Major trade involving defensemen David Savard and Michael Matheson: Pierre LeBrun weighs in

Blaming the injuries is an option, but the GM still hasn't addressed the main issue of bringing in a quality offense. The Canadiens have a first offensive line equivalent to a second line in a good team, which is far from enough to make a playoff run.

Logic dictates that defensemen may be sacrificed to acquire interesting forwards, and rumors about veterans David Savard and Michael Matheson are intensifying.

Pierre-LeBrun has just debunked these rumors at the source. The two defensemen will not be traded unless an offer too good to refuse comes in.

The team that is desperate and could make a very interesting offer is the Tampa Bay Lightning. With Mikhail Sergachev's injury, they have enough salary cap space, but they don't have a first-round pick until 2026.

Suppose Julien Brisebois is willing to give up their first-round pick in 2026 and young Ethan Gauthier; in that case, Kent Hughes might be tempted. However, it would be surprising if the Lightning GM made such an offer, even if Matheson is very solid.