Canadiens: Four Cheap Offensive Options To Pursue At The Trade Deadline

I think it goes without saying that Rem Pitlick has been one of the biggest surprises for the Montreal Canadiens this season. A 24-year-old center out of the University of Minnesota, Pitlick was a third-round pick by the Nashville Predators who didn’t get much of a shot in the music city. After a productive rookie season in 2019-20 with the AHL’s Milwaukee Admirals, Pitlick spent most of 2020-21 bouncing between the Predators taxi squad and the AHL, before being claimed on waivers by the Minnesota Wild earlier this season.

In spite of producing 6-5-11 totals over 20 games, a stacked Minnesota roster had no room for Pitlick, who was ultimately claimed once more by the Canadiens in January. While he (like most players) struggled at times under former head coach Dominique Ducharme, replacement Martin St. Louis’s huge impact has only outstretched to Pitlick, as the Ottawa native is now up to impressive 6-10-16 totals over 23 games, including a remarkable defensive play to set up Cole Caufield’s game winner in overtime against the Philadelphia Flyers on Sunday.

While it remains to be seen how Pitlick produces going forward, his acquisition got me thinking about some of the other low-risk, offensive options that have been lighting it up this season, whether in the AHL or in brief cups of coffee in the NHL. So, with that being said, here’s a look at four cheap offensive options the Montreal Canadiens could pursue at this year’s NHL trade deadline.