlsson shipped out to Pittsburgh, and Jeff Petry heading back to Montreal.
While there's plenty to like about the trade, particularly with Kent Hughes moving forwards Mike Hoffman and Rem Pitlick off the roster, it's probable that the player movement in Montreal isn't quite finished.
Petry could (and should, in my opinion) be immediately used as a trade chip for another deal, flipping him to a team more in need of a veteran blueliner than the Habs. There have been some rather quiet clues to indicate that deals could yet be made which would leave him simply "passing through" Quebec.
Additionally, the acquisition of goaltender Casey DeSmith opens the door for one of the Canadiens' current goaltenders to be moved in a trade deal as well. Could Jake Allen have played his last game for Montreal?
These topics are exactly what I set out to explore in this week's episode of Habs Hockey Report on YouTube. Want to hear my full analysis? Click the following link to watch the video: Is Jeff Petry REALLY Back? Will a Habs Goaltender Get Traded?