Montreal Canadiens Rumour: Could Blockbuster Trade With Oilers Be In The Works?

The Montreal Canadiens have been looking for a solution to their three goaltender situation since the beginning of the season.

Not many teams around the NHL carry three netminders, but the Habs are worried about losing Cayden Primeau on waivers, and have been using Jake Allen and Sam Montembeault to play most games. So, they have hung on to all three of them, but rumours linking them to the Oilers continue.

Darren Dreger of TSN has been reporting on the Oilers looking for a goalie upgrade and their interest in the Canadiens goaltenders for weeks. He has recently reported the Oilers were keeping a close eye on them and were in town to watch all three of them recently. He also mentioned Montembeault and Primeau are more likely to be targets than Allen.

Dreger elaborated on TSN Radio yesterday morning, stating that there could be a larger trade in the works between the Oilers and Canadiens. He mentioned the Oilers are looking to move Jack Campbell and his large contract which is a $5 million cap hit for three more seasons, but it would require a top prospect or first round picks to be attached as well just to convince someone else to take his contract.

The TSN Insider also brought up a potential Xavier Bourgault for Sam Montembeault deal and hinted that the Oilers would also be looking for another piece that could help them on the blue line. He did not include any names, but the Canadiens probably aren’t interested in moving any of their young defensemen which leaves just David Savard and Mike Matheson as potential fits.

If the Oilers want both Montembeault and Matheson and also want the Canadiens to take back Campbell, they are going to have to pay an incredible price to make that happen. Bourgault would be a small part of the asking price at that point, and numerous first round picks would need to be added to pull off a deal of that magnitude.

Dreger is one of the top insiders in the game, but he also sounds like he is hypothesizing a little bit in this clip. There is no question though, the Oilers desperately need an upgrade in goal, the Canadiens need to move a goalie, and not many teams are looking to move a goaltender at this point in the season.

The Oilers desperation plus the Habs willingness to trade a goalie like Montembeault could lead to a bigger trade, or at least a big return for a goalie they plucked off waivers a couple years ago. If they are willing to give the Canadiens a top prospect or an early pick for Montembeault, the Canadiens have to pull the trigger.

This is definitely a case where there is smoke there is fire and is something worth keeping an eye on as a Habs fan.