The Canadiens about to lose a player on NHL waivers?
Two good news are currently hitting the Montreal Canadiens, as two important reinforcements could soon join Martin St-Louis' lineup.
Raphaël Harvey-Pinard, recently assigned to the Laval Rocket for a short period of fitness, could be available very soon. At the same time, Patrik Laine continues to progress towards a return to play.
Some sources, including Renaud Lavoie, report that there is a good chance that the 26-year-old Finn will make his return by the end of November, which means that there is a little over a week left before he gets the green light.
These imminent returns will force the Canadiens' management to make important decisions to free up roster spots.
Wailing to waivers coming up for the Canadiens?
During yesterday's appearance on JiC on TVA Sports, Renaud Lavoie mentioned an imminent headache for Kent Hughes. The combined return of Laine and Harvey-Pinard will force the team to send a player back to Laval.
Three names stand out among the potential candidates: Emil Heineman, Lucas Condotta and Michael Pezzetta. However, these choices are not easy.
The fourth line, composed of Heineman, Condotta and Armia, has shown nice progress recently. Removing one of them could break a promising dynamic.
Heineman, for example, has established himself as a solid element, while Condotta is only a few games away from reaching the threshold where he will have to go through waivers to be sent back to Laval.
As for Pezzetta, who has played only three games out of a possible 19 this season, appears to be the most likely candidate.
However, his energetic profile, his robustness and his ability to fight could attract the attention of another team, especially since he benefits from an affordable contract.
With these imminent returns, the Canadiens could therefore be forced to risk losing a player on waivers in the coming days.
