Canadiens Winging It

The Montreal Gazette  has learned that the Canadiens are now openly shopping the fifth overall pick in the upcoming NHL Draft and are also said to be looking to move Kyle Clifford and Jordan Schroeder.

 The first reports indicates that the Canadiens would prefer a top six winger in exchange for the pick but failing that a first in next years draft and a depth player or falling back to the 8th throuth 10th spot is the secondary preference. It is expected that both Clifford and Schroeder would be moved for more experienced players that would be a slight upgrade at their positions. 

 There is also speculation Vladimir Sobotka, who apparenty has a destination already in place, my be moved as well. General Manager Darren Sawyer did indicate Sobotka could be moved soon, "We have already had extensive talks with one team about Vladimir, we were real close at one point but just couldn't get it done at that time. It was more on us then them, we wanted to see what we came away with in free agency before making the move. Now that we know what we have, we hope we can work out a deal that will make both sides happy".

 When asked why the Canadiens seem to be deviating from the plan, Sawyer said it really wasn't as much a deviation as it was acceleration. Pointing out that the team had built up its group of young group of defencemen faster then expected, "We didn't think we'd have guys like Hamonic and Stone in the mix by now. With them in the fold we are pretty confident in our group moving forward and the way the draft is shaping up you can expect a defence heavy draft in the top ten. That isn't what we need so, we would be smart to look and see what else is out there. If we can add a couple of players up front now, we might not be a playoff team yet but we will be much better then last season and we will be very well set up for the next year".