The Montreal Canadiens are missing the playoffs. That’s clear.



Their farm team, the Laval Rocket, is also going to miss the AHL playoffs and has two or three players who have a realistic shot at one day playing in Montreal.



Their pool of prospects in the junior and college ranks, based both on depth and high-end ceiling, is widely considered to be ranked in the bottom third of the league, at best.



Taking all this information under consideration, it appears clear what general manager Marc Bergevin needs to do between now and the Feb. 26 trade deadline. Conventional wisdom would suggest he needs to sell, and sell hard, to gather as many futures as possible.



It seems obvious. But it isn’t.



The Canadiens position heading into the trade deadline is complicated by a number of factors, the most notable one being Bergevin’s position itself needs to be given a hard, forensic evaluation heading into next season.



Now, if...