Montreal Canadiens: Three Non-Rentals The Habs Need to Trade This Season

Jeff Petry

The problem with trading players with term is sometimes they have too much term. A team going on a playoff run this year might not want to bring in an older player for three seasons. IN the salary cap world, expiring contracts actually often have more value on the trade market.

That is true for Jeff Petry. If his contract were expiring this year, the Canadiens could probably get a boatload back for him in a trade. However, he has three years left on his deal after this season and he is already 34 years old.

He is also having a brutal season.

After scoring 12 goals and 42 points in 55 games last season, Petry has just one goal and four points in 33 games this year. He looks like a completely different player this season.

So, why trade him right now? Because teams will still remember the great Petry that was so good for the Canadiens in the playoffs last season. Petry played a huge role on the Canadiens run to the Stanley Cup Final and opposing teams will have that fresh in their minds at this year’s trade deadline.

He will essentially be forgiven for having such a bad year, because everyone is having a bad year in Montreal. If he has another bad season next year, his value would be zero.

Also, the Canadiens have a handful of quality defence prospects that will be pushing for ice time next season. Kaiden Guhle, Mattias Norlinder and Jordan Harris could all be looking to become full time NHLers next season. A crowded blue line with Petry, Joel Edmundson, David Savard and Alexander Romanov as well as Kale Clague and Sami Niku who could still be around just doesn’t leave room for all three youngsters.

Trading Petry now would still get a decent return, and open up a top four spot for a young player to take on a big role next season.