The Montreal Canadiens are holding a playoff spot as they navigate the season, prompting a potential shift in their draft strategy. Renaud Lavoie from TVA Sports suggests that rather than offloading their unrestricted free agents, the Canadiens could utilize these players—like David Savard, Joel Armia, and Jake Evans—as internal rentals. With the Canadiens remaining competitive, general manager Kent Hughes may reconsider moving these players for minimal returns such as third or fourth-round picks, especially with their existing surplus of picks from previous drafts. The performance of players like Jake Evans, who is having a career year, is under scrutiny as Hughes aims to secure significant returns if trades do occur. While trades remain a possibility, it seems likely that the Canadiens will prioritize retaining key players to bolster their roster now.
