Fans, hockey analysts and others expected the Montreal Canadiens to pick up some scoring power before Wednesday’s trade deadline.
After all, it’s no secret that the Habs are struggling to find the back of the net.
But that didn’t happen. Instead, General Manager Marc Bergevin is relying on his old players to bring in the goals.
“You look at Columbus last night, one of the highest-scoring teams in the league and it’s hard,” Bergevin said in a press conference Wednesday afternoon, a day after the Habs beat the Blue Jackets 1-0.
“It’s gonna be like that down the stretch, so you gotta grind it out and score ugly goals to have success going down the stretch.”
Bergevin’s moves surprised — and disappointed — many observers.
After all, when longtime Habs centreman David Desharnais was traded mid-game last night, it gave people hope Bergevin was going to bring in a major return.
READ MORE: Edmonton Oilers acquire Desharnais from Habs ahead of NHL trade deadline
The Colorado Avalanche’s Matt Duchene was one name that floated around.
The Habs did pull one player out of the Avalanche lineup: forward Andreas Martinsen, in exchange for Sven Andrighetto.
Defenceman Jordie Benn was also acquired on Monday, along with blueliner Brandon Davidson and forwards Steve Ott and Dwight King.
None are scorers.
WATCH BELOW: Hockey writer and analyst Stu Cowan from the Montreal Gazette on Bergevin’s trades and the impact they might have on the team
“We needed players with more physique without losing speed,” Bergevin said Wednesday.
READ MORE: NHL trade day: Montreal Canadiens acquire some big players
He believes the players he brought in will fill in that gap.
The new players also bring playoff experience and King, who has won two Stanley Cups, can “chip in offensively,” Bergevin added.
Besides, come the trade deadline, the Habs weren’t left with much choice offensively, the GM said.
“I bet for every single team in the league scoring is at a premium and you’d like to add scoring,” Bergevin said.
“But it’s not out there and if it ever was, the price was…” he added, and shook his head.