Markstrom Trade Push Gives Canadiens A Real Opening

The Devils’ push around Jacob Markstrom has stirred up a situation Montreal has to be watching closely. When a veteran goalie starts moving from rumor to real possibility, smart teams do not blink, they start mapping out what it costs and what it changes. Kent Hughes suddenly has a lane here, but in the NHL those lanes get closed fast if you hesitate. This is the kind of market pressure that can turn a quiet front office into the busiest room in the building.