Five Players Guaranteed To Be Moved By The Trade Deadline

The trade deadline is inching closer and Kent Hughes has been given a much more enviable task than one can imagine. Being named the General Manager of the Montreal Canadiens comes with it’s overwhelming and exaggerated amount of pressure, but despite the gargantuan disappointment that is the 2021-22 season, Hughes and ultimately Jeff Gorton are given the opportunity that any administrator envies that that’s to build a team in their image.

Blow it up, so to speak.

Mind you, a typical rebuild in Montreal might not be an option. By typical of course we mean years of basement dwelling and stacking up on high draft picks. The thought of Connor Bedard wearing the Canadiens’ tri-color sweater is appealing, but having to sit through another uninspiring losing season – not so much.

Hughes has mentioned that he is looking to have a modern coach who will be a leader and have a hard focus on a team driven by puck possession and speed. What exactly a “modern coach” means is up for interpretation, but with the constant evolution of the game, highlighting speed and possession is a given.

While the likes of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield, Alexander Romanov and most likely young veterans like Josh Anderson and Tyler Toffoli will remain part of the future core, here’s a look at 5 players who are pretty much guaranteed to be traded by the March 21st deadline.

Everything has already been said about the status and play of Jeff Petry. Ken MacMillan and I have already touched on the trade rumors here and here and it’s really just a matter of time in his case.

A 15 team no-trade list does limit the return for the once Norris Trophy candidate. However, despite being 34 and fresh off a new 4 year $25 million contract that began this season, there will be no shortage of interest even if he has completely checked out of Montreal.

His $6.25 million cap hit might force Kent Hughes to accept a bad contract in return in order to get a package involving picks and prospects.

Potential Suitors: Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Nashville

Ok, i’m cheating here a little bit. Putting Joel Armia on this list is a risk, only because it’s not actually guaranteed he will be picked up at the trade deadline. This might be more of a summer move unless a team steps up and really wants him.

Please someone take him.

The 28 year old is sitting on a risky 4 year $13.6 million contract with a $3.4 million cap hit. Make no mistake, if Armia were to hit free agency last off-season, that’s the kind of contract he would’ve picked up. However, there is no indication this season or last that he can be the player he should be. His indifferent attitude and extreme lack of effort on most nights could make him extremely hard to move.

However, teams on the rise or looking to take on salary might take a flyer on him and see if a resurgence in his play is possible. When he’s on, Armia is an extremely difficult player to take the puck away from and can provide a spark on a line that needs that kind of presence.

If a trade were to be done either at the deadline or in the summer, expect a swap of bad contracts or a package involving a pending UFA along with a third or mid-to-low second round pick.

Potential Suitors: Columbus, Arizona, Seattle, New Jersey

Mike Hoffman shouldn’t have any issues finding a suitor by the trade deadline. In the first of a 3 year deal at a $4.5 million cap hit and no trade restrictions, expect a few teams, contenders or not, to give Kent Hughes a call and see if they can snag Hoffman in order to get some secondary scoring.

Despite starting the season on the injury list, Hoffman has come as advertised amassing 7 goals and 14 points in 30 games. Injuries have become a concern with Hoffman being in his age 32 season but when healthy, he can easily give a team 20 goals if paired with the right linemates.

Hoffman should fetch a depth NHL player with salary and a second round pick.

Potential Suitors: Los Angeles, San Jose, Rangers, Islanders

Spin it any way you want, we just have to face the facts and accept the loss. Tampa Bay won the Sergachev for Drouin trade in 2017. It is what it is. Let’s move on.

And moving on is what the Canadiens need to do with Drouin. It has been reported more than once that Drouin doesn’t exactly “fit” into the Canadiens’ locker room despite getting tons of support whether it’s for his personal or physical issues.

The former third overall pick will never be the player he was projected to be when he was trailblazing through the QMJHL with the Halifax Mooseheads. Having lead the Mooseheads in scoring for 2 out of his 3 seasons and proving he can play without Nathan MacKinnon as his centerman, he ironically proved then Halifax head coach Dominique Ducharme that he can be a game changer. Now he is at best a second line playmaker.

However, his age and contract can still be intriguing for a few teams. Drouin will be turning 27 in March and after this season, has one more season left on his contract with a $5.5 million cap hit.

Bowen Byram’s concussion issues in Colorado might throw cold water at a potential Drouin for Samuel Girard trade, but with MacKinnon eyeing a return to play this weekend and his history with Drouin, don’t be surprised if the Avalanche come sniffing around, even if it means the Habs might not get more than a haul consisting of forward JT Compher and goaltender Pavel Francouz in return.

Potential Suitors: Colorado, Seattle, San Jose, Anaheim