What happened: The Montreal Canadiens are evaluating their roster after sending defenseman Jayden Struble to the Nashville Predators. The transaction brought back a second-round draft pick and cleared a logjam on the left side of the defense.

Why it matters: Kirby Dach remains under contract for the 2026-27 season as a pending unrestricted free agent. Goaltending prospect Jacob Fowler is also positioned in the system as the organization considers its long-term core.

What to watch: The front office could leverage its pending free agents to acquire additional assets ahead of the deadline.