Montreal Canadiens: Three Realistic Trades Habs Need to Consider with Buffalo Sabres

Eric Staal

The Canadiens first need to establish what exactly they need before they target specific players. I think, based on their play this season, the Habs biggest needs that could be filled at the trade deadline are a top pairing puck moving, smooth skating left defenceman, a veteran fourth line centre and maybe a top six left winger that can score on the power play.

The top pairing left defenceman would be the hardest to find at the trade deadline, but the fourth line centre might be the easiest.

Eric Staal might not have much experience playing on a fourth line but he is a veteran who has put up solid offensive numbers every season of his career until he landed in Buffalo this year. Last season, he had 19 goals and 47 points in 66 games with the Minnesota Wild, but he has just three goals and eight points in 23 games with the Sabres this season.

He has been getting decent opportunity playing on their second line most of the season, but nothing is working in Buffalo right now and it might do a veteran like Staal some good to be traded to a team that actually has a chance at the postseason.

Staal wouldn’t cost a ton considering he hasn’t exactly taken off with the Sabres, but he would provide good veteran depth down the middle of the ice. Right now, if the Habs were to get an injury to a centre, they would have to call up Ryan Poehling or Jordan Weal to play centre and put them on the third line or move Jake Evans up to the third line role and leave Poehling or Weal on the fourth.

Staal would likely slot in on the fourth line if everyone is healthy, but could move up to the second or third line in case of injury. He should definitely be a target of Bergevin’s as the trade deadline approaches.