Kent Hughes has just taken a young player off the trade market

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Elias Edmonson
May 21, 2024 (2:05 PM)

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The Canadiens have reportedly informed other NHL teams that they do not want to trade young 24-year-old defenseman,
Norlinder.

For some reason unknown to us, Kent Hughes has indeed just taken the young Norlinder's name off the NHL trade market, and he is telling other teams that he does not want to trade the 24-year-old Swedish defenseman.

Evidently, the Canadiens have a plan regarding this situation.

Despite a significant surplus in defense for Kent Hughes and Jeff Gorton, especially among left-handers, Mattias Norlinder would not be available

It explains why teams are calling for a trade involving Arber Xhekaj.

In short, according to the renowned David Pagnotta, here are the defensemen that the Canadiens absolutely do NOT want to trade: Arber Xhekaj, Kaiden Guhle, Logan Mailloux, David Reinbacher, and Lane Hutson.

The informant also added an unexpected name to the category of players that Montreal does not really want to trade, players who are not in the showcase. We are talking about Mattias Norlinder here.

You read that correctly.

Despite his nebulous position within the Canadiens organization, Pagnotta believes that Mattias Norlinder is not being shopped by Hughes and Gorton.

«Yes, the same Mattias Norlinder who was no longer in the plans in Laval at the end of the season and whom we thought was destined to return to Europe this summer.»

«That said, seeing Norlinder among the guys that, as Pagnotta claims, �the Canadiens do not want to trade,' is surprising. One might almost wonder if this is a bluff, after all.» - Via Félix Forget (DLC)

Clearly, the Canadiens have not lost hope in Norlinder's case. You certainly cannot accuse them of lacking patience in this instance.

This is a developing story.

Mattias Norlinder, 24 years old, is a third-round pick by the Canadiens in 2019. He amassed 9 points in 50 games this season with the Laval Rocket, including 2 goals.

He maintained a -23 differential in the AHL and did not seem to be in the plans at the end of the season.

This is an intriguing development.