Patrik Laine file: the trade freeze is in two days

Charles-Alexis Brisebois
Patrik Laine file: the trade freeze is in two days
Credit: Getty Images

This is the last week of NHL action before the Olympics.

The Montreal Canadiens have two games on the schedule before the break: tonight (7:30 p.m.) in Minnesota and Wednesday (7 p.m.) in Winnipeg.

Note that the Habs will not be practicing this morning. 

Will Samuel Montembeault play tonight or will Jakub Dobes be in net again? Will Jayden Struble play again before the Olympic break?

Will Alexandre Texier (who doesn't seem to be on track to return before the Olympics) and Samuel Blais watch the next game from the press box again?

These are questions that inevitably arise.

The ones we're not asking are related to Alex Newhook and Patrik Laine. After all, the former is just starting to skate again, and we know he's not close to returning.

And what about Patrik Laine?

He seems close to returning to play, but we all know the situation: the Canadiens are trying to trade him and are in no hurry to bring him back into the lineup. And when that happens, it will be much better for everyone, since it's been talked about for so long.

He's not playing right now, and the Canadiens are saying he's still injured. But we all know that the situation has been getting heavy for a few days/weeks now.

The Habs' goal, as we know, is to trade his contract before the Olympics. And on that note, we must remember that on Wednesday, February 4, at 3 p.m., a trade freeze will go into effect for teams in the Bettman circuit.

From February 4 to February 22, teams will not be able to make any moves. This means that to avoid postponing the problem until later, Kent Hughes has just over 48 hours to make a move.

Will he do it? That's undoubtedly his goal. After all, no one wants to carry this into March…

Remember that at Christmas, the trade freeze that was in place also forced the Los Angeles Kings to do the same with Phillip Danault, who had become a distraction in town. At 11 p.m. on the eve of the deadline, the habs announced that they had acquired the Québécois.

Will we see the same thing happen on Wednesday afternoon? The sense of urgency could speed things up… if all goes well.


Overtime

– Interesting.

– Nice play by Alexander Zharovsky.

– Push, but push evenly.

– News about the injured players in Florida.

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