If we recall at the beginning of the season, Kent Hughes mentioned that he wouldn't wait too long to trade a goaltender, so as not to prolong the three-way situation. We're approaching a quarter of the season already, and it's still status quo.
Of course, this is Montreal. There are plenty of rumors, but nothing is more reliable than a good conversation with Kent Hughes. Here's what he had to say following the general managers' meeting in Toronto:
Kent Hughes seems to have changed his stance, as he's no longer in a hurry to make a trade. What if the strategy of having three goalies is the right one? What if the team decides to stay that way for the entire season or wait until the trade deadline for an even more favorable return?
Hughes mentions that he doesn't want it to be like this all season, but if the goalies continue to perform this well, why make a change? As he himself said, why change something that's not broken and is working well? Could a new trend be established?
The main reason I see for making a change is to free up a spot in the 23-player roster and have the option to have one more player with the team during trips, where it's more complicated to make call-ups. Currently, there are 20 players on the ice, one goalie, and two other players waiting. Ideally, you'd want three players waiting.
It's a situation to keep an eye on, but don't be surprised if no moves are made in the coming days, even in the next few weeks.
