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Canadiens Have Versatile Players Teams Want This Trade Season
The Montreal Canadiens are still in a rebuild and that means they will try to move valuable trade assets and make a big move in the summer.
Expectations were higher for the Montreal Canadiens this season. There was a feeling surrounding the team they would take the next step and play meaningful games in March and April. The start of the season has proven that is not the case. Montreal is still rebuilding under Vice President of Hockey Operations Jeff Gorton and General Kent Hughes.
While the addition of Patrik Laine signaled a change in where the organization felt it should be this season, the Canadiens are still a young team. You can clearly see that with their defensive corps out there on the ice each and every night. Lane Hutson matures daily, but the Canadiens could be sellers again at the deadline with several players the team could covet.
According to Dave Pagnotta of the Fourth Period, the Montreal Canadiens will be making changes later on in the season with several pending free agents. He notes:
“They’re going to make changes later on this season. They’re going to move out to the rental type of players. Christian Dvorak and Jake Evans are going to draw interest. David Savard, we’ve talked about these pieces. With another year in his deal, Mike Matheson will continue to draw interest as well.”
Canadiens Were Busy with Trades Last Season, Will Be Busy Again
Last season the Canadiens moved out Jake Allen to the New Jersey Devils at the NHL Trade Deadline. He was one of the high-profile players that teams wanted. Evans and Savard are two players teams will want. As sources indicated to Marc D’Amico of RG Media, Savard is almost a lock to be moved, while Evans is trickier because they are in no rush to move him because of the value he brings.
But if you are looking for a bigger move, that could wait until the summer. That has been the history of this management group, with the trades of Alex Newhook, Kirby Dach, and Patrik Laine.
“If we do see anything big out of Montreal, it’s likely to be from trading guys out and getting additional assets in. That doesn’t mean they want to continue to stockpile the cupboard with draft picks and prospects. What they may do in the summer, and we’ve seen this before, utilize those assets, take the picks, package them up, and get NHL caliber players.”
Pagnotte added that part of the plan is to move out pieces now and insulate the roster in the summer. He contends the Canadiens are not shying away from a rebuild. “They understand where they’re at.”
What could the Canadiens look to add potentially? According to sources close to Marco D’Amico of RG Media, the Canadiens want to get a right-handed top-four defenseman.
“Right now, unfortunately, Canadiens fans will have to endure. But it’s common knowledge around the league that Hughes is looking for a long-term solution at RD that helps them compete for a playoff spot next year,” concluded the well-placed source.”
Be on the lookout for what the Montreal Canadiens are up to this deadline season as well as into the offseason. This team is on the rise and is a couple of parts away from putting it all together.
Next: Kaapo Kakko’s Healthy Scratch by Rangers Ignites Trade Talk
