Deadline: Forget the idea of veterans being traded if the Habs are still in the mix

Dose
Crédit: MONTREAL, QC - JULY 07: Montreal Canadiens general manager Kent Hughes addresses the crowd during the first round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft on July 07, 2022 at Bell Centre in Montreal, QC (Photo by David Kirouac/Icon Sportswire)

We don’t know if the Canadiens will sell any players at the next trade deadline.

You’ll tell me that it all depends on the club’s performance between now and then… And I’ll answer you by saying that you’re right.

After all, if the Habs are still in the mix, it would be surprising to see Kent Hughes make a fire sale, because his goal is to be in the mix as long as possible, until the end of the season.

But if the Canadiens find themselves in the bottom half of the standings in March, maybe we could see Kent Hughes make a move. Pierre LeBrun talked about all this on the radio (BPM Sports) and gave clear indications when discussing the matter.

It’s not complicated: if the Habs are still in the race and aren’t “really behind” the other clubs, Kent Hughes won’t trade his veterans unless there’s a surprise.

Still, there’s a chance… But the chances are very slim, according to the informer:

Among the Habs, there are a few players whose contracts will expire at the end of this season and who could help another club in the playoffs.

We’re talking about :

  • Christian Dvorak
  • Jake Evans
  • Joel Armia
  • David Savard

The contracts of Jayden Struble, Michael Pezzetta, Emil Heineman and Rafaël Harvey-Pinard will also expire at the end of the season… But logically, these players won’t necessarily be in demand in March 2025.

It’s different for the first four guys I named, because they have more experience in the National League and have all tasted the playoffs at least once.

Savard even won the Stanley Cup.

That said, if Dvorak, Evans, Armia and Savard finish the season in a Canadiens uniform, we’ll still have to wonder whether they’ll be back in Montreal for next season.

I’d like to see Evans and Savard back because they’re crucial to the team.

As for Dvorak, I don’t think he’s much use most of the time (especially when he hasn’t even won a face-off since the start of the season)… And although Armia has an interesting profile, I tend to think he’s not that hard to replace in the line-up.

So it remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure: the Habs’ performance will affect Kent Hughes’ decisions between now and the next trade deadline.

Overtime

– A good game, too.

– Your prediction?

– It’s going to be beautiful at the Bell Centre.

– Great quote.

– Ah, yes.

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