Use whatever term you want to describe the current status of the Montreal Canadiens, they’re in a rebuild. In a rebuild, you liquidate what you can and you bring in the highest quality of prospects you can find while building around the core you believe in.
This core of course consists of Nick Suzuki, Cole Caufield and Alexander Romanov. Sooner or later, Kaiden Guhle and most likely Shane Wright will likely be added to this list.
Although a supporting staff is needed, there comes a time when you have to evaluate your window of competitiveness and decide who stays and who goes in the long term.
When Josh Anderson was brought in, he was brought in with the idea that the Canadiens were competing now. Marc Bergevin built a team he thought would be annual Stanley Cup contenders and that Anderson would be an important piece to this puzzle. He was partially correct. Anderson did become and important piece but everything around him came crumbling after Shea Weber and Carey Price saw their respective careers came to a halt.
The contract Anderson signed after crossing the border from Columbus came with much skepticism. The 7 year $38.5 million deal carrying a $5.5 million annual cap hit was nothing to scoff at. After all, the previous year Anderson had scored one measly goal in an injury riddled season that saw the power forward play only 26 games. Only once in his career, the year prior, did he score more than 20 goals where he notched 27, in his only full 82 games played.
Josh Anderson hasn’t played any better or any worse than what he’s done with the Blue Jackets. He doesn’t score more, he doesn’t score less. Nor does he hit more or less. His defensive play is relatively the same and he approaches the game and his teammates with the same amount of respect he always has.
So why is his profile suddenly so high? Because of the jersey he now wears.
The exposure he now has wearing a Montreal Canadiens sweater is by far amplified to an infinite amount vis-a-vis wearing a Columbus Blue Jackets jersey. No disrespect to Jackets fans, but you’re dealing with a franchise that’s over a century old. There’s more cameras and the light shines a bit bright in a Quebec arena than it does in one in Ohio.
Many have argued that Anderson is a late bloomer and that he will become the next Chris Kreider. It’s true that Kreider has blown everyone away with his sudden 52 goal season but everyone in the NHL has suddenly started scoring like Jaromir Jagr. Kreider has been as consistent as they come by the way scoring at least 20 goals 8 times in 11 seasons. Anderson has done it once in 8, though some would argue he came close. He scored 19 twice, 18 once and 17 twice.
The one we’ve affectionately nicknamed Powerhorse is a great addition for any team and his value is at his highest. The Canadiens are in a rebuild and could shouldn’t be shy of pulling the trigger on an irresistible trade involving Anderson. Especially since we now have a chance to repair many past draft mistakes.
Frank Seravalli from the Daily Faceoff pointed out that the last time a top 3 draft pick was moved was in 2001 when the Ottawa Senators traded Alexei Yashin to the New York Islanders in return for the #2 pick that ended up being Jason Spezza, Zdeno Chara and Bill Muckalt.
I doubt that a trade of this magnitude would be required to move New Jersey’s number 2 pick, given that they would be salivating at the idea of adding Josh Anderson to the right of one of Jack Hughes or Nico Hischier. However, and i’ve said this more than once in the past, if sacrificing Powerhorse, your 26th overall pick, the rights to Logan Mailloux, another pick and maybe even another prospect means you can draft Shane Wright and Juraj Slafkovský back-to-back?
Do it.
Want your voice heard? Join the A Winning Habit team!