{"id":98746,"date":"2021-01-23T08:30:49","date_gmt":"2021-01-23T13:30:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=98746"},"modified":"2021-01-22T20:59:03","modified_gmt":"2021-01-23T01:59:03","slug":"nhl-rumours-canadiens-blue-jackets-canucks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2021\/01\/23\/nhl-rumours-canadiens-blue-jackets-canucks\/","title":{"rendered":"NHL Rumours: Montreal Canadiens, Columbus Blue Jackets, Vancouver Canucks"},"content":{"rendered":"

Teams around the NHL are starting to scramble. COVID-19 has impacted games as many assumed they eventually would. Franchises are looking to make changes to the roster to prepare their teams for game action. Today’s NHL Rumours start with the Montreal Canadiens<\/a> and a suspected contract extension that was turned down. The Columbus Blue Jackets<\/a> may be closer to finding a trade partner for Pierre-Luc Dubois<\/a>. Finally, the Vancouver Canucks<\/a> may be looking to sign a defenceman from the KHL. Welcome to another edition of NHL Rumours.<\/p>\n

NHL Rumours<\/h2>\n

Montreal Canadiens<\/h3>\n

Rumour: According to Mathias Brunet of La Presse<\/a>, the Montreal Canadiens offered centreman Phillip Danault<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0a contract extension which was rejected.<\/em><\/p>\n

Analysis:<\/em> For the first time in what feels like forever, the Montreal Canadiens are trending in the right direction. They have put together some impressive hockey in the last few days and appear to be a playoff team early in the year. Phillip Danault<\/a> has been one of the best players on the team. He has 97 points in the last two seasons with three more this year. The Canadiens felt that was worth a six-year contract extension worth $5 million per year. Danault apparently disagreed.<\/p>\n

Danault’s desire to leave Montreal is not completely unwarranted. While $5 million per year is nothing to scoff at, and certainly fair for his talents, Danault may not be the best fit with the organization’s long term plans. Jesperi Kotkaniemi<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0and Nick Suzuki<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0appear to be their top two centres moving forward. That leaves Danault on the wing or out of the top-six. If he wants more minutes, he would have to go elsewhere to find them.<\/p>\n

Columbus Blue Jackets<\/h3>\n

Rumour: TSN’s Darren Dreger is reporting that Pierre-Luc Dubois<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0could be with a new franchise as soon as today, January 23rd.<\/em><\/p>\n

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My sense from canvassing sources tonight, Columbus is closing in on a trade involving Pierre Luc Dubois. It\u2019s a complicated process that could be resolved as early as tomorrow. Teams have been told they\u2019re out. Hard to say who\u2019s in, but it\u2019s believed Winnipeg is among them.<\/p>\n

\u2014 Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) January 23, 2021<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n