When you talk to sources on other NHL teams, it’s uncanny how many of them will tell you that Montreal Canadiens general manager Marc Bergevin has been active in terms of picking up the phone.

The sense you get is that Bergevin has been among the busiest GMs in terms of collecting research and getting a good read on the market.

I think he’s willing to add a piece both on defense and up front if he can pull it off before the March 2 deadline.

The caveat from what I hear is that he’d rather make a hockey deal for a player who has term past this season rather than go after rentals. Easier said than done, though, which is why I wouldn’t totally rule out the Habs acquiring a rental if that’s all that makes sense at the 11th hour.