Will the Montreal Canadiens ever regret the Josh Anderson trade?

SC: I’ll be honest; I was one of the people who were skeptical of this trade when it first happened. The thing is, while Domi was frustratingly inconsistent this past season, his 72-point campaign in 2018-19 gave him a ceiling that few players have, especially with his reputation as more of a two-way player than a strictly offensive powerhouse. Going back to the original trade for Domi, the Habs have won that trade regardless of this current one, with Alex Galchenyuk now on his fourth team in the past three seasons after being shipped from Arizona, to Pittsburgh, to Minnesota, then to his signing with Ottawa.

Josh Anderson has the distinction of having a similarly high ceiling to Domi, though I still won’t be convinced of his abilities until I see him play. Despite his large frame and 47-point season in 2018-19, his shoulder issues and unimpressive performance last year leave me unconvinced, especially with the high cap hit he now carries. However, I still think it will be a while before Montreal truly regrets this trade if they ever will, as Domi’s bridge deal with Columbus could mean he signs elsewhere after its conclusion. If that happens, Montreal wins this trade; if he doesn’t, it remains to be seen.

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OL: Anderson brings enough intangibles to his game where I don’t see the Montreal Canadiens organization regretting the trade (openly). He’s big and has a physical presence, which Marc Bergevin has wanted to add. Yes, the team is filled with scrappy characters headed by Brendan Gallagher, and no one is willing to take on Shea Weber head-on despite his age, but Anderson is a tough player to play against.

That said, the justification for the contract was that Anderson brings that’s physical edge while having the offensive skill to score as well. Gallagher will be the highest-paid forward on the Habs when the 2021/22 season begins, but as of now, Anderson and Jonathan Drouin have the biggest ticket. Because of that, the Habs need goals from him.

Perhaps Bergevin sees Anderson as a Tom Wilson type on the team. No, not skating around injuring people, but a heavy hitter who can play with skilled guys and put up 20 goals a season. If Anderson can do that consistently, there should be no regrets, even if Max Domi lights up his first year in Columbus. The fan base, on the other hand, is a different conversation.