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![\"Montreal](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/682332.webp\" "\\"Montreal")
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\nA major offseason trade may already be backfiring on a Canadiens rival
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Montreal Hockey Fanatics has no direct affiliation to the Montreal Canadiens, NHL or NHLPA<\/p>\n
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Photo credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images<\/p>\n
A Montreal Canadiens division rival may already be regretting a major move made earlier this offseason.<\/p>\n
The Florida Panthers could already be second-guessing their acquisition of Jacob Markstrom<\/a> following the latest news out of Winnipeg involving star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck<\/a>.Earlier this summer, Florida chose not to retain 37-year-old Sergei Bobrovsky<\/a>, who instead signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs for $7 million per season.<\/p>\n To replace him, Bill Zito turned to 36-year-old Jacob Markstrom, acquiring him from the New Jersey Devils in a trade. In other words, the Panthers replaced Bobrovsky with a goalie who is only slightly younger.<\/p>\n With Connor Hellebuyck now available, and still playing at an elite level, the logic behind that replacement is being questioned.<\/p>\n Florida’s lack of state income tax could also have made the Panthers more appealing to Hellebuyck than several other markets.<\/p>\n He may have been disappointed to hear about the Markstrom trade as well.<\/p>\n Connor Hellebuyck landing outside Florida would benefit the Canadiens in the Atlantic Division<\/p>\n That kind of scenario would have given the Florida Panthers one of the best goaltenders in the league on top of a roster that is already loaded up front and on the blue line.<\/p>\n That would have been dangerous. And for Kent Hughes and the Montreal Canadiens, seeing the Panthers turn to a veteran like Markstrom instead is certainly welcome news.<\/p>\n Some attention is now shifting toward the New Jersey Devils, who just traded Markstrom and could become a logical destination for Hellebuyck.<\/p>\n The Buffalo Sabres are another team whose name keeps coming up in the Connor Hellebuyck sweepstakes.<\/p>\n For Montreal Canadiens fans, seeing Hellebuyck avoid Florida remains good news considering the significance of that divisional rivalry.<\/p>\n Previously on Montreal Hockey Fanatics<\/p>\n POLL<\/p>\n 8 HOURS AGO|183 ANSWERS<\/p>\n A major offseason trade may already be backfiring on a Canadiens rival<\/p>\n Would the New Jersey Devils be a good destination for Connor Hellebuyck?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t
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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
A major offseason trade may already be backfiring on a Canadiens rival
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