The Montreal Canadiens will dictate the pace of the Trade Deadline

With cap space and performing players of interest, the Montreal Canadiens will be one of the more interesting teams as the Trade Deadline inches closer.

There are many things to love and hate about the bye week. Players should be in favour of it as it gives them some time to walk away from the arena and get their heads and bodies in shape for the final stretch of the season. Fans hate it because, well, there’s no hockey, but it does trigger the portion of the year when things start to get more interesting. One of those triggers, in particular, is the Trade Deadline, and the Montreal Canadiens could have their names all over it on either end of the spectrum.

The Habs are on the outside looking in, and it may stay like that unless they strap together some games and get some help in the form of another team falling out. Those two criteria are making fans go back and forth on whether Montreal should buy or sell at the deadline. At the same time, management will likely give the team an opportunity to fight and make a decision once the calendar gets closer to the “media-crazed” event.

I use quotation marks there as it seems as if this may be one of the quieter Trade Deadlines. There aren’t too many big unrestricted free agents out there, and the ones that are out and about will likely stay with their club.