Time is running out for the Montreal Canadiens to devise their strategy heading into the expansion draft. That plan will be ever-evolving in the final few days before rosters are frozen across the league.
The course has been altered once again with a swap of young defence prospect Mikhail Sergachev for Jonathan Drouin. A trade of a junior-aged prospect for a NHL player, which can be boiled down to an expansion-draft ineligible asset for one who will need protection, completely changes the game plan moving forward.
Before we get into the actual situation the Canadiens are faced with, first a reminder on how the draft will operate.