It's been over a month since the 2022-23 NHL season opened on Oct. 7. Before the start of November, six trades took place, with the Vancouver Canucks involved in three of those, acquiring defensemen Ethan Bear and Riley Stillman as well as center Jack Studnicka.

It was understandable why the Canucks were so busy, given their 2-5-2 record from October. They're not the only club stumbling from the gate that could turn to the trade market for a quick fix.

In Toronto, the Maple Leafs' record of 4-4-2 through October had some observers suggesting a trade may be necessary to reverse their fortunes. Meanwhile, the San Jose Sharks' 3-8-0 record generated media chatter claiming management could be open to offers.

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NHL Teams Already Regretting Their 2022 Offseason Additions

It's not uncommon for rumors to fly whenever teams aren't playing well in the opening weeks of a season. Whether we should put much stock into them, however, is another matter. That's what we'll try to sort out as we consider which recent notable speculation is worth buying or selling.

 

Are the Montréal Canadiens Shopping a Forward?

Carrying a surplus of forwards, the Montréal Canadiens are in the market to trade one of them. On Nov. 3, TSN's Pierre LeBrun reported they had contacted the Washington Capitals and several other clubs trying to build up a market for one of them.

LeBrun indicated those talks with the Capitals didn't go much beyond the discussion stage. He listed Evgenii Dadonov, Jonathan Drouin and Mike Hoffman as trade candidates. All three are struggling with the rebuilding Canadiens this season, totaling four points between them.

The most likely to be moved could be Dadonov. The 33-year-old winger was a recent healthy scratch before ending on injured reserve once defenseman Joel Edmundson made his season debut on Nov. 3. A 20-goal scorer with the Vegas Golden Knights last season, he's been scoreless through eight games with the Canadiens.

Dadonov and Drouin are both eligible to become unrestricted free agents next summer and carry cap hits of at least $5 million. Hoffman is signed through 2023-24 with an average annual value of $4.5 million.

Verdict: Buy

The Canadiens could also place one of those forwards on waivers and demote them if they go unclaimed. Dadonov, Drouin or Hoffman might regain their scoring form on a better team, but their respective cap hits are tough to move right now. However, the Canadiens could facilitate a deal by retaining part of their salary.