Crickets in Montreal.

The trade deadline came and went with little action from the Canadiens, who only played small ball on the day of wheeling and dealing.

Montreal added bottom-six winger Dwight King from Los Angeles, while also exchanging minor leaguers with the Colorado Avalanche, sending Sven Andrighetto to Denver for bulky winger Andreas Martinsen.

That came after the Canadiens dealt forward David Desharnais to the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday in return for blue-liner Brandon Davidson. Hours later, they filled that vacancy up front by acquiring checking center Steve Ott from the Detroit Red Wings - a better fit in that role than Desharnais.

Davidson in particular was a curious addition, with Montreal already overflowing with low-tier defensemen - namely Nathan Beaulieu, in the midst of a breakout season, plus Nikita Nesterov and Jordie Benn, both recently brought in from the Carolina Hurricanes and Dallas Stars, respectively.

In all, the deadline passed with the Canadiens failing to address the bigger issues that have hampered them in recent weeks, as they've thrown away their 13-1-1 start to the season.

Talk that Montreal could bring in a big center to stabilize its middle ice - such as Colorado's Matt Duchene or Martin Hanzal, dealt from the Arizona Coyotes to the Minnesota Wild - ultimately ended as just talk.

Meanwhile, the biggest change seemingly came earlier this season when the Canadiens installed Claude Julien as their new coach. But his hiring hasn't fixed all that ails them.

Montreal wrapped up February with just five wins, with none coming in regulation - futility the club hasn't matched since 1940.

The team's scoring woes are certainly responsible for its sagging record. The Canadiens were shut out four times in February, and limited to a single tally on three other occasions.

It's no secret that Montreal is sliding, and the one-time favorite to win the Atlantic is now fighting for its playoff life. The Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, and Toronto Maple Leafs have all made up significant ground, as the Canadiens now sit just nine points ahead of the East's final playoff spot.

With 18 games remaining, the Canadiens will need to buildfrom within to right their soon-to-be-lost season, doing so without any difference-makers brought in for a boost.

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