The trade deadline has come and gone, and while Andrei Kostitsyn is now a Nashville Predator, Chris Campoli and Travis Moen are surprisingly still on the Montreal Canadiens roster.
The Canadiens also added Brad Staubitz, a tough guy with little value as a hockey player. Staubitz however, could potentially add some fun to what will be a frustrating final 19 games of the year.
The Tampa Bay Lightning were active on trade deadline day, adding a couple of poorly regarded depth defensemen for minimal cost in Mike Commodore and Brian Lee as well as AHLer Keith Aulie. To grab Aulie, the Lightning gave up Carter Ashton, who was regarded as their best prospect since Brett Connolly has presumably graduated their system.
The Habs are coming off their third 4 game losing streak since Randy Cunneyworth took over as head coach of the team.
Tonight will also be the Canadiens debut for 4th generation Hab Blake Geoffrion. Geoffrion will wear number 57 to honour both his grandfather Bernie “Boom Boom” Geoffrion and his great grandfather Howie Morenz. Needless to say Habs fans shouldn’t expect that kind of greatness from Blake, but it’s one of few feel good stories in a depressing year for the Canadiens.
To add to the depressing year, Canadiens legend Jean Beliveau was hospitalized this morning with a stroke. His family asks for their privacy during this time.
MONTREAL CANADIENS PROJECTED LINEUP
Forwards
Max Pacioretty – David Desharnais – Erik Cole
Rene Bourque – Lars Eller – Aaron Palushaj
Blake Geoffrion – Tomas Plekanec – Ryan White
Petteri Nokelainen – Scott Gomez – Brad Staubitz
Defensemen
Goalies
TAMPA BAY LIGHTNING PROJECTED LINEUP
Forwards
Ryan Malone – Steven Stamkos – Martin St. Louis
J.T. Wyman – Tom Pyatt – Brett Connolly
Mike Angelidis – Adam Hall – Brandon Segal
Pierre-Cedric Labrie – Trevor Smith – Tim Wallace
Defensemen
Bruno Gervais – Brian Lee
Mike Commodore – Evan Oberg
Goalies
Canadiens vs Lightning coverage
