Montreal Canadiens waive Sammy Blais - Patrik Laine return imminent? What is Kent Hughes planning?

Montreal Canadiens shake up their roster by waiving Sammy Blais just before the Olympic break—what’s behind Kent Hughes’ calculated timing, and could more moves be on the horizon? With Patrick Laine’s injury status in question and Alex Newhook eyeing a return, the Habs face a forward logjam that could force tough decisions for Hughes and Martin St. Louis.

Laura Saba and Ian Boisvert debate potential trades, speculate on Nazem Kadri’s fit in Montreal, and spotlight the ongoing struggle to balance veterans like Brendan Gallagher and Josh Anderson with emerging talent. The hosts break down defense pairings, strategize around playoff lineups, and name which NHL GMs Hughes should be calling daily to bolster the Canadiens’ chances. With Olympic buzz and off-ice intrigue, this episode sets the stage for a high-stakes stretch run in Montreal.

00:00 Canadiens waive Blais
06:04 Trade options and Newhook’s return
09:37 Kent Hughes' next moves
13:43 Trading Anderson or Gallagher challenges
17:52 Long-term value over cost
20:50 Canadiens' trade targets discussion
25:00 Logan Mailloux: defensive struggles
28:47 Exploiting desperate NHL GMs
31:06 Trivia: First Black Woman in Hockey Hall of Fame
32:44 Canadiens game tomorrow preview

Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOCanadiens?sid=YouTube

Locked On NHL League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Prospects & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNHL

Find Locked On Canadiens anywhere:
https://lintr.ee/LockedOnCanadiens

Also make sure to follow Locked on Canadiens and their hosts on Bluesky!

Locked on Canadiens: https://bsky.app/profile/lockedoncanadiens.bsky.social
Find Ian on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/maybeitsian.bsky.social
Find Laura on Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/theactivestick.bsky.social

#NHLHockey #MontrealCanadiens #Habs #nhl #nationalhockeyleague #canadiensmtl #canadiens

Everydayer Club
If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub

Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!

Indeed
Now, you can speed up your hiring process with a $75 Sponsored Job Credit. Just go to https://indeed.com/lockedon right now and support our show by saying you heard about Indeed on this podcast. Terms and conditions apply.

Gametime
Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDON for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime.

FanDuel
If you’re a new customer, bet just $5 and get $200 in Bonus Bets if you win. Make it count — because after the Super Bowl, the season is over. Last call for football on FanDuel, an Official Sportsbook Partner of Super Bowl Sixty.

FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)

Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.