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Who’s the odd man out on the Montreal Canadiens’ blue line? 👀
In today’s episode, Shaun Starr and Marco D’Amico break down the crowded Habs defence and what it means for the team heading into the next phase of their rebuild. With reports that Kaiden Guhle is not available in trade talks, the focus shifts to others:
➡️ Is Jayden Struble the odd man out?
➡️ Could Arber Xhekaj be the piece that brings real value back?
➡️ Which defenceman makes the most sense for Kent Hughes to move — and what could the Habs expect in return?
We dive into each player’s role, performance, value on the market, and how the Canadiens’ long-term plans on defense could shape the next big move.
If you’re a Habs fan or follow the NHL trade market, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.
👉 Like, comment, and subscribe for more Canadiens coverage every day!
#montrealcanadiens #habs #nhl
17 Comments
Marco, where can I buy one of the hats you're wearing?
Marco do you think the defensive coach needs more help with another coach with a lot of experience?
Cool 😎 hat
I want a Dryden Hat too!!!!!
This is gonna sound like a playstation 5 ………TRADE SCENARIO
ALEX CARRIER
JADEN STRUBLES
KAIDEN GUHLE. FOR Vancouver Canucks FILIP HRONEK
MATHESON DOBSON
HUTSON. HRONEK
XHEKAJ. REINBACHER
EA SPORTS ITS IN THE GAME 😂
I trade Struble over Arber personally. Arber has the physicality we need. I think Arber has been playing just as good as Struble in other aspects recently as well.
How is this a debate ?
Keep Arber, use Struble as trade fodder
Great show guys And where do I get a hat like Marco is wearing.
I think Struble is better at hockey, which is why I'd trade him before Arber
for me struble has to go, xhekaj is too much of a fan favourite and he also has better value in our long term. In the future he can be a great 7th d man for rougher opponents
Carrier got rocked 3 times in the first 4 games of the season. He might be carrying a concussion. His decision-making this year is absolutely bizarre, sometimes going in the exact opposite direction that he should be.
He needs to sit.
If Guhle is that valuable and everyone keeps asking for him, why don't we gauge what he's actually worth.
Are we talking 1 for 1 with Tage Thompson, 1 for 1 with RNH, 1 for 1 with Trocheck… Sending a trade package with picks and Struble is cool. But if we know we're going to create space at the blue line, because we have too many guys that are going to be too good too soon… Then someone has to go soon.
If I can get Nugent-Hopkins at 5M for 4 more years for guhle. I'm thinking about it long and hard… I'm putting myself in the other teams shoes and trying to gameplan against Montreal with RNH in our Lineup or with Guhle in the lineup and it's a no brainer. Montreal's PK and PP would get even better. 5×5 we'd be an even bigger nightmare and mismatch for other teams.
Thompson, RNH or trocheck IN = Montreal Cup window opens this year. (As long as Tampa can chill for a few games)
Xhekaj has a role in Montreal. The story is great, the brothers, etc. Struble is good, but he's expendable. Imagine if William Trudeau turned into a 6/7. He's still a viable prospect. With Protz and Pickford coming eventually too, who knows. There's tons of depth. I didn't even mention Engstrom or Reinbacher. Ha.
Xhekaj has the hardest shot. They've misused him.
Xhehai is more of a deterrent than Struble
Do you see a world where if Reinbacher continues his success he’s having in Laval this season where next training camp 2026, Engstrom & Reinbacher have a legitimate chance of making the team?
Isn't Carrier, who's contract is up at the end of next season, maybe the most expendable D? Reinbacher is a RD and should be ready next season. They also have Engstrom who can replace Carrier in his role. I see them moving Struble this yr and Carrier next season to leave room for Engstrom and Reinbacher. Xhekaj is the 6-7 dman for another 3yrs if they re-sign him to a 3yr deal.