As the trade deadline approaches, the Montreal Canadiens should consider five moves. These moves are a mixed bag as management considers the competitiveness of the AHL team, the desire to continue to stockpile assets, and the need to get this team to its next phase of competitiveness as early as next season. Right now, the players continue to do their best to force management to not trade away players. However, the fact remains that the Habs lost too many games when management could still be swayed to deviate from their plan. As of now, the Canadiens are on the outside of the playoff picture despite their recent run of wins. While the season remains about information gathering, there is little doubt that the Canadiens find themselves selling at the NHL level.
Canadiens Trade Deadline
While the Canadiens will sell, this is unlikely to be a true cast off of every pending free agent. The team wanted this season to be about information gathering and this can continue down the stretch. Additional information will be provided through the Laval Rocket and what should be an extended playoff appearance for the team that currently sits second in the AHL. Trading away a list of NHL players without acquiring bodies will hurt Laval and the team’s ability to prepare for the playoffs. Management wants the chance to evaluate prospects in pressure situations, so the pure sell-off at the NHL level is unlikely.
In addition, the value of the pending free agents in Montreal is also a concern for the Canadiens. The Canadiens have made it clear that they value their players and they won’t move them without reaching their desired price. This makes it unlikely that the Habs dispatch the entirety of their UFAs to be. Considering all these factors, it is entirely possible that Montreal adds as much as they subtract, so here are fives moves that the Canadiens should consider between now and the March 7th trade deadline.
Moving Jake Evans
Potential return: 2025 or 2026 1st round pick
Their continues to be significant noise around Evans and the Canadiens inability to extend the player prior to this week has only fueled that fire. Ideally, this is the one trade chip that the Canadiens hold out to acquire a third pick in this year’s first round. It will ultimately be interesting to see where these negotiations go should teams not be willing to meet the price set by GM Kent Hughes. Can a second round pick with an interesting prospect get the deal done?
Moving Joel Armia
Potential return: 2025 2nd or 3rd round pick
In Armia, the Canadiens are offering a premium penalty killing player that plays a strong puck possession game. Armia’s size is tantalizing for teams, as is his rather good playoff track record. This might be the one player where the Habs are able to use their last retention slot to get the value on the player to match their asking price. Perhaps they even package a later pick as an overpay to obtain the pick they desire and some help for Laval in the process making it more of a pure hockey trade instead of a deadline cast-off of an expiring contract.
Acquiring AHL Veteran Centre
Potential cost: 2025 late round pick
The Dach injury and potential Evans trade means that Owen Beck is likely in Montreal for the rest of the season. While this is great news for Beck, it does create a hole in Laval that the Canadiens need to fill and they should do so with some veteran leadership. The Rocket need to get to the playoffs in the best possible position before Beck inevitably returns in April. The Canadiens have plenty of draft capital to even commit to an overpay to acquire this player.
Acquiring NHL Depth
Potential cost: 2025 3rd round pick
The main focus here will be to acquire players that might fit the team on a medium time line. Considering the team will likely move on from Evans and Armia and they don’t want too many recalls from Laval, acquiring some depth makes sense. Acquiring a player or two that the team might want to keep past this season would be the ideal goal. Even better if the player is under some sort of team control like a pending RFA.
5 – Moving David Savard
Potential return: 2025 4th round pick
Unlike Evans and Armia, what is most intriguing around Savard will be what the Canadiens do if they don’t get their asking price. Savard’s play hasn’t been great this season, and there’s little doubt that management would love to give some NHL time to both Logan Mailloux and David Reinbacher. Current management has seen player partnership as a primary concern since their arrival, and what is best for the team and the player seem to be at a crossroads here. Does Savard accept being a 7th defender down the stretch, or does he accept a move out of town even if the return isn’t great for the Canadiens?
Main Photo: Eric Bolte- Imagn Images
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