Montreal Canadiens: Three Players We Could See Traded This Season

It’s no secret that the Montreal Canadiens have put an onus on moving out the veterans and building a young, fast, modern lineup. With that, they have traded away most of the bad contracts and opened space for their prospect pool to make its mark. The scenario that presents itself now is players coming along ahead of schedule before the higher-ranked prospects make their NHL debuts, which opens up trade options.

So while it’s a nod to the great drafting and work of (GM) Kent Hughes and (VP of Hockey Operations) Jeff Gorton, it also means there’s more work added to the to-do list. There are a couple of guys on the cusp, that could steal a spot, or force a trade to make room for them. So with that, we will dive into three candidates that could be dealt before the end of the 2023-24 campaign.

Johnathan Kovacevic

Johnny Kovacevic, as the Habs’ brass like to call him, was the result of waivers, presenting Hughes with a nice option to plug in on the right side of the blue line. He had a solid season and showed strong chemistry alongside Arber Xhekaj. The issue with Kovacevic is that if last season was any indication of his growth, the experience gained could see him rise higher, which could result in a trade out of Montreal.

The acquisition of Gustav Lindstrom adds another piece to the Canadiens’ blueline, who is a rightie and is just 24 years old. Add Justin Barron to the mix, who showed improvement during the latter part of the season, and both Logan Mailloux and David Reinbacher in the mix, and there’s not much space. Savard is also here, and Wideman, but Kovacevic could garner interest quickly if Hughes decides to make him available.

Dealing from an area of strength, to acquire a pick or a nice piece at another position could be a viable option. Kovacevic has been a solid player for the Habs, and his combination of size and strong skating are highly coveted in the NHL, he also provides a strong defensive acumen. This could happen as early as training camp, or the trade deadline, depending on where Reinbacher and Mailloux play from October on.

Jordan Harris

The left side of the blueline is definitely a strength for the Canadiens, and with the top two defence pairings set, and no space on the right side, Jordan Harris could be an interesting piece. Harris has shown poise beyond his years, and with his calm, cool play along with a strong stride and excellent edges, Harris should only see his game improve even more this season. Kaiden Guhle and Mike Matheson are the top two left defensemen, and Lane Hutson is likely about a season away, along with Adam Engstrom, so Harris might get squeezed out.

While it may be frustrating, Harris doesn’t have great size, and Hutson is likely to be the small guy who fits in, Harris doesn’t have the tools that Hutson does. Arber Xhekaj occupies the left side, and he fills a need on the bottom pair, with Lindstrom coming in, he might usurp Harris for the third right defence slot. It’s not fun to trade away great players that were developed and drafted within the organization, but hockey is a business.

The left side is rock solid, and there are a few guys down in the American League working their way up, so Harris could become expendable. This would likely happen mid-season if it does, giving Harris the chance to continue his strong play, which will erase any doubts. Given his age, and Hughes’s knowledge of the market, it’s more than likely that Harris will nab the Canadiens a solid return.