Breaking News: 3 Canadiens players to trade away in late-offseason blockbuster

The Montreal Canadiens might be major players in a possible late-offseason trade. Who might they be prepared to part with to make a deal happen?

Late-offseason blockbuster trades are rare, but they’re always intriguing to think about. So, let’s consider which players the Montreal Canadiens might trade if the right opportunities arise.

 

 

General manager Kent Hughes might look to trade three players before the start of camp and preseason, either to offload some contracts or to make the team younger. By moving more veteran players, he can create space for some of the promising prospects from Laval or other places.

Carey Price, G

Although goaltender Carey Price is unlikely to return to the NHL, the Canadiens could still trade his contract. Options to move Price are limited, but teams like the Anaheim Ducks or the Calgary Flames would be suitable candidates. Trading Price would help the Canadiens clear cap space without using their LTIR pool.

With two more seasons remaining on Price’s contract, teams like Anaheim or Calgary might not contend until the deal expires. While this trade might not be a major one, it could pave the way for a significant move in the future.

David Savard, D

David Savard has been attracting interest lately, making a trade involving the 33-year-old a plausible scenario. However, a major trade could unfold in various ways. If the Canadiens decide to trade Savard to a top contender for the 2024-25 season, they might acquire a high-end prospect. Conversely, a different outcome is also possible.

For instance, if a team is seeking a reliable defenseman and is willing to trade a younger, more established player in return, the deal would likely involve multiple assets on both sides. This wouldn’t be a simple Savard-for-(young forward) trade but rather a more complex exchange.

In this scenario, the Canadiens could gain a potential scorer, while the other team—perhaps a team like Carolina, despite Martin Necas re-signing—would secure a dependable defenseman along with additional assets. The additional asset might be a player listed below, and it’s plausible that a contending team could be interested.

Josh Anderson, F

Here’s the reasoning behind a move that might seem puzzling, involving a potential blockbuster trade including Josh Anderson: He’s shown he can score, evidenced by his past performances. While he only managed 20 points last season, his 40 goals from 2021-22 and 2022-23 highlight his scoring ability. This track record might convince another general manager that he could be a valuable depth scorer for their team.

If an executive is aiming for a Stanley Cup and sees Anderson as a fit, they might push to include him in the trade talks with the Canadiens. Ideally, such a deal could also bring in Savard, which would provide the Canadiens with a promising young player for the future while the other team, potentially the Hurricanes, would gain depth and experience.