Speculation on Montreal targeting Taylor Hall

The NHL trade deadline is a few months away yet, but already analysts are pondering which teams might target certain players, and who will be buyers and who will sellers. As for the Montreal Canadiens, the team is off to a good start, with 11 wins, six losses and five overtime losses after 22 games. Should this type of play continue, it seems the Habs might be buyers at the trade deadline. Yesterday, in his popular 31 Thoughts column, Sportsnet reporter and insider Elliotte Friedman touched on the Canadiens' situation and wondered whether it might be time for GM Marc Bergevin to hit hard.

Back when Marc Bergevin first took over as GM of the Canadiens, he talked about going for singles in the trade market when you weren't in contention and trying to hit home runs when you were. Is he choking up on his bat or swinging from the heels?

"Elliotte doesn't mention it, but speculation is bound to increase on the possibility Bergevin will look to rent pending UFA Taylor Hall," said Engels. "No intel on that right now, but given Habs good play and the fact that they're armed with 12 picks and a strong prospect pool, you have to think."

Engels is right about one thing. For the first time in a few years, Montreal seems to have an abundance of prospects and picks in the system. The question now becomes is Bergevin willing to part with any of them to pick up a player that could very well be gone after the season is done. Hall seems like he'd be a good fit for Montreal's speed-first system of play. And, with the way things are going in New Jersey, it's very likely the team will be selling rather than buying at the trade deadline. It's almost certain speculation will grow from here should each team's situation remain relatively unchanged. With Montreal losing forwards Jonathan Drouin and Paul Byron to injury for several weeks, it's also possible the team may be looking for help sooner than the trade deadline.

-