As the Montreal Canadiens navigate the final stretch before the NHL's Olympic break, several key storylines are developing both on and off the ice. With the trade deadline looming on March 6th, General Manager Kent Hughes faces a complex situation, balancing the team's current playoff contention with long-term roster management.

The Logjam on the Roster

Montreal currently holds third place in the Atlantic Division, a position that could tempt them to become buyers at the deadline, seeking veteran players with playoff experience. However, an abundance of forwards and limited cap space create a roster logjam. This situation is further complicated by the impending return of Patrik Laine from injury.

The Patrik Laine Dilemma

Laine, who has been sidelined since late October after undergoing core muscle surgery, is nearing his return. While his addition would undoubtedly inject more offensive firepower into the lineup, it also exacerbates the existing roster and cap challenges. Coach Martin St. Louis has expressed his frustration with questions surrounding Laine's return, emphasizing that he can only focus on coaching the healthy players currently available.

The Canadiens are at the 23-player roster limit, meaning that to activate Laine, they would need to trade or waive a player. Waiving Laine is unlikely, considering his $8.7 million cap hit and the risk of losing him for nothing. This leaves a trade as the most viable option, and according to RDS insider Francois Gagnon, the Canadiens are open to moving Laine. However, finding a trade partner willing to take on his contract won't be easy.

Adding to the complexity, Laine's limited playing time this season, with only five games played, makes it difficult to showcase him for a potential trade. Since the 2023-24 season, Laine has only participated in 75 games because of injuries.

Who Makes Way?

With Laine potentially on the trading block, other players such as Jayden Struble and Kirby Dach have also been mentioned in trade speculation as the Canadiens look to balance their roster. The team also needs to add a "high-compete, penalty-killing forward".

Laine's Return to Play

Despite practicing regularly, Laine has not yet received medical clearance to return to game action. Coach St-Louis has remained firm that Laine will not play until he is cleared by the medical staff. There is speculation that Laine may try to return before the Olympic break to prove his fitness for consideration for the Finnish national team.

This Week's Schedule

The Canadiens have two games this week before the Olympic break:

• Monday, Feb. 2: @ Minnesota Wild, 7:30 PM EST
• Wednesday, Feb. 4: @ Winnipeg Jets, 7:00 PM EST

The Canadiens are in a strong position, but face some difficulties with the roster, so the team's management will have to make difficult choices.