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Latest Montreal Canadiens trade rumors
TSN: The Montreal Canadiens are among several teams reportedly with interest in Winnipeg Jets center Paul Stastny. Stastny’s preference is to stay in Winnipeg but it is looking like the Jets will not have the cap space to sign him. Bob McKenzie suggests we shouldn’t be surprised if Tomas Plekanec returns to the Habs this summer. The Canadiens traded Plekanec at the trade deadline to the Toronto Maple Leafs.
The Habs, who selected Finnish pivot Jesperi Kotkaniemi with the No. 3 pick, had a deal in place with the New York Islanders and Buffalo Sabres to send captain Max Pacioretty to Long Island for a first-round pick, then flip it to the Sabres in exchange for Ryan O’Reilly, according to Sportsnet’s Eric Engels.
Sabres general manager Jason Botterill was asking for the third overall pick, which wasn’t an option for the Canadiens, so Habs boss Marc Bergevin turned to the Isles, who held both the 11th and 12th overall picks. It’s unclear what other pieces may have been involved, but once prospects Oliver Wahlstrom and Noah Dobson fell down the board to New York, the Islanders turned down the deal.
Detroit Red Wings interested in Robin Lehner
The Detroit Red Wings indicated they would use free agency to shore up their goaltending, and it appears Robin Lehner has been identified as a possible fit. According to Craig Custance of The Athletic, Lehner met with the Red Wings as part of the discussion period that allows players to negotiate with clubs prior to free agency officially beginning on July 1. Lehner became an unrestricted free agent after he failed to receive a qualifying offer from the Buffalo Sabres. The 26-year-old spent the last three seasons with Buffalo, posting a 42-61-20 record over that time. Detroit has also held discussions with free-agent goaltenders Carter Hutton and Jonathan Bernier.
