Rangers and Habs working on multi-player trade

We all expect the Montreal Canadiens to continue to sell ahead of the March 21st trade deadline after sending forward Tyler Toffoli to the Calgary Flames earlier this week.

But now, it is believed that the Habs’ focus has shifted to the New York Rangers as insider Pierre LeBrun tells us to keep an eye on the two Eastern Conference teams as a trade could be in the works. This is how LeBrun puts it:

“Keep an eye on the Rangers and the Habs between now and March 21. I think Montreal covets some Rangers prospects. Habs could fill some Rangers needs. Montreal would rather add prospects over picks. Already have 12 picks for the July draft. Rangers' pipeline drawing Habs interest.”

With the Habs looking to add to their prospect pool, reporter Jean-François Chaumont of Le Journal de Montreal dressed a list of some of the prospect drawing interest from the Canadiens: Braden Schneider, Nils Lundkvist, Matthew Robertson and Zac Jones. He too reminds fans that Montreal could offer defenseman Ben Chiarot, whom the Rangers have been eyeing for weeks now.

When Pierre LeBrun tells you to keep your eye on a developing trade: you do it. Many believe that the Canadiens will move Chiarot, Jeff Petry, Artturi Lehkonen and Brett Kulak prior to the deadline.

During his press conference on Wednesday morning, Canadiens GM Kent Hughes explained how a trade involving Chiarot could take place in the coming days, weeks or at the deadline. But it sure sounds like he is a huge trade chip in Montreal. 

The Rangers could get a deal done with their formal GM, Jeff Gorton, now serving as Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations in Montreal.

Let’s indeed keep an eye on this…