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Montreal Canadiens: Three Questions Kent Hughes Needs to Answer Before Trade Deadline

By Ken MacMillan

Oct 3, 2018; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Montreal Canadiens Artturi Lehkonen. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 3, 2018; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Montreal Canadiens Artturi Lehkonen. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 3, 2021; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens right wing Joel Armia and defenseman Jeff Petry. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports
May 3, 2021; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Montreal Canadiens right wing Joel Armia and defenseman Jeff Petry. Mandatory Credit: Jean-Yves Ahern-USA TODAY Sports /

Can Kent Hughes clear any cap space for next season?

While trading away players whose contracts end in a couple of months is an easy decision for the general manager of a seller, moving someone with term on their contract is tougher to pull off.

Most buyers at this time of the season have little, or no, cap space. Trying to make trades work is a tough task for the accountants than the hockey people these days.

Today, more than any other day of the year, is when every dollar under the salary cap is most precious. Teams are more aware about salary cap limitations today than any other day of the year. So, they aren’t too keen on taking on a player with three or four years left on their contracts with a hefty cap hit.

Unfortunately for Hughes, the Canadiens suddenly have plenty of veteran players who are, or will soon be, on the wrong side of 30 and are signed long term. If the Canadiens want to do anything in free agency this summer, they will have to move out a couple of these contracts. This doesn’t necessarily have to happen today, but it would surely help as the management team puts together its offseason plan to improve the team for next season.

So, will a player like Jeff Petry be traded? That would clear up $6.25 million in cap space for the next three seasons.

What about Joel Armia? The Canadiens could use that $3.4 million for the next three seasons.

Mike Hoffman’s $4.5 million cap hit for the next two seasons seems a bit high as he continues to try and find a good fit on this team after 62 games played.

Jake Allen’s $2.875 million cap hit for next season isn’t a problem, but with a weak goaltending market, will someone make a great offer for him?

It seems less likely that Brendan Gallagher, Christian Dvorak, Joel Edmundson, David Savard, Carey Price or Josh Anderson will be moved at the deadline, but they would free up a lot of wiggle room for the team in the future if they do get moved.

So, how many of these players get dealt before this evening? Probably not many, but even just one would give the Canadiens some flexibility in the offseason to improve the team.

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