A devastating wave of injuries has crashed upon two prominent NHL franchises, the New Jersey Devils and the Montreal Canadiens, forcing a strategic rethink of their entire season. What began as minor setbacks has escalated into a full-blown crisis, threatening team stability and accelerating front-office plans to seek reinforcements from outside.
Key Players Sidelined in Freak Accidents
The injury situation took a severe turn for the worse when New Jersey's superstar, Jack Hughes, suffered a significant hand injury during a team dinner. The unusual accident required surgery, and the Devils will be without their top scorer for approximately eight weeks.
North of the border, the Montreal Canadiens received equally grim news. The team confirmed that forward Alex Newhook broke his ankle, sidelining him for a lengthy period of four months. To compound the misery, Kirby Dach is also out with a fractured foot and is expected to miss four to six weeks of action. These losses have ripped crucial offensive pieces from both lineups, leaving glaring holes that are difficult to fill from within.
NHL Trade Rumours Begin to Swirl
With their best players suddenly unavailable, the pressure on both teams' management has intensified, pushing them to consider the trade market much sooner than anticipated. The NHL rumour mill is now buzzing with potential targets for the two clubs.
During a recent episode of the 'On The Sheet with Jeff Marek' podcast, insider Dave Pagnotta of The Fourth Period suggested that the New Jersey Devils might be looking for a big-name acquisition if the opportunity arises. Meanwhile, The Athletic's Peter Baugh noted that the center market is particularly thin. He identified Ryan O'Reilly from the Nashville Predators and Nazem Kadri from the Calgary Flames as realistic options. Both players are on teams that are struggling and could become sellers as the season progresses.
O'Reilly, with a salary cap hit of $4.5 million and no trade protection, appears to be the more accessible target. However, Nashville will likely demand a substantial return, potentially asking for a first-round draft pick and a promising prospect.
Montreal's Search for a Center
The Montreal Canadiens are on a similar hunt. In a segment of the '32 Thoughts' podcast, Elliotte Friedman revealed that General Manager Kent Hughes is actively searching for a center. The interest is so concrete that the team had previously expressed interest in David Kampf before he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks.
Jeff Marek also floated the idea of the Canadiens having interest in Tampa Bay's Steven Stamkos. However, Marc Dumont of Montreal Hockey Now expressed skepticism about this fit, citing concerns about Stamkos's age, declining speed, and his full no-movement clause.
For both the Devils and the Canadiens, the trade market presents a viable but challenging path forward. Their defining characteristic in the coming weeks will be patience. With very few quality centers available, any potential trade will hinge on when struggling teams officially decide to become sellers. The injury crisis has set the stage for a fascinating and critical period for both franchises.
