Insider thinks Canadiens and Rangers could be trading partners before March 21st

After trading Tyler Toffoli to the Calgary Flames on Monday, the Montreal Canadiens are expected to continue their sell off leading up to the trade deadline on Monday, March 21st.

One team to keep an eye on as a trading partner for the Montreal Canadiens is the New York Rangers according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

"Keep an eye on the Rangers and the Habs between now and March 21. I think Montreal covets some Rangers prospects. Habs could fill some Rangers needs. Montreal would rather add prospects over picks. Already have 12 picks for the July draft. Rangers' pipeline drawing Habs interest," LeBrun said in a tweet on Wednesday.

Within the last month, the Rangers have expressed interest in pending unrestricted free agent defenceman Ben Chiarot. In mid-January, Artturi Lehkonen was linked to the Rangers by Arthur Staple of The Athletic.

Montreal's Vice-President of Hockey Operations Jeff Gorton is very familiar with the Rangers organization and their prospect pool after spending nearly six years as their general manager

Who could Montreal be looking at in the Rangers' pipeline? Well the obvious name would be disgruntled forward Vitaly Kravtsov, who is currently playing in the KHL on loan from the Rangers. As the Rangers were finalizing their roster for the 2021-22 season, they assigned Kravtsov to the American Hockey League, but he refused to report and requested a trade.

Another name they could want is defenceman Nils Lundkvist, who is currently playing in the American Hockey League with the Hartford Wolf Pack. Lundkvist was a first round pick of the Rangers 2018. Going into next season, Montreal will have a very young blueline, one that will feature Alexander Romanov, Kaiden Guhle, Mattias Norlinder, and possibly even Jordan Harris if he signs with the Canadiens out of college in a couple of months.

During his media availability on Wednesday, Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes said that they've been in contact with former New York Rangers European scouting director Nick Bobrov. It's possibly that they bring in Bobrov for their scouting department, as he's someone that Jeff Gorton knows really well.

The NHL's trade deadline is thirty-three days away, so expect more deals to be made by the Canadiens in the coming days and weeks.

Keep an eye on the Rangers and the Habs between now and March 21. I think Montreal covets some Rangers prospects. Habs could fill some Rangers needs. Montreal would rather add prospects over picks. Already have 12 picks for the July draft. Rangers' pipeline drawing Habs interest— Pierre LeBrun (@PierreVLeBrun) February 16, 2022

Kent Hughes says management is talking with former New York Rangers European scouting director Nick Bobrov.— Eric Engels (@EricEngels) February 16, 2022

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