Will the Montreal Canadiens ever regret the Josh Anderson trade?
By Omar L
Scott Cowan: Towards the midway point of this abridged and unexpected off-season, Montreal hadn’t done much to gives fans hope as to any new changes in the team’s prospects. While the acquisitions of Joel Edmundson and Jake Allen were promising, AHL enforcer Brandon Baddock being the only free agent acquisition for the team, did little to raise hopes that things would be different this season. That was until the Montreal Canadiens went and signed Tyler Toffoli, who is my personal favourite decision of the off-season.
Along with the acquisition of Josh Anderson, Toffoli has given Habs fans increased hope in a team that looks more exciting than year’s past. However, unlike Anderson, Toffoli has a proven track record of consistency and success, which, in my opinion, makes him a much more concrete option than Anderson at the moment. Four 20 goal seasons and a Stanley Cup ring have led to Toffoli’s reputation as a consistent and reliable offensive performer, and someone who I believe could produce Tomas Tatar-esque numbers in the right situation.
Omar L: It’s the Jake Allen trade with the Tofolli signing being at a close second. Regardless of the optics of Carey Price needing “help” in net, it was a move that needed to be made. The Montreal Canadiens have had it burnt into their identity that they’ll go as far as Price will carry them, and that’s led to seasons where the goaltender is playing in every single game to obtain a playoff spot. That’s what you’d expect from the highest-paid goaltender in the league, but it’s not a functional system.
Teams nowadays are making more and more use of the platoon system, and it’s helping to keep their number one relatively rested for the moments the team really needs them: the playoffs. Boston perfected it with Tuukka Rask and Jaroslav Halak, Dallas made use of it with Ben Bishop, and Anton Khudobin and Philadelphia ran it as well between Carter Hart and Brian Elliott. The way Price played in the playoffs for Montreal is a perfect example of why you want him as healthy and rested as possible. Allen does that for him.