The Canadiens would reportedly be open to moving Jakub Dobes in a trade for Connor McDavid, but Jacob Fowler is off the table.
That's according to Renaud Lavoie, as relayed by Marqueur, which cited Dans Les Coulisses.
The logic is simple. If the Oilers ever insisted on a goalie coming back in a McDavid package, Kent Hughes would let Dobes go.
There's one massive catch. Nothing suggests McDavid is available, and Edmonton just improved to 4-0-1 with a 3-1 win in San Jose.
Debating who goes in that deal is like arguing over the front seat in a car nobody owns yet.
Still, if McDavid ever truly hits the market, Montreal should hand over a young goalie without blinking. Nobody says no to that player over a netminder still finding his footing.
He already has 13 points and sits at +12 this season.
Canadiens reportedly willing to trade Jakub Dobes for Connor McDavid
Montreal reportedly sees the 21-year-old as its goalie of the future, and the front office isn't budging.
Fowler made his first start of the season Thursday and stopped 15 of 18 shots against Nashville.
Dobes has handled the most work so far, going 1-1-1 with an .856 save percentage.
He carries a $965,000 cap hit, and the report says his no-trade protection doesn't kick in until 2028.
Samuel Montembeault would be the easier goalie to move, per the report, but he's out until at least Oct 20.
Edmonton's crease is the reason this conversation exists at all. Devon Levi sits at .863 and Tristan Jarry at .837.
Would Stan Bowman really ask for a goalie back in the biggest trade in franchise history, or just take the best package?
Montreal hosts Detroit tonight with Fowler and Dobes as its available netminders.
The Oilers visit the Bell Centre on Dec. 14, which should make for an interesting night if this chatter is still alive.
For now, it's a hypothetical stacked on top of another hypothetical. In Montreal, those have a way of growing legs anyway.
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Should the Canadiens include Jakub Dobes in a trade for Connor McDavid?
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