Credit: LAURENT CORBEIL / Arena du Rocket Inc.
The Montreal Canadiens cleared some of their defensive depth on Friday, trading defender Jayden Struble to the Nashville Predators for a 2027 second-round draft pick.
Les Canadiens ont acquis un choix de deuxième tour en 2027 des Predators de Nashville en retour du défenseur Jayden Struble.
The Canadiens have acquired a 2027 second-round pick from the Nashville Predators in exchange for defenseman Jayden Struble. pic.twitter.com/MeM2DXQLQL
— Canadiens Montréal (@CanadiensMTL) October 9, 2026
The draft pick originally belonged to the Vegas Golden Knights.
Struble was a healthy scratch on Thursday night against the Predators, as Adam Engström drew into the lineup and played well next to Arber Xhekaj.
The 25-year-old was drafted in the second round (46th overall) in the 2019 NHL Draft. He played in three games this season and does not have a point. He has seven goals and 28 assists in 174 career NHL games. He also played in 14 playoff games.
This trade likely indicates that Kaiden Guhle is nearing a return, and that the team feels Engström is capable of holding down the fort in the NHL. The Canadiens host the Detroit Red Wings on Saturday as they look to snap a three-game losing streak.
Guhle has been practicing with the team since the season started. He was expected to miss four-to-five weeks, which would put him in line to return as soon as next week on that timeline.