Montreal Canadiens: How to Rebuild Organization in Three Easy Steps

Trade expiring contracts

The last time the Canadiens were sellers at a trade deadline was in the 2019-20 season and general manager Marc Bergevin made the right decision by trading every expiring contract.

He dealt Marco Scandella, Ilya Kovalchuk, Nick Cousins, Nate Thompson, Mike Reilly and Matthew Peca for picks from second to seventh rounders. That is the correct approach and one that the Habs obviously need to take to continue to rebuild this organization.

The most obvious players to deal are unrestricted free agents Ben Chiarot, Chris Wideman and Brett Kulak. Chiarot would likely fetch the most as a minute munching, physical defender that the Canadiens leaned on heavily on a run to the Stanley Cup Final last season.

They could also get middle round picks for Wideman, who quietly has eight points in 15 games from the blue line and can run a power play. Kulak would be a nice depth add for a playoff team that needs a reliable bottom pairing guy.

The Canadiens could also move restricted free agents like Artturi Lehkonen and Sami Niku. Lehkonen is an excellent penalty killer and might get the Canadiens a third round pick and Niku would be a later selection.

That is the easiest and most obvious trades to make and any team not in a playoff spot should start rebuilding for the future by trading expiring contracts.

The harder decisions would come next.