Eric Engels of Sportsnet: Again, the Montreal Canadiens find themselves in somewhat of a bind. Do they need that defenseman who can make an impact to let others assume more suited roles? That answer is likely yes.
However, it boils down to can Marc Bergevin clear cap space to make such a deal possible. Then, Bergevin must-have pieces to make that trade and pull the trigger. Mattias Ekholm would be a huge get for the Montreal Canadiens.
Right now, the Montreal Canadiens operate under the assumption of no exemption like most every team.