Montreal, QC -- Just days before the team's next game against the Hurricanes, the Canadiens made a deal with the 'Canes sending their 2020 2nd round pick to Carolina for F Ryan Strome. When asked about the deal on Monday, GM Cooley replied, "Ryan is one of those players that can provide added depth to our lineup and potentially have an immediate impact." When asked if Ryan would be in the lineup Tuesday night vs his former team, Cooley replied, "That is certainly a possibility, but we want him to get acclimated to our team so that is between him and coach [Barry] Trotz." Strome started the season with the New York Islanders, then spent the past nearly month with Carolina before being acquired by the Canadiens this past weekend.

 

The Habs are off to an impressive start this season in the tough Atlantic division with a 15-7-2 record. When asked about his synopsis with a quarter of the season in the books already and how things look in the division, Cooley replied, "Rough. The Atlantic is a very rough and tough division. I'm sure there will be a handful of teams from our division vying for a limited number of spots in the Eastern Conference playoffs come spring time. We just have to keep handling our business now and see how things progress. After a fun run to the Eastern Conference Finals last season, this team is bound and determined. From our team management, coaches and players...there's a lot of enthusiasm with this club and adding a talented and at times, gritty forward like Ryan Strome will also help."

 

Will the team's enthusiasm continue to translate to success on the ice in the 2018-2019 season? Time will tell.

 

TONIGHT:

Habs vs 'Canes 7:30 pm ET @ Bell Centre