The Montreal Canadiens have been quiet so far since free agency opened on Wednesday. They added a couple of minor league free agents but no one who is likely to start the season in the NHL.
That was to be expected, since the team is at the salary cap, and also aren’t going to be contending for the 2023 playoffs. But, they haven’t been completely removed from the rumour mill.
First of all, Jeff Petry is going to be traded at some point, but we just don’t know where. That situation continues to evolve as teams try to acquire the player but not all of his $6.25 million cap hit. If the Canadiens are going to trade the veteran defender, they want nothing to do with salary retention, so Kent Hughes has been patient in his approach to trading Petry.
The other rumour that simply won’t go away is Pierre-Luc Dubois making his way to Montreal. He reportedly told the Winnipeg Jets that he wants to test free agency in 2024 when he is first eligible, and his agent was quoted by TVA Sports as saying this is true and Montreal is a place he would like to play.
That’s a pretty bold statement and makes it clear that Dubois wants to play in his home province as soon as he can. It also means it would be absolutely insane for the Canadiens to trade anything of value for the Jets centre.
He has all but said publicly that he is going to sign a contract with the Montreal Canadiens in 2024. If you had to wager who plays more games for the Canadiens in the 2024-25 season, Dubois or Carey Price, it would behoove you to put your money on Dubois, and Price is already signed through that season with the Habs.
So, Dubois is extremely likely to be on the Habs in two years, whether they trade for him or not. In the meantime, the Canadiens have no plans on contending. The next two seasons are not expected to be winning ones for the Canadiens, so why give up future assets to have Dubois immediately?
It would be like going to a car dealership to ask about purchasing an electric vehicle and they give you two options. Option A is trade in your very reliable and slightly used Toyota Highlander and you can have the electric car today. Option B is wait exactly two years and we will give you the electric vehicle for no cost, and you can keep the Highlander. Also, in those two years, you really have nowhere to go anyway and don’t really need a car at all.
Pierre-Luc Dubois wants to play for the Montreal Canadiens as soon as possible and he can make that happen two July’s from now. It would cost the Canadiens no additional assets other than his contract, obviously.
Or, the Canadiens can give up a good young roster player and a top prospect or a future first round pick and get Dubois for the next two seasons when they project to be terrible. They would be slightly less terrible with Dubois, but much better if they keep those assets, or trade them for someone other than Dubois, and then sign Dubois anyway.
It is said patience is a virtue, and Kent Hughes needs to show the same patience in acquiring Dubois as he is displaying in finding a trade partner for Jeff Petry.
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