Another year, another likely 82-game schedule for the Montreal Canadiens, but it’s not bad, or the worst news, if you ask me. Yeah, it means the Habs might sell, sell, and sell some more at the trade deadline, and we’ll be debating on whether trading Player X for Player or Prospect Y makes sense in a few weeks.
If you want my opinion, trading players who probably wouldn’t give the Canadiens much value in the near future, near future being next season, should go elsewhere. None of those names may bring in a ransom, but who cares? Trading them away does two things:
- It allows the Canadiens to give a few more youngsters a shot in the NHL, and
- It brings the Habs another step closer to what this soon-to-be contending team will look like.
So, let’s not fret that the 2024-25 season is, most likely, another lost campaign and instead the beginning of something great. They’ve already shown flashes and that should entice fans enough.
Plus, while none of the names listed below will warrant a ton of compensation, it doesn’t mean opposing general managers around the league won’t be willing to overpay. They either want that first Stanley Cup, or another Stanley Cup, added to their resumes, so don’t be surprised if they’re willing to pay something close to a premium.
Joel Armia
You’ll notice a theme in this article, and it’s one that involves a lack of high-scoring options moving elsewhere. For a building team like the Canadiens, that’s a win, as neither Joel Armia nor any of the players listed are equipped to be around when the Habs start winning consistently.
But trading someone like Armia will be a win for an organization that needs a winger who can forge valuable bottom-six or even fourth-line minutes. But that’s not to say Armia can’t score, as he’s snagged 10 goals and 24 points in 56 contests, with a shooting percentage of 12.0.
Not bad numbers, and it could entice organizations that need more depth scoring to go after Armia. And here’s an ironic twist: Armia’s done some damage when the Habs are short-handed, having scored three times this season while facing a 4-on-5 situation.
It indicates Armia’s an effective player on the penalty kill, so a contender that allows quite a few goals in the net when they’re short-handed would find even more value in Armia. In short, he’s not the flashiest player in the league, but Armia will win over quite a few teams with some depth scoring and sound defensive play.
David Savard
Oh, we wouldn’t be at trade deadline season if David Savard wasn’t part of the rumor mill, right? Savard is your stereotypical defensive defenseman, but he can be a playmaker at times, with 10 assists so far this year across 50 games.
Still, anyone who acquires Savard won’t need any help with points production, nor would they need anyone to put together top-four minutes. Instead, a group that needs a blueliner who’s good at positioning themselves well to get in front of the puck would benefit from Savard.
He’s got 122 blocks this season, or nearly 2.5 per game, and that number is sure to increase as ‘playoff hockey’ begins in March. And yeah, I said March, not April, as plenty of teams will be dishing it out for their playoff lives long before the postseason begins.
While Savard would serve a new team well on the third pairing, the question should be, “How many games will he get?” That depends on where he’s heading. Should he go elsewhere and provide depth, he’ll be a part-time player on a stacked playoff roster? If a team’s need is dire enough for another blueliner, look for Savard to play in most of his new team’s upcoming games.
Christian Dvorak
As with the other two names on this list, points won’t be the reason teams will go after and inevitably acquire Christian Dvorak. Instead, he’s someone they can immediately place onto their bottom six, either on the third or fourth line, where he will win them puck possession quickly.
Overall, Dvorak has been one of the NHL’s most consistent centers in the faceoff dot, snagging 57.2 percent of his draws and 400 overall. And in case you’re wondering, 57.1 percent of his draws have come in the defensive zone, meaning Dvorak would be responsible for initiating sequences when called on.
Teams that aren’t cutting it at the faceoff dot this season would do well to seriously consider Dvorak. Primarily a high-octane lineup that has little trouble scoring. But it wouldn’t surprise me if the Habs asked for and got more in compensation from a center whose ceiling rests with the bottom six on one of the league’s better teams.
The Canadiens are right on the cusp of contending again if this season is an indication, so they can be hesitant here until a team gives them an offer they want. If they wait until the best offer comes their way, the organization and their fans will be one happy bunch.